Ontario’s winter is beautiful, but one shouldn’t want to be caught with a broken furnace. An engaged check-up with HVAC is the magic key to keeping your home heated and your costs for electrical bills under control. Don’t wait until the first deep freeze hits!

Here are the key signs your furnace is in need of professional furnace repair and a deep heating system check.

1. Inconsistency in or Lack of Appropriate Heat.

That can indicate troubles from a blocked filter to a broken thermostat or blower motor. Failure to take it seriously results in your furnace burning fuel and doing a terrible job of heating your home without wasting energy. Another red flag, and even the warning early in the process of maintenance, is certain rooms being cold while others are comfortable.

2. Strange Noises.

 
A healthy furnace runs relatively quietly — if you can hardly notice it running. If your system begins to emit strange sounds, watch:  
Grinding or Scraping: Signals a significant problem with a belt or the blower wheel.  
Loud Bangs or Pops: May indicate that your ignition is delayed, possibly dangerous.  
Whining or Screeching: Typically indicates a failure with that motor’s bearings.  
Any such sounds are not normal and should be checked right away.

3. Air Quality and Persistent Dust.

A furnace may not run properly, so it will be unable to filter the air properly. This in turn increases dust, allergens—and air that gets stale and dry inside our homes. If a noticeable surge of irritation occurs with your breathing system, or if you suddenly discover more dust than usual over time, then your system should begin to pay closer attention in filtration and ventilation. A proper professional check ensures proper filtration of air.

4. Skyrocketing Utility Bills!

Are your heating bills drastically higher compared to last year, when the weather hasn’t turned markedly colder? The most obvious sign of low energy efficiency is a sudden increase in price. As components wear out or get dirty, your furnace has to work so much harder to provide the same amount of heat, costing you money.

5. Frequent Cycling (Turning On and Off).

Your furnace does normal cycling on and off a few times an hour. But if it starts “short cycling,” meaning turning on and off every few minutes, you have a problem. Perhaps the size of the unit isn’t correct or an airflow blocker is blocking out the air or a heat exchanger is faulty. There’s too much wear on the equipment during short cycling and your house won’t keep heating right.

Contact Airtek to learn more about furnace maintenance and HVAC training.