10 Signs That Your Gas Furnace Needs Repairs
As we enter the holiday season, it’s time to fire up the heater and stay cozy on those cool winter nights. Even Florida has a winter, though we may prefer to crank up the heat until shorts are still comfy indoors. To do that, your gas furnace becomes the most important appliance in the house. After that initial smell of burning dust, your furnace should hum along all winter. But what if it doesn’t? We don’t use our heaters for much of the year, but reliable heating in the winter is vitally important. Knowing when to call for furnace repairs can keep you cozy all season and provide peace of mind for next winter. Aztil Air is here to help. Let’s look at the ten signs that your gas furnace needs repairs.
1. Strange Noises
Furnaces rarely make noise. You may hear some creaking right at first, but any serious noises are a bad sign.
- Baning
- Clanging
- Squealing
- Scraping
These sounds mean there is something wrong inside your gas furnace. These sounds can indicate loose or faulty components. Calling for repairs ASAP is the best way to stay safe and warm.
2. Inconsistent or Insufficient Heat
Your gas furnace should provide a steady flow of heat throughout the house. If you’re not getting enough heat, if the heat comes and goes, or if certain parts of your house have cold spots, there’s a problem. It could be an uncalibrated thermostat, clogged filters, problems with the blower fan, or a problem with the core heating system.
3. Short Cycling
A short cycle is when your furnace turns on and off repeatedly. This means it is not completing a full heating cycle and is likely taking damage and wasting energy with a very short cycle. Short cycles can be caused by a clogged air filter or signal problems from the thermostat. It can also happen if the furnace is overheating for some reason.
Quickly call Aztil Air for repairs if a gas furnace short cycles, as it could be dangerous and inefficient.
4. Rising Energy Bills
Did your energy bills suddenly spike when you turned on the heater? Does it cost way more to heat your home this winter than last winter, even in Florida’s mild cold season? If so, then you may have a furnace problem. Your furnace is working harder than it should. It could be an issue with your filter, ducts, or worn-out components that must be replaced.
Get your furnace inspected and tuned up before it costs a fortune in electricity or gas.
5. Yellow or Flickering Pilot Light
A pilot light provides a gas furnace with an essential function: lighting the gas used for heating. A healthy furnace should have a steady blue flame in the pilot light. If the flame goes yellow (a cooler flame) or flickers, it could indicate a problem with the furnace’s ventilation or gas supply. It could even be a sign of carbon monoxide leaking.
Immediately turn off your furnace and call Aztil Air for emergency repairs.
6. Unpleasant Smells
The burning dust smell when you first turn on your heater for the season is normal. But unusual smells after that should be a red flag.
- A rotten egg smell can indicate a gas leak. Immediately shut off your furnace and its gas line, then open the windows before calling for emergency repairs.
- A burning smell can indicate your furnace is overheating or there is a faulty component or exposed wiring that is scorching inside. Again, immediately shut it off and call for repairs.
Aztil Air can help you stay safe with emergency furnace repair services.
7. Difficulty Starting Your Furnace
Have trouble getting your furnace to start or keep running? This could be an issue with your gas furnace ignition system. It could also be a wiring flaw or a thermostat malfunction. A pro can help you diagnose and fix the problem so your furnace provides reliable heating again.
8. Frequent On/Off Cycling
If your furnace cycles on and off often, but not quite short cycling, it could still be a problem. This could indicate an issue with airflow or the thermostat. An inspection can discover why your furnace won’t keep running steadily.
9. Excess Dust or Poor Air Quality
A little dust when you first start your furnace is normal. But if the dust keeps increasing and your home’s indoor air quality drops, this could mean your furnace is not circulating air correctly or cleanly. Florida’s humidity can also cause dust to build up in your ducts and release when the blower runs. Duct cleaning and a furnace inspection can get to the root of the problem and help clear the air inside your home.
10. Carbon Monoxide Detector Alerts
Any home with a gas furnace (gas lines) should have active carbon monoxide detectors. These should be powered and placed near the floor to detect a gas leak that could lead to suffocation inside the home. If a carbon monoxide detector goes off, immediately shut off the furnace, close any gas lines (including the stove or other gas-powered appliances), and open all the windows.
Then call for emergency inspection and repairs.
Aztil Air Gas Furnace Repairs
If your furnace shows any of these signs, Aztil Air is here to help. We’ll help keep your home cozy and your furnace running safely all winter. Contact us online or call for emergency gas furnace repairs.
