Do You Need Your Furnace Repaired?

As the temperature outside begins to drop, you’re probably thinking about firing up your furnace for the first time in months. But before you do, it’s important to make sure that your furnace is in good working condition. After all, the last thing you want is for your furnace to break down when you need it most. So how can you tell if your furnace needs to be repaired? Read on to find out.

Oil burner furnace and hot water heater

1. Check Your Air Filter

One of the simplest and most effective ways to tell if your furnace needs repair is to check your air filter. A clogged air filter will restrict air flow, which can cause all sorts of problems for your furnace—not to mention your indoor air quality. If it’s been more than three months since you last changed your filter, it’s probably time for a new one.

2. Look for Rust Spots

If you have a gas furnace, it’s important to inspect it regularly for signs of rust. Rust on a gas furnace can be dangerous because it indicates that there might be a gas leak. If you see any rust spots on your furnace, call a professional immediately.

3. Listen for Strange Noises

Another way to tell that your furnace needs repair is if it starts making strange noises. A rumbling or banging noise could mean that there’s something wrong with the blower motor, while a squealing noise could indicate an issue with the belts. Either way, it’s best to have a professional take a look so that the problem can be diagnosed and fixed before it gets worse—and more expensive to repair.

4. Check Your Thermostat

If your furnace doesn’t seem to be heating your home evenly or efficient

tly, there might be an issue with your thermostat. It could be as simple as replacing the batteries, but if that doesn’t do the trick, you might need a new thermostat altogether.

5. Monitor Your Energy Bills

Keep an eye on your energy bills; if they start to increase without any change in usage, it could mean that your furnace isn’t operating as efficiently as it should be. Inefficient furnaces have to work harder to heat homes, which drives up energy costs. If you notice an uptick in your energy bills, call a professional and have them take a look at your furnace—it could save you money in the long run.

These are just a few of the signs that indicate that you might need furnace repair. Of course, if you’re ever unsure or don’t feel comfortable performing maintenance or repairs yourself, don’t hesitate to call a professional—

better safe than sorry!

residential gas furnace

Furnace Repair

Contact a qualified HVAC professional When in doubt, call a professional If you are having problems and need expert furnace repair, contact Williams Service Company for help. The blue flame indicates that your gas furnace is burning the fuel safely and efficiently. Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air is sent back into the house. Check the thermostat After verifying that your furnace filter is clean and installed properly, check the thermostat.

Gas Furnace

Pilot Light Is Out On old furnaces, the standing pilot light can go out due to a strong draft, a dirty orifice in the pilot burner, or dirt in the gas tube. Or the thermocouple might be faulty, causing the gas supply to shut off. The pilot light going out is one of the most common reasons that a gas furnace fails to produce heat. Luckily, relighting your pilot light is fairly simple. Pilot light and gas valve If you go to check the furnace flame and it is out, you will need to relight it. Just as with switches, someone may have turned off a gas valve and then forgotten to turn it back on. Trace the gas line back from the furnace to the meter, and if you see a handle that’s perpendicular to the gas pipe, turn it so it’s parallel. If all else fails, check the gas valve. If all else fails, check the furnace’s gas valve to make sure that it hasn’t somehow been turned to the “Off ” position.