Winter is in full swing, and your heater is officially in its busy season. Keeping up with furnace maintenance and paying attention to your heater’s performance is key to avoiding unexpected breakdowns on the coldest nights and ensuring your furnace runs efficiently all season long.
Not sure if it’s time for a tune-up? Check out these five signs that your heater needs some extra attention this winter.
Why Furnace Maintenance Matters
Taking good care of your furnace might not be at the top of your priority list, but being proactive with maintenance and acting quickly when you notice any issues is a simple way to save money, support a healthy environment, and keep your home warm all winter long. When you schedule regular heater tune-ups, you’ll enjoy benefits like:
- Higher energy efficiency and lower utility bills
- Increased lifespan of your furnace and decreased need for repairs
- Better indoor air quality and heating, creating a more comfortable home
- Reduced risk of breakdowns during cold months
5 Signs You Need to Schedule Furnace Maintenance
As a rule of thumb, you should have a professional inspect and service your heating system at least once a year. These red flags are indicators that you may need additional furnace maintenance and repairs.
1. Unusual Noises
Banging, rattling, squealing, or uncharacteristic humming sounds are never good. They can indicate loose or worn-out parts, dirty burners, problems with the blower motor, and more.
Ignoring these noises can worsen the damage, leaving you with costly repairs and a lot of hassle. If you hear any of these sounds, schedule a check-up so you can take care of any issues now.
2. Inconsistent Heating
Random cold spots throughout your home can be a sign of clogged filters, dirty or leaking ductwork, or a failing blower motor.
A simple furnace tune-up and filter change might get you back on track, or you may need more involved maintenance like a new blower motor or ductwork cleaning and sealing. Have your HVAC guys take a look to be sure you address the correct problem.
3. Rising Energy Bills
If you notice a huge spike in your utility bill but haven’t been using your heater more often, it’s a sign your furnace is working harder to produce the same amount of heat it usually does.
This inefficiency could result from dirty filters, worn parts, or improper calibration on your unit or thermostat. Schedule routine furnace maintenance ASAP so you can get your heater running smoothly again.
4. Strange Smells
Burning, musty, or metallic odors are never good, and if you smell these or any other unexplainable scents when your heater is running, it’s important to book a tune-up soon.
They could indicate dust buildup, mold in your ducts, or overheating within your unit, all of which can decrease the efficiency of your system, lead to serious damage, and pose health risks to you and your family.
5. Short Cycling
Your heater turning on and off more than usual could be due to a few issues. Dirty filters might be restricting airflow, causing the unit to overheat and shut off early. A malfunctioning thermostat, broken sensor, or blocked vents could also limit airflow.
Check your filters, clear anything blocking the unit or vents, and call your HVAC company to make sure any deeper issues are taken care of.
6. Heat Exchanger Issues
The heat exchanger plays a key role in transferring the heat that’s created by the burning fuels into the air so your heater can effectively warm your home. However, cracked or otherwise damaged heat exchangers can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.
Make sure your HVAC techs check the exchanger in their annual furnace maintenance, and if you notice any of the following signs throughout the season, schedule an emergency repair immediately to avoid the risk of a carbon monoxide leak: strange smells or sounds, cracks, soot build-up, yellow pilot light flame color, etc.
Let Bell Cow Give Your Heater a Little TLC
There’s nothing worse than feeling cold in your own home all winter long, and there’s no reason you should have to.
When you schedule furnace maintenance with Bell Cow, you can count on quality solutions and friendly customer service every time. We take pride in providing honest, reliable, and effective service so you can keep your home comfortable and safe throughout the season. Schedule your heater’s tune-up soon so you can stay warm this winter.