Some furnace problems are loud and obvious. It’s like warning bells are going off to alert you to the fact that something is wrong. But other furnace problems are quiet, if not completely silent. These can be a little more difficult to pinpoint although they are equally risky for your furnace.
Quiet does not mean that the problems are small or insignificant. In fact, silent furnace problems can be the worst ones. You can keep reading to learn about some of the quieter problems that a furnace can have and the signs of each one. Then give our team a call to schedule furnace service in Smithsburg, MD, so that our team can get down to the root of the problem and fix it so your furnace can work great for the rest of the winter season.
1. High Energy Costs
You have a lot of different appliances and technology using energy in your home on a daily basis. But your furnace is one of the largest items in your home, likely consuming the most energy. Increasing energy bills can easily be attributed to changes in furnace operation.
It’s possible that something is going wrong inside of the unit and you don’t even realize it. This problem is causing your furnace to work harder and use more energy to keep your home warm. Anytime you see a sudden spike in energy costs, you should schedule a heating maintenance appointment as a precaution.
2. Lack of Heat
It’s also a red flag if your furnace is not producing heat. This may seem obvious, but it’s possible that your furnace is still blowing lukewarm air and keeping your house reasonably comfortable on milder days. However, your furnace should blow air that is specifically hot, not lukewarm. If you feel like your furnace is not producing as much heat as it should, it’s definitely worth getting checked out. Otherwise, you could find yourself without any heat at all weeks or months from now.
3. Discolored Pilot Light
If your furnace operates on gas, it has a pilot light. The pilot light should always have a bright blue flame. If the flame is a faded blue, yellow, or orange color, then something is wrong. There may be too much carbon monoxide or dust and dirt buildup in the ignition chamber.
No matter what the problem is, your furnace is not operating efficiently if the flame is any other color besides bright blue. Plus, your furnace could be operating in unsafe conditions that put your family at risk.
4. Bad Odors
There is only one scenario when your furnace may produce an unusual odor. That is when you very first turn it on for the season and it should only last for 15 minutes or so. Aside from that, the air coming from your furnace should never smell bad.
If it does, something is wrong. You may have a gas leak or exhaust air is trapped and channeling into your home instead of outside. No matter what the cause, you should turn your furnace off as a safety precaution until our team can take a look at it.
To schedule your furnace repair service, contact Premier HVAC Services today!