Preparing for Summer

The cold months of winter are approaching, which means many people are turning on their furnaces for the first time or the first time in a long time. One of the worst things they can encounter is a furnace that either isn't working properly or needs to be replaced altogether. Fortunately, there are few signs you can listen for to ensure you take care of your furnace before it gives out on you completely. If you see any of the following signs happening with your heating system, contact a heating repair company to get it fixed immediately.

Skyrocketing Energy Bills

Most utility companies offer homeowners the option of pricing out their utility bills on a rolling average so that the spikes from month to month are not so jarring. For this reason, you should have a pretty good idea every single month of what you expect to pay, and while the utility company's energy rates may go up, your usage should stay relatively the same from year to year. If you notice that your usage is going up, though, that means your furnace is having to work harder than normal and will eventually give out completely.

Rooms Not Heating Evenly

As your system starts to age, you might notice that certain rooms are warmer than the other. This is almost directly tied in to the proximity of that room from your furnace, as increased wear and tear on the system will cause furnaces to not heat as efficiently, resulting in rooms that are colder than others. You may be able to simply clean the ductwork and solve some of the problems, but most likely, you'll need to schedule a heating repair service to investigate the cause of the issue and have it fixed in order to get your furnace working again.

Weird Sounds and Smells

If your unit is working properly, you should rarely ever hear a sound coming from your home's furnace, besides the simple clicking on and off of your system. If you hear a repeated clicking sound while it's in operation or you hear a grinding or whining noise, that means you have parts that are broken off and need to be reattached before they cause major damage. Additionally, a mildewy smell that's emanating from your vents is a sign that mold is present; it needs to be eliminated before it causes significant health issues to those underneath your roof.