Keep an Eye Out for These Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair

It’s a good idea to regularly monitor your heater for performance issues. This is especially important if you’ve been skipping crucial furnace maintenance visits. You could save yourself a hefty sum on Lorton furnace repairs or avoid an inconvenient furnace replacement.

Alarming Noises

A well-tuned furnace will produce a soft purr and nothing more. However, thumps, bangs, buzzing, screeching, ticking, or squealing are all red flags that something is very wrong. Get help immediately if your furnace is making loud or unusual sounds.

On Again, Off Again Operation

A short-cycling furnace can be caused by a bad fan motor, a dirty heat sensor or a malfunctioning thermostat. It can happen if you have an overheating furnace. Overheating can be caused by system blockages, mechanical failure, or electrical problems. An extremely clogged air filter can create this problem and many other problems, too.

Furnace Leaks

Puddles of water beneath a high-efficiency furnace usually mean a clogged or broken condensate line. This is a quick fix if you deal with it promptly. The worst-case scenario would be a bad furnace secondary heat exchanger.

A standard-efficiency furnace should not leak. If it does, an improperly sized flue pipe or exhaust line can be causing the problem. A humidifier that’s connected to the furnace may be leaking as well.

Pilot Light Problems

A healthy furnace pilot light has a clear blue flame. A flame that flickers or is weak or wavy means gas is not burning properly. The burner may need cleaning. Color changes in the flame can indicate that carbon monoxide may not be venting out safely. Pilot light problems prevent optimal furnace performance. At the end of the day, it will give you less heat and cost you more money.

Most furnace repairs can be prevented with annual furnace maintenance. Visit Commonwealth Cooling & Heating online or call us directly for quality heating services.