7 Signs That The Furnace Needs To Have Heating And AC Repair | Richardson, TX
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A well-maintained furnace can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. However, you will need to provide regular maintenance and repair services. One of the most critical components of ensuring that your furnace will last is to make sure that it gets the heating and AC repair services that it means whenever any parts start to malfunction or become worn down.
As a homeowner, you have the responsibility of diligently keeping an eye on your furnace. This means that you need to be well aware of the signs and indications that it’s time to call an HVAC repair company in Richardson, TX. We’ll take a look at some of the most common signs that your furnace needs to be repaired below. Most of the signs are quite obvious and hard to miss.
#1. Furnace Keeps Turning On and Off
Depending on the type of furnace that you have, it should turn on and off about one or two times an hour. It will warm the house, and then shut off. Once the temperature in the room drops below the temperature set on the thermostat, the furnace will turn back on. Depending on the type of system that you have, you might hear the furnace turn back on through a click or some other noise.
Although it’s not unusual for the furnace to turn on and off twice an hour, if it’s turning on and off way more often than that, then you might have a problem on your hands. This might be an indication of a short-cycling problem, which could be caused by several different issues. One of the most common causes of a short-cycling problem is that there’s a blockage that’s preventing the heated air from being distributed throughout your entire home. If this is the actual cause, you’ll also sometimes notice cold air coming through the vents.
Depending on what is causing the problem, the heating and AC repair service in Richardson, TX may recommend several different solutions. One of the most common solutions is to clean and change the filters. This is a good opportunity for you to learn about the different types of filters that are available and how they work. For example, UV filters do a great job at killing microbiological activity in the air. However, they’re not great at removing pollutants. On the other hand, HEPA filters do a great job of removing about 99.7% of pollutants in the air. They’re a great choice for those who suffer from allergies and respiratory conditions.
#2. Abnormal Smells and Odors
One of the biggest problems that you should look out for in your HVAC system is odors. The most important smell to pay attention to is hard to ignore. It essentially smells like sulfur and rotten eggs. If you smell this in your home, you’re going to want to evacuate not only because the smell is hard on your nose, but it’s also a sign of a gas leak.
If you smell any weird orders, the first thing that you should do is to call the gas company and the fire department immediately. It’s very easy for a gas leak to cause a fire or an explosion, and every second counts. After that, you want to call the heating and AC repair company immediately. The HVAC company can help you determine what the cause of the issue is as well.
Another common odor that many people may smell is a faint burning. Fortunately, this isn’t really an indication of a huge problem. It usually means that there’s dust in your HVAC system that’s floating around and getting burnt up. Once the dust clears away, the smell should go away as well. However, you should contact the heating and AC repair company in order to see what their solutions may be. Some HVAC companies may recommend that you get the ducts cleaned immediately.
If there are electrical wires and metal that’s burning up inside your furnace, you might smell something like burnt plastic. This is a sign that your unit is overheating. Once again, this isn’t a problem that you can solve on your own. You’ll need to call the heating and AC repair company as soon as possible.
#3. Bangs, Clangs, Squeals, and Other Weird Noises
Depending on the type of furnace that you have, as well as its age, you should expect it to make some type of noise when it’s in operation. However, not all noises are normal. As a homeowner, it’s important that you stay vigilant whenever you hear any weird bangs, clangs, or squeals coming from the furnace as it could be an indication that there is something more sinister at play. If you don’t call the heating and AC repair company immediately, the problem can easily worsen and become very difficult to handle.
One of the most common causes of weird noises coming from your furnace is a broken fan belt. If the fan belt is broken, it’ll continuously slap around the inside of the furnace. This results in a banging sound because the belt is banging onto other components. If you don’t call a heating and AC repair company to fix this problem as soon as possible, the fan belt might eventually slap against another component one too many times, causing it to break as well.
If you hear a squealing sound coming from the furnace, there’s a good chance that something like the blower motor or inducer motor is becoming worn out. Once again, you want to call a heating and AC repair company to repair these parts before they break down. Fixing these parts will be a lot cheaper and easier than replacing them. Depending on the type of furnace that you have, the heating and AC repair company might not necessarily have these parts available. They might have to get it shipped from the manufacturer. This might mean that you won’t be able to use your furnace for several days. On the other hand, if you get the part replaced early, you won’t have to face any of these problems.
#4. Weak Airflow
Is your furnace working, but your home isn’t getting warmed up? If this is the case, it could be that you have a problem with the airflow. This might be an indication that there’s something wrong with the vents. Once again, this problem could be caused by many different things. You’ll need to get a heating and AC repair company to come to take a look at your system in order to determine what the cause of the problem may be.
If you’re lucky, the problem will be caused by a clogged air filter. This generally means that you aren’t getting your filters replaced often enough. Most heating and AC repair companies recommend that you replace the filters every month or several months. It really depends on how often you turn on your furnace. The more often that you turn on the furnace, the more frequently you should replace the filters. A clogged filter will prevent air from passing through the screen. As a result, the warmed air will not be distributed throughout the entire home.
This is also a problem that could affect your utility bills. If your home is not reaching the right temperature, your furnace will be constantly working overtime to compensate. This means that it will be more vulnerable to premature wear and tear.
#5. Difficulties Starting the Furnace
Usually, most homeowners in Richardson, TX only notice this problem in the first winter when they first turn the furnace on. As the furnace ages, you should notice that it might have difficulties turning on once in a while. You can really blame this on old age. However, it also means that you should call the heating and AC repair company to come to take a look at the furnace. It likely means that there’s a worn-out part somewhere.
If you’re lucky, the issue will stem from either a damaged thermostat or disconnected wiring. Both of these problems are fairly easy to fix. The heating and AC repair company should be able to solve the issue in no time, so you won’t experience any disruptions. If you want to avoid these disruptions during the winter, you can try turning on your furnace sometime during the fall in order to ensure that all the components are still working properly. You should also consider calling a heating and AC repair company to service your furnace before winter starts. If you regularly get your furnace serviced, you’ll be able to avoid many costly repairs in the future. Your furnace will also last a lot longer.
#6. Inadequate Heat
Another common problem that you might face is adequate heating. No matter how long you turn the furnace on, the temperature inside the room will still fail to reach a temperature that you’re happy with.
If you notice that your furnace is either producing either no heat or a very low level of heat, it might be a sign that there’s something wrong with your thermostat. The thermostat might be malfunctioning. In which case, you should consider replacing the entire part.
Another common cause could be leaking ductwork. This means that the warm air is escaping to other parts of your home. This second problem is much more difficult to diagnose. A heating and AC repair company will need to use different cameras and equipment to locate where the leak might be situated. They might also need to disassemble the unit in order to patch up the leak. This probably will be a lot more costly to fix.
#7. Presence of Carbon Monoxide
All furnaces should be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector that will be able to detect the presence of this toxic gas. This is one of the many byproducts that are produced by furnaces.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Some people will often describe the symptoms as being flu-like. In worst-case scenarios, carbon monoxide poisoning can knock you out or even kill you. This is not something that you should take lightly, as the consequences can be rather dire.
If the detector goes off, you’ll need to turn the furnace off immediately and open the windows in order to ventilate your home. You should also contact your gas company and the HVAC company to determine what the problem is. In general, you should not turn the furnace on and tell a contractor from the HVAC company to take a look at the unit. The HVAC company will need to assess the problem in order to determine what you can do to fix it. In worst-case scenarios, you’ll need to replace the entire furnace altogether.
Get Heating and AC Repair Services in Richardson, TX Today!
Do you suspect that there’s something wrong with your furnace? If so, you should call for a heating and AC repair service in Richardson, TX immediately. The longer that you wait, the worst the problem will become. Even a small minor repair can easily get out of hand. If one component of the furnace is malfunctioning, it could easily cause other parts to become overworked.
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas provides a wide range of heating and AC repair services. They are able to inspect all types of furnaces in order to determine what the cause of the problem may be. They will also be able to provide you with a schedule on how often you should get the furnace maintained in order to prevent it from malfunctioning again in the future.
For more information on heating and AC repair, give us a call today. One of our technicians will be able to help you determine whether you have a huge problem on your hands. They also are able to schedule an inspection at your convenience. It’s best to get someone to look at your furnace as soon as possible.