Keep the Holidays Warm and Inviting This Winter
The worst time of year that a furnace can break down is right around the holidays. Yet, this seems to be the time when the furnace always starts to fail. Homeowners are entertaining friends, housing family, or merely trying to have a good time with the members of their immediate family. Suddenly, the furnace starts making strange noises, or worse! It stops blowing warm air. Many people attribute gas furnace problems to Murphy’s law. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. But luckily, that’s not the case. There are things every homeowner can do to head off a gas furnace emergency. Read on to find out what they are.
Signs the Gas Furnace Is About To Break Down
There are many different signs that a furnace is about to break down. Some are easy to notice, while others require that the homeowner pays attention to the unit itself. But none of the signs require any sort of expertise to determine, only a little bit of know-how. One of the best ways homeowners can tell if something is wrong with their furnace is by paying attention to the gas bill. Unexplained and drastic rises in heating costs indicate that efficiency is wanting, which almost always means something is wrong with the furnace.
Other signs of imminent furnace breakdown include short cycling, strange noises from the unit, a yellow burner flame, and temperature fluctuations. Short cycling is when the furnace kicks on and off quickly - usually within a few minutes. Strange noises include banging, screeching, grinding, and squealing. The burner flame on the gas furnace should always be blue. If it is yellow, it’s not burning off all the gas. Finally, temperature fluctuations indicate an issue with the thermostat or the unit itself.
Different Ways a Broken Furnace can Affect the Home
Some homeowners tend to put off gas furnace repair when the issues above come to light. After all, the holidays are financially tight for many people, and the last thing they need is a costly repair. Unfortunately, this is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. Putting off furnace repair only causes more problems, which wind up being more costly than the initial repair would have been. Addressing issues as soon as they’re noticed is the best way to save money and avoid disaster.
Putting off a repair can also cause total failure of the system, which can have other consequences. For instance, if it’s cold enough outside, the water pipes can freeze and eventually burst. The furnace does a lot of work during the cold months to keep the plumbing warm and the water flowing. In these cases, a heating emergency can cause an even more costly plumbing emergency.
Common Furnace Problems and How Professionals Fix Them 
Short cycling can be caused by several things, including a dirty filter, an improperly sized unit, or a faulty thermostat. On the other hand, a failing motor, belt, or fan can cause the previously mentioned strange noises. A yellow burner flame usually means a buildup of carbon monoxide. And temperature fluctuations require a thorough inspection of the system. All of these issues need professionals to fix them.
Luckily, when homeowners have a professional perform maintenance in the fall or repairs when the furnace starts to fail, they’re in good hands. HVAC techs assess the whole system so they can advise the homeowner about the health of the unit and what options are available. Regular maintenance is the best way to head off gas furnace issues, especially before the holidays.
About LenAire, Inc.
The people at LenAire, Inc. have been serving Bossier City, LA, with pride for over 30 years. They provide excellent workmanship alongside stellar customer service. Their peace of mind guarantee, upfront pricing, and courteous technicians have made them a local favorite. Call LenAire, Inc. for furnace services in Bossier City this winter!
