Every part of your home, from your plumbing to your hardwood floor, needs constant care to keep them in the best condition. Your furnace is no different. As a new homeowner, you can benefit greatly from the advice of more seasoned homeowners to invest your money in maintenance rather than throwing away large sums of money on major breakdowns. While you will still have your fair share of major expenses, you can minimize them by prioritizing a yearly tune-up for your furnace.
The benefit of a tune-up is that it is an expense that you can plan for. It may even be free if you have signed up for club membership with the company that does your furnace repair in Austin. If it has been a while since your last service appointment, here are a few of the signs that you may be missing that indicate a tune-up is needed.
The Color of Your Pilot Light
One of one most urgent signs that your furnace needs a tune-up or a furnace repair is a color change in the pilot light of your furnace. Many people may not even know what color their pilot light is supposed to be. When your furnace is running perfectly, the pilot light will be blue. If it starts to look yellow, orange, or red, this is a dangerous sign that should be taken care of as quickly as possible. It may indicate the presence of carbon monoxide which can be unhealthy for you and your family.
Increasing Utilities
It can sometimes be a subtle change that is difficult to notice over the course of many months, but an inefficient heater will inevitably cause an increase in your utilities. If your heating bill has been slowly increasing when other factors have not changed, this is a red flag that your system is not running efficiently anymore. Tune-ups are able to increase a home’s efficiency by up to 30% so it is well worth investing in regular tune-ups and other HVAC services.
An Assault on Your Senses
A furnace that is in optimal condition will provide your body warmth without assaulting your other senses. A high-quality furnace should have a very quiet operation, but if your furnace needs a tune-up, it may start to make noises (loud clanks, clangs, and rattling noises) as it turns on and off. A furnace in need of a tune-up may also produce strange odors that may indicate a gas leak or a buildup of dust, and you may even notice excessive dust coming from the vents. Pay attention to your senses, and if anything seems off you can call for a heater repair or tune-up.
Continuous Cycling
A healthy furnace will turn on when the thermostat indicates a lower temperature in the home and will turn off when the desired temperature is reached. If your furnace needs a tune-up, it may turn on and off more regularly and without reason. Sometimes a simple cleaning can fix the problem, while at other times a more extensive repair may be needed. A tune-up can be a great way to discover any problems with your system.
Lukewarm or Cool Air
All furnaces will blow out a small amount of cooler air at the end of a heating cycle, However, if your thermostat is set correctly but cool or lukewarm air is blowing out of your furnace during the whole heating cycle, it is time to invest in a tune-up. You should always pay close attention to the temperature of the air coming out of your vents, and give your HVAC technician a call if it seems to be getting colder.
Frequent Thermostat Adjustments
Most people like to keep their home somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It is normal to keep it at a higher temperature, but if you find yourself constantly changing the temperature setting on the thermostat because you can’t find a comfortable temperature, this may actually be a sign of a furnace that isn’t working properly.
Your furnace may not be able to talk, but it has many different ways of communicating to you that it is beginning to fail. Since this is far from a comprehensive list, it is important to pay attention to your furnace and to call your technician if anything seems off. Scheduling a yearly tune-up can prevent many of these problems from occurring and can ensure that your furnace has a long and healthy life.
Customer Testimonials
