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6 Telltale Signs You Need Furnace Repair in Quincy, CA

Nothing is more dreadful than a seizing furnace. When January temperatures are seeping into your Quincy home, a lack of heat could lead to hypothermia, pneumonia, and frostbite. However, a faulty furnace can contribute to even worse problems like carbon monoxide inhalation.

Regular maintenance service calls from your handy HVAC technicians can help prevent unexpected furnace problems and emergency repairs. Call us to set up a regular maintenance schedule! Our technicians at Trust 1 Services want you to recognize the following six signs you need furnace repair and know that we are here when you need us.

Cold Spots

Have the members of your household started flocking toward the radiators or heating vents? If you have drastically colder areas of your home, your furnace is heating unevenly.

If you have spots where your furnace is not blowing hot air (or cold patches around your home), it can signify clogged air filters. When dirt and dust accumulate, they block the airflow, and distant rooms often receive less heat.

When this happens, call a furnace repair technician at Trust 1 Services to inspect your furnace.

Abnormal Noises

Not all furnace noises are warning signs. If you hear a slight whirring or chirping, it’s simply the machine functioning. You can also expect a humming when the furnace burners light and a slight rattling when the machine cools down.

Other sounds to look out for include:

  • A squeal from an air leak
  • Groaning from worn out bearings
  • Popping sounds from dirty burners

However, if these noises continue and refuse to die away, you need furnace repairs. Banging or groaning sounds can also mean that you have a hazardous carbon monoxide leak or a crack in the heat exchanger.

Carbon Monoxide

Even when you can’t detect offending odors coming from your furnace, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a gas leak. Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous and undetectable gases claiming the lives of around 430 U.S. residents yearly. One of the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning is a furnace that is not in proper working order.

The best way to tell if there’s a carbon monoxide leak is to install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home. That way, if the heat exchanger cracks, the alarm will alert you to this poisonous gas. If this occurs, evacuate your home and contact emergency responders along with your trusted furnace professionals.

An Unusual Smell

If you have recently installed a new furnace, a penetrating or odd smell shouldn’t concern you. This odor originates from the oil coating that protects the heat exchanger. As you continue to burn your furnace, the smell should evaporate.

On the other hand, if you’ve had your furnace for some time now and new smells arise, you could have trouble. For one thing, a burning smell can indicate a soot buildup near parts of the furnace that are near extreme heat. A musty odor can suggest dangerous mold or mildew, and Aldehydes coming from the exhaust can mean poor combustion.

Water Leaks

Another sign that you need furnace repair is when you find a visible leak near your furnace. If there is a clog or break in the condensation drain, you may see a puddle forming. However, it’s not a big job and only requires some maintenance.

Collected sediments may also cause a clog in the internal drain system. When you call a professional, we will blow it out with clear vinyl tubing, remedying the obstruction. We will also patch up the leak properly, preventing further damage like mold and mildew.

Increased Energy Bills

In some cases, signs you need furnace repairs may not come directly from your furnace. Sometimes all you need to do is to look at your electric bills or oil usage.

In the U.S., a gas furnace uses up to 600 watts at about 13 cents per kWh. However, if your furnace is overloaded or filthy, the system works harder to produce your desired indoor temperature. When this happens, your furnace pulls more electricity, resulting in a larger electric bill.

With oil or propane furnaces, you’ll burn up to 1.7 gallons of oil hourly. Similar to electric furnaces, issues causing your oil furnace to work harder will raise your heating costs. As a result, you’ll find yourself purchasing fuel more frequently.

Still, keep in mind that burning extra fuel or electricity is not always a bad sign. During the colder months in Quincy, MA, your furnace comes out of its summer dormancy. It then becomes an added household expense.

However, when that added expense becomes inexplicable, it should alarm you. If you haven’t had any recent changes in your system’s operation times, look into your spiked bills. Call us to look at your furnace, sparing you those additional long-term costs.

Consistent Short Cycling

Another way your furnace can prove costly is with consistent short cycling. Short cycling refers to the system shutting off before your home reaches the temperature you desire. Upon shutting off, it restarts again only to repeat the cycle.

There are numerous reasons for short cycling:

  • Flame sensors that deteriorate as water from burned fuel corrode the area over time
  • A faulty temperature-monitoring module that allows the system to overheat
  • A clog in the vent pipe or flute that shuts down the system to prevent a release of carbon monoxide

Trust 1 Services

At Trust 1 Services in Quincy, MA, we understand that your furnace is a life and death commodity. Not only is it vital, but making sure it runs smoothly is key to a happy and healthy home. That’s why we invite you to rely on heating repairs from our team at Trust 1 Services.

For our five-star services in Quincy, call us at 617-826-8611 today! During any time of the day or night, our skilled technicians will solve your furnace’s issues and keep your family safe. We’ll also discuss how to pinpoint the signs you need furnace repairs.

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