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Winters in Chattanooga, TN, tend to be cold. The days are typically mild, with temperatures in the low 50’s. The nights are much colder, and the temperature often drops below freezing. Because it can get so cold during the winter, Chattanooga, TN residents rely greatly on their furnace to keep the home warm. The last thing that you want during the coldest time of the year is a complete furnace breakdown; therefore, it is essential that you are able to recognize the signs that it’s time to call for furnace repair.
#1 Your House Isn’t Getting Warm
The most obvious sign that you need to call for a furnace repair is if your home isn’t getting warm when the furnace is running. There are several issues that can make it difficult or impossible for the furnace to keep your house warm. If dust or dirt is restricting the airflow, hot air won’t come from the vents, which is necessary to heat the house. The problem could also be with your heat exchangers. If it overheats or shuts off too quickly, it won’t keep the house warm. The problem could also be with the blower or a dirty filter. It would take the knowledge and experience of an HVAC tech to determine the cause of the problem and then make the necessary repairs.
#2 Strange Sounds Coming From the Furnace
It is not uncommon for your furnace to make a low-level noise when it is operating. If you notice that your furnace is making new and strange sounds, you should call a professional for furnace repair. If you hear squealing or banging sounds, a belt could have come loose or is broken, and you can hear it clanging inside the furnace. If you hear a grinding or banging sound, one of the furnace’s internal parts could have come loose, which will cause strange sounds inside.
If you ignore the problem, something that should have been simple to fix could end up requiring a major repair, or the furnace could need to be replaced. It is best to call a professional in furnace repair as soon as you hear the strange sounds.
#3 Strange Smells
When you turn on your furnace for the first time of the year, it is not uncommon to smell dust. When the furnace is not in use, dust can build up. After the furnace has been running for a few minutes, the dust will burn off, and you won’t smell anything.
If the smell remains after the furnace has been running, you should call a professional in furnace repair immediately. The smell is an indicator that there is something wrong with your furnace. It could also signify a serious safety hazard that needs to be addressed immediately.
#4 Higher Than Average Heating Bills
If you notice that your heating bills have increased, there is a good chance that your furnace is to blame. If your furnace isn’t functioning as efficiently as possible, it will need to work overtime to keep the house warm. If you call a professional in furnace repair, they will give your furnace a tuneup and make the necessary repairs to get it functioning quickly. After a few months, the repair cost will pay for itself in the money that you will save on your heating bill.
#5 The Pilot Light Is Yellow
If your furnace is functioning properly, the pilot light will be blue. When the pilot light is blue, it means that the combination of gasses is safe and ideal. If the pilot light is yellow, you should call for furnace repair immediately. The yellow light signifies a problem with the combination of gasses, which can be very dangerous. The yellow light can signify high levels of carbon monoxide, which is an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly. If you notice that the pilot light on your furnace is yellow, you should call a professional in repair immediately.
#6 The Furnace Has Trouble Kicking On or Staying On
When you turn on the heat in your Chattanooga, TN home, the furnace should kick on right away. It should also stay on until the house has reached the desired temperature. If the furnace isn’t kicking on or won’t stay on, you should call a professional in furnace repair. A few things could be causing the problem, such as a malfunctioning thermostat, faulty wiring, an issue with the pilot light, or a broken fan motor. It would take the knowledge and experience of an HVAC tech to figure out what is causing the problem and make the necessary repairs.
#7 Turning the Thermostat Up Doesn’t Help
If it is cold in your Chattanooga, TN home, your first instinct will be to turn up the thermostat. If you turn up the thermostat a few degrees and nothing happens, it may be time to call a professional in furnace repair. Before making the call, you should check the temperature outdoors. If it is exceptionally cold outside, you may need to turn up the thermostat more than just a few degrees. If it isn’t colder than most days, you will need to call a professional. The thermostat could be broken, and it might not be sending the correct messages to the furnace. You could also have a faulty pilot light or a leak in the ducts. It would take an expert in furnace repair to figure out why turning up the thermostat isn’t helping and then to make the necessary repairs.
#8 Poor Air Quality In the Home
The quality of the air in your home is very important to you and your family. If the air quality is poor, and a member of your family has asthma, allergies, or any other respiratory issues, the air quality can make their symptoms worse. If nobody in the house has respiratory issues, poor air quality can cause coughing, sneezing, and a stuffy nose.
If you notice that the air quality in the home is poor, your furnace could be to blame. If the furnace isn’t working properly, it could be putting dust, mold, mildew, or other irritants into the air, which will circulate around the home. If you believe that your home’s air quality is poor, you should call a professional in furnace repair immediately. The sooner the problem is resolved, the sooner you and your family will be breathing clean air again.
#9 Chills In the House
If certain areas of the house are chillier than others, your furnace could be to blame. If the furnace is not working properly and cannot keep the entire home warm, you should call a professional in furnace repair immediately. If your furnace is broken, it will need to work overtime to keep the whole house warm. This will cause a significant increase in your energy bill, and it can reduce the maximum lifespan of your furnace. When you call an expert in repair, they will inspect the furnace to determine the cause of the problem.
#10 Ice On the Roof
If there has been no rain or snow in Chattanooga, TN, but there is ice on the roof, your furnace could be to blame. This can occur if the heat from your home is rising to the attic and leaking out, rather than staying in the living area of your home, keeping it warm.
If you notice ice on the roof, you should call a professional in furnace repair immediately. If the ice is allowed to accumulate on the roof, it can cause roof damage that can be very expensive to repair.
#11 Condensation On the Windows
If there is condensation building up on your windows, there are several things that could be causing it. One issue that can be causing the condensation is an issue with your furnace. If the problem is persistent and you have checked out other sources, you should call a professional in furnace repair to inspect the system to determine if it is responsible.
If your furnace isn’t working properly, it can be expensive to have the problem repaired. The best way to keep your furnace functioning properly, so you don’t need to call for a furnace repair, is to have it maintained every year. Right before the heating season begins, you should call a professional to have your furnace maintained. There are a few benefits of having this done on an annual basis.
#1 Ensures Proper Airflow
When you have your furnace maintained by a professional every year, you can be sure that you are getting adequate airflow. If there are any airflow issues, your furnace will need to work twice as hard to heat your Chattanooga, TN home to the desired temperature. This will cause your energy bill to increase, and it can wear your furnace out sooner than it should.
#2 Keep You And Your Family Safe
When you have a furnace professional maintain your furnace every year, it will keep your family safe. Your furnace relies on natural gas, propane, or oil to heat your home. If there are any small issues with the furnace, it can cause a gas leak in your home, which can be harmful to your family’s health and even deadly. When you have your furnace maintained every year, the technician will inspect the furnace to make sure that there are no gas leaks in the home.
#3 Reduce Repairs
One of the best reasons to have your furnace maintained every year is because it will reduce the need for furnace repairs in the middle of winter. During the maintenance check, the technician will be able to detect small issues that can become major issues. When small problems are repaired early, you won’t need to call for furnace repair later.
#4 Keeps Your Furnace Running Efficiently
When your furnace is maintained every year, it will increase the efficiency of the furnace. This means that your furnace won’t need to work overtime to keep your home warm. This will keep your energy costs down and help your furnace reach the maximum lifespan.
#5 Eliminate Fire Hazards
During your furnace maintenance check, the technician will check for any loose or broken wires. Because these are potential fire hazards, it is essential that you have your furnace maintained every year.
#6 Maintain the Manufacturer’s Warranty
If your furnace is still under warranty, you will need to have it maintained every year to maintain the warranty. If your furnace is not working properly and you have never had it maintained, the manufacturer won’t pay to repair or replace the broken part. Sure, there will be a cost for the annual furnace maintenance, but it will be a lot less expensive than if you have to pay for a furnace repair out of your own pocket.
#7 Filter Change
The filter in your furnace is essential in keeping the system free of dust, dirt, and other allergens. When the filter gets dirty, it will need to be replaced, which usually needs to be done a few times a year. When you have your furnace maintained every year, the tech will replace the filter, so you don’t have to.
If you have any issues with your furnace and need to call an expert in furnace repair, contact Metro Plumbing, Heating, and Air. You should also call us every year to have your furnace tuned up and maintained. We are a local family-owned business and have been servicing homeowners and business owners in Chattanooga, TN, and the surrounding areas since 1989. We understand how important it is for your heat to be working properly when it is cold outside. This is why we offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call for furnace service, we will figure out what is wrong and make the necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
To schedule an appointment for furnace maintenance or repair, give us at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air a call today.
