With the cold winter months officially here, you need to make sure that your furnace is functioning properly. This is especially important in areas like Calgary, Winnipeg and other cities that are often hit with a lot of cold and snowy weather. A furnace that isn’t working well can certainly cause you problems at this time of year.
Reaching out to the professionals at Furnace Repair Calgary is a good idea if issues arise, but what issues should you be on the lookout for? What are the signs that a furnace is on its last legs? Well, here are some helpful clues.
Your home is much colder than normal
One of the most obvious signs of a furnace that is experiencing difficulty is a lack of heat in your home. In the winter, it will become obvious very quickly, as your home will cool off significantly. This could be the entire home being colder than expected, or you may notice some “cold spots” in certain rooms. There is also a chance that your furnace could be putting out cold air.
If you experience this, it is important to make a call as soon as possible to an experienced professional. The last thing you want is to deal with a broken furnace when temperatures dip below zero. Of course, make sure you have your thermostat set to the right setting – the reason your home is cold could be as simple as forgetting to turn the heat up, so always check that first.
The furnace is making loud or strange noises
The sounds that your furnace makes could also be a sign that something isn’t working quite right. While no furnace is completely silent, if you begin hearing louder or different sounds than you have in the past, it could be cause for concern. Squealing, popping, rattling, banging or grinding sounds are never a good thing, especially when coming from your furnace.
This could be a sign that something has come loose, something has gotten bent, something is jammed or another issue altogether is occurring. Instead of simply leaving it alone and hoping it goes away, you should attempt to be proactive and get it dealt with. There could be a simple explanation for the sound, but it’s a good idea to make sure.
Your heating bill is higher than normal
Next to a mortgage, there is a good chance your energy bills are one of your biggest monthly costs. In fact, the average American household will spend almost $1,500 annually on energy costs. A large portion of these bills goes to heating and cooling your home. Monitor your energy costs every month so that you can easily take note when they are above average.
If you find your energy and heating bills are deviating from your regular budget, it could mean that your furnace is experiencing some issues. Many furnaces attempt to keep a home at a certain temperature. If your furnace isn’t working well, it will need to run much longer in order to reach that consistent temperature, which means a more expensive bill for you. Of course, many people also keep their home warmer in the winter, so that could be why your bills are higher, as well.
Check the colour of the pilot light
The colour of the flame in your furnace (also known as the pilot light) can also be an indication of how well your furnace is functioning. If your furnace is operating at its best, you should see a blue flame. It should almost be completely blue, with only a tiny little bit of yellow on the tip. A blue flame is hotter and will burn the gas more completely than flames that are yellow or orange in colour.
If you see a yellow flame, your furnace is not working as effectively as it should. Not only could it mean that your furnace needs fixing or replacing, but it could mean that carbon monoxide is leaking, which can be incredibly hazardous. There are a few different reasons for why your flame might be yellow instead of blue, and it should generally be left up to a professional to determine if it is safe or not.
Keep Your Furnace in the Best Shape Possible
While not every failing furnace will exhibit these warning signs, many will. So if you notice your furnace is making strange noises, your energy costs have gone up or the pilot light is discoloured, it is best to have your furnace checked as soon as possible.
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