Indications of Impending Furnace Doom
There are a lot of commonly accepted signs and portents of doom. Crops failing, walls oozing green slime, your favorite restaurant closing down, etc. etc. What we want to focus on in this blog, though, is more in the realm of furnace-related doom.
If your furnace is nearing a catastrophic conclusion to its years of service, it helps to be able to recognize it and take appropriate action. That might mean calling for repairs, or it might mean sending the unfortunate system to its final resting place and installing a new one. Let’s go over a few of the more ominous signs of impending furnace doom, and what actions you should take to deal with these.
Falling Heat Output
It is never a good sign when the furnace starts to provide less and less heat over time. This could be due to any number of problems. It’s possible that the burner assembly is clogged, if you’re using a gas furnace. It’s also possible that you have a clogged air filter, which is really the best scenario for these kinds of things because it can be easily replaced. Regardless, if your system is experiencing issues with heat output, it’s best that you have it looked at by a professional as soon as possible.
Odd Noises
If you’ve had your furnace for any length of time, you probably know what it’s supposed to sound like during operation. You should be especially wary of any strange noises the system starts to make while it’s on. Depending on the kind of noise, your system might be having some very serious issues that could threaten its operation. Some examples include grinding, loud booms when starting up, and hissing.
Short Cycling
If your furnace seems to turn itself off shortly after starting a new heating cycle, it might be short cycling. Short cycling is typically caused by an electrical problem, and severely cuts into the system’s ability to properly heat the home. Long term, though, the consequences look even grimmer.
Short cycling causes the system to wear down significantly faster than it would otherwise. This causes the furnace to develop problems more frequently, and even may lead to needing to replace it years sooner than it should have been disposed of. If you notice your furnace short cycling, we highly recommend that you call a professional to examine it as soon as possible.
Higher Than Usual Heating Bills
You should monitor your utility bills from month to month, just to make sure that you catch any strange discrepancies as quickly as possible. If your furnace seems to be costing you more and more money from month to month, even if you aren’t using it often enough to warrant it, then you might have an issue that needs professional repair. Call a technician to check on it, just in case.
PRK Services, Inc. offers a full range of furnace repair services in Highland Village, TX. If you have reason to believe that your furnace needs repairs, contact us today to schedule an appointment.