6 Signs That Your Furnace Is About To Break Down

If your home has a heating system that is old, now is the time to schedule a furnace inspection.

The last thing that you want is for your system to experience a complete breakdown in the middle of the winter when you depend on it the most. Also, an older system can cause you to pay increased energy bills this heating season.

Replacing an old furnace isn’t cheap. It would require a significant investment. However, if you replace your dated heater with a new, energy-efficient system, you can save on your energy bills, and you will have peace of mind that you will be warm all winter long. In some cases, a replacement might not be necessary. Your system would need to be repaired to have it working efficiently again. A professional can inspect your furnace to determine what the best course of action would be. Now is the best time to find this out since losing your heat in the middle of winter is both inconvenient and unsafe.

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Heater Repair Old Saybrook CT: Signs Your Furnace Is About To Breakdown

Before the heating season begins, you need to make sure that your furnace is in excellent working condition. If you aren’t sure how to tell if there is something wrong with your heating system, there are six tell-tale signs that you need to call a professional immediately.

Heating Issue #1: Your Heating System Has Reached Its Expected Lifespan

If you had your furnace maintained annually, it should last between 15 and 20 years. If your heater is older than that, it will be much less efficient. Other signs of a furnace that has reached its maximum lifespan include strange noises, unusual sounds, and poor performance. If your heating system is experiencing any of these issues, you should contact a professional to inspect your furnace. They can let you know if you can get away with a repair or if you would be better off replacing the unit.

If you need to find a reputable HVAC company in your area, you can search the internet for “heater repair near me” or “furnace repair near my location”. Do not choose a heating and air conditioning service provider based on heater repair cost alone. You want someone who has the expertise, experience, and proper licensing to work on your unit. Price should factor in after you have found someone who meets the above qualifications. Since your HVAC equipment is vital to your comfort and safety, you want to be selective about who works on your unit. Having the right HVAC company will impact your comfort, energy costs, and safety.

Heating Issue #2: Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

If your heater is no longer keeping the home warm, it could mean that it is reaching the end of its lifespan.

If there is cold air coming from the vents when the heater is on, it could be due to a few issues. The most common cause is a faulty blower fan. If the motor is defective, it won’t have the power that it needs to blow the air throughout the home. This situation will result in cold spots around the house. If you find that your furnace isn’t producing any heat at all, there could be a problem with pilot light or the heat exchanger. In cases like this, you should contact a licensed technician right away.

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Heating Issue #3: Unusually High Heating Bills

If you find that your heating bill has risen drastically, it is a sign that your system is on its last legs. When you set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, your furnace will work to keep the home at that temperature. If your system is old, it will need to work harder than usual to keep the house warm. This circumstance will cause your heating bill to increase, and it will wear the system out sooner than it should.

Heating Issue #4: Frequently Calling For Repairs

When a heating system reaches a certain point of its lifespan, it will require repairs. If you find that you are calling a professional for repairs more often, it could be time to replace the system. Continually paying for HVAC repair costs can be very costly. Having the system replaced may be the more cost-effective option.

Heating Issue #5:  Burner Flame Color-Yellow vs. Blue

If your furnace runs on natural gas, you should check the pilot light.

It should always be burning blue. If your light is yellow, it means that the system is not burning the gas properly. It could also be a sign of a carbon monoxide leak which is incredibly dangerous. Carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer.” This gas is invisible, it is odorless, and it is deadly.

Other signs of combustion issues to check for are rust, excessive moisture, and the odor of rotten eggs. If you notice any of these signs and the pilot light is burning yellow, you should turn off the furnace immediately, leave the house, and contact an HVAC professional.

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Heating Issue #6: An Overheating Smell In The Furnace

If your furnace is emitting the smell of burning rubber or hot metal, it means that your heater is malfunctioning. The burning smell implies that parts of the heater are overheating. This circumstance can result in a fire as well as other serious problems. If you notice these smells, you should turn off your heater immediately and contact an HVAC professional. While you are waiting for the HVAC tech, you should keep an eye on the furnace to be safe.

Conclusion

If you need to have your heater repaired or if it needs to be replaced, you should contact a licensed technician. Air conditioner and heating jobs are not meant to be DIY projects. A reliable heating repair company can inspect your system and then let you know if it needs to be repaired or if you are better off replacing it. If it is time to replace your unit, a qualified tech can help you select the best furnace for your home.

At Wilcox Energy, we have NATE certified technicians on staff that can service your HVAC system correctly. All of our techs are highly skilled and highly-trained to maintain, repair, replace, and install heating systems. Our HVAC technicians are friendly, professional, and they know to fix your unit and keep it working. If you need a replacement, our techs can handle that as well. Not only will they be able to find the best system for your home, but they will also find one that is best for your wallet. Wilcox Energy offers free in-home estimates. To schedule one, give us a call today.

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Some of the areas we service include Deep River, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, and these zip codes: 06417, 06371, 06475, 06498, as well as all surrounding areas in the Southern Shores Of Connecticut.

For more information about our HVAC services, be sure to contact Wilcox Energy. You can click here to contact us or you can call us at (860) 399-6218 to find out more. We offer a full line of heating and cooling repairs, maintenance services, and installations.