As spring begins and the weather starts to warm up, it’s easy to let our heating system needs fall to the wayside. Whether you’ve been hearing strange noises or your furnace just doesn’t seem to be heating your household as efficiently as it once did, these problems can be frustrating–but are they necessary to address right away?
Well, they can be. Sometimes, these symptoms indicate that something is wrong with both of your HVAC systems, not just your furnace. For instance, you can have a problem with the thermostat or the ductwork of your home. In this case, your cooling system efficacy and efficiency will be impacted.
This said, no, you shouldn’t “just wait” to have your furnace serviced if you notice troubling symptoms. Read on as we uncover what some of the most common end-of-season heating repairs are.
Loud and Unexpected Noises
If you utilize a furnace as your home heating system, you’ll always hear some noise as it operates. This can include the air flowing through the vents, and maybe even the slight rattle of your air ducts as the air temperature inside them changes, causing the ductwork to expand and contract.
What you should never hear coming from your furnace, however, are any noises that are outside of the ordinary. This can include clanging, banging, or excessive clicking as your system cycles down (please do not ignore this! It can be the sign of a cracked heat exchanger)
Strange Smells
Sometimes it’s relatively “normal” to have a smell come from your furnace. When? When you haven’t used the system for a long time (for example, a season) and you turn it on for the first time after a long break.
If you didn’t have maintenance done beforehand, allowing our technicians to thoroughly clean the system inside and out, then you may be smelling dirt, dust, and grime as it burns off the coils and jets inside your system, and as it blows out of your ductwork.
If the smell doesn’t dissipate after a few days of use though, it’s time to shut your heater off and give us a call, especially if it smells like something is burning. It could be a wiring issue or a problem with the gas lines and heat exchangers. This should be taken seriously!
Cool Air Coming from the Vents
This can definitely be a frustrating problem to have with your furnace, understandably. After all, your furnace has one job, right? If you notice cool, or even lukewarm, air coming out of the vents when the furnace is operating, then it’s worth giving us a call so we can inspect the system.
This can be a sign of a potentially harmful issue in the case of a gas-powered heating system. Even in an electric-powered heater, a lack of warm air, or uneven heating, can be an indication of problems with the air ducts or the thermostat. As we alluded to above, this can have a negative impact on your air conditioner as well… so it’s understandably something you’ll have to have taken care of.
To schedule your professional furnace service in Concord, CA, contact Hometown Heating and Air Conditioning!