Winter is in full swing and your heating unit is working overtime. The last thing you want is a complete failure during a major winter weather event.
Unfortunately, this unit failure is closer than you think. The average furnace has a service life of 15 to 20 years. Without preventative maintenance, it is possible for your heater to fail earlier than the average.
Read on to learn why you should bring in HVAC services before a failure occurs. Explore five signs you need a heating repair so that you can prevent a costly unit failure.
1. Higher Heating Bills
Not all signs of a failure are technical and require an HVAC technician to diagnose. Simply tracking your monthly heating bill is a useful strategy for identifying issues.
Your heating bill includes useful information likely monthly energy use and average temperature. If you see a significant spike in monthly usage without cause, there may be an issue with your heater.
This means that the heater is working harder than normal to maintain the thermostat’s temperature. It is running constantly without the desired results and failure is possible in the near term.
2. Ducts Are Not Blowing Out Hot Air
Another obvious sign is when hot air is not flowing through the home. An easy test is to turn the thermostat up, way past the normal room temperature.
There is an issue present if you do not hear the heater power on and start producing heat. At this point, HVAC repair is likely on the docket and you need to schedule a technician immediately.
3. House Is Cold
Another simple test is whether your home is cold or not. Not only will this drive bills up, but also makes your family uncomfortable in the winter.
There are many reasons why your heater is not producing enough hot air. Faulty parts or thermostat issues are possible, both of which require HVAC services to take a look.
4. Weird Noises
Are you hearing strange noises from your heating unit? Any abnormal noises coming from the heater indicate that HVAC services are necessary.
There are a number of common noises that homeowners report hearing before a technician identifies a problem. Some of the noises include thumping, rattling, and rumbling. Other reported noises are whistling and squeaking.
5. Carbon Monoxide Alarm
If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, you need to call HVAC services immediately. This is a potential safety hazard that places your family in danger.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. There are no other signs it is present besides this alarm. If it goes off, your heat exchanger may be cracked releasing this dangerous gas into the air.
Five Signs That You Need Heating Repair
If any of these signs are present in the home, it is time to contact an HVAC technician. You need a professional to come in and make sure your unit is working properly. Acting fast may help avoid a more costly failure in the future.
If you are in need of heating repair near Pearland, Texas, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
