Is Your Heater or Furnace Working Properly?

A properly working heater or furnace can keep your home comfortably warm during the colder months of the year. 

But your furnace might begin to exhibit telltale signs of malfunction that will require immediate action. Usually, these repairs are beyond your scheduled furnace maintenance and inspection.

What Are Some Signs My Furnace Isn’t Working Properly?

Irregular and unusual noises, odors, flames, and abnormal heating all show warning signs that typical furnace operation is not happening. 

Taking the appropriate action can save your furnace from more complicated problems and can ensure your safety.

What Should I Keep an Eye Out for?

The warning signs of a furnace in need of maintenance can come out of the blue or begin as a small symptom that slowly gets worse. Below are some of the factors to consider about your heater or furnace function.

Furnace Age

Relatively new furnaces operate noiselessly and without strange smells. Your furnace will wear out as it ages, which will harm its efficiency.

Cleaning filters or replacing them, ensuring there is no obstructed airflow (no materials block or clog the vents), and lubricating furnace parts can increase the effectiveness of your old furnace and prolong its lifespan. 

During your annual or other scheduled furnace inspections, more serious problems can be detected and rectified in time to prevent further damage or the complete breakdown of your furnace when you need it most.

Most experts recommend inspection prior to winter or cooler months to ensure your heater is working when you’ll need the warmth the most.

Irregular Thermostat Readings

If your thermostat’s readings indicate a change without any detectable differences in indoor air temperature, either your thermostat is broken or your furnace is not working as it should. 

If your furnace goes on or off without interference or thermostat regulation, it is important to have an HVAC technician check both. Abrupt breakdowns indicate a faulty furnace. 

Odors and Sounds

The running of your furnace should not wreak havoc on your nerves. If and when your furnace makes creaking, knocking, or other unusual or loud noises that disturb your peace, you can be sure your furnace is not functioning appropriately. 

Strange smells coming from your furnace are also a sign that the furnace is not in perfect shape, and its efficiency has been compromised. 

At times, you may be able to identify the source of the noise or odor and even rectify the problem; more commonly though, you need to contact an HVAC professional and schedule a repair.

Why Should I Schedule Regular Heater Maintenance?

When your furnace or heating supplies are all regularly checked and maintained by a furnace repair expert, you can ensure a longer-lasting, more effectively running heater. 

If you leave your furnace unattended for long amounts of time, it can cause problems that are more expensive and time-consuming to fix. In some cases, the repairs are more costly than purchasing a new device.

Regularly scheduled furnace inspections can detect parts of your heater that need servicing. Furnaces may also show signs that only a professional, skilled eye can catch. 

For instance, irregular heating, abnormal sounds or smells, and continuous breakdowns are all noticeable symptoms of a poorly functioning heater. 

Catching these concerns before a complete breakdown saves time, money, and headaches.

How Can I Maximize My Heater Efficiency?

Some tips to help save your furnace all year long include:

• Close your blinds at night to keep the warm air in.
• Open your curtains to allow sunlight and warmth in during the day.
• Reseal any cracks as necessary if the weatherstripping no longer has a tight seal.
• Reverse your ceiling fan to circulate warm air in your home.
• Schedule regular heating maintenance to keep your furnace clean and working well.

Schedule Your Repair or Maintenance

Contact your local HVAC contractor for a thorough furnace checkup and other HVAC needs. These contractors can recommend actions to take and how often to have your heater analyzed. 

To schedule repair or maintenance services, please call us at (909) 980-4109 or fill out our online form to get in touch. 

We also provide emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week to cities such as Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Redlands, Riverside, and other surrounding cities.