5 Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair Before Winter
Another Michigan winter is around the corner, and before the cold sets in, it’s important to turn on your furnace and look for these five signs that it may need service. That way, you can schedule professional furnace repairs or maintenance to ensure your system is ready to stand up to the cold and supply reliable heat all winter.
Get your furnace winter-ready. Schedule furnace repair with the HVAC experts at Dominion Service Company today.
Inconsistent Heating
Is your furnace only heating some rooms in your home, or working better on some days than others? This is a common sign that your heating system has poor airflow. This can be an easy fix; you may just need to change your furnace filter. In other cases, the problem may lie with your ductwork. A leak or even a pest infestation can impede the dispersion of warm air through your home.
High Utility Bills
Cold months can lead to higher utility bills, but if you’re seeing unexpected or unexplained spikes in your monthly heating costs, your furnace may not be running as efficiently as it should. This can be as simple as a dirty furnace filter restricting airflow in your system. If your furnace already has a fresh filter, high bills can point to failing parts or leaky ducts, which can make your unit work harder and use more energy to heat your home.
Weird Smells Coming From the Furnace
It’s totally normal for your furnace to emit a burning odor when it first starts up for the season. This is caused by dust burning off the internal parts of your unit and should dissipate quickly. However, if your furnace starts to produce other weird smells during operation, it’s a cause for concern. The type of smell that it emits will give you some insight into what the problem may be. A musty odor, which may remind you of sweaty socks, may indicate a clogged condensate drain line. A metallic or chemical-like odor will typically indicate a problem with one of your system’s electrical connections. If you smell a sulfuric or “rotten egg” odor, you may have a gas leak, which is dangerous and can be fatal. If so, evacuate and call 911 immediately.
Loud or Strange Noises
When your heating system first kicks on, you’ll hear a clicking noise. A loud whooshing-like sound will then follow when the burner lights. If you notice other noises coming from your furnace, it’s an indication that something is amiss with one of its internal components. For example, a grinding noise usually indicates bad bearings inside the fan’s blower motor. A rattling noise typically means that there’s a loose component inside your heating system. A squealing noise will signal that your blower fan belt is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Going Off
All homes with fuel-burning furnaces should have carbon monoxide detectors to signal if there is a backup of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, highly toxic gas that’s the byproduct of the fuel combustion process. If your furnace develops cracking in its heat exchanger, it can allow this toxic substance to back up into your home. If your carbon monoxide detectors go off, you should evacuate immediately and call 911.
Depend On Dominion Service Co. To Get Your Furnace Winter-Ready
Every homeowner should get an annual maintenance service in the fall. This helps catch any small problems with your furnace so you won’t have to worry about sudden breakdowns in the winter. Dominion Service Company conveniently offers a maintenance plan to keep your furnace working efficiently.
Contact Dominion Service Company today to schedule furnace maintenance in Michigan.
