Would you believe it if we told you that the average American spends over $500 on heating expenses every year? Plus, the more your equipment is used, the more it costs you.
However, use is not the only factor that increases heating costs. A broken or damaged unit can also increase the costs. So, the sooner we get our units fixed, the better.
The question is – how can we know when to schedule for emergency furnace repair? Well, watch out for these top signs so you can call a repair technician immediately:
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1. Odd Smell
Furnaces produce a pungent smell when we install them for the first time, but they lose that odour as time goes by. However, if there is a lingering smell that doesn’t go away, you have to service the unit.
A strong smell coming from our unit’s exhaust is an indication of very poor combustion. You can’t possibly smell CO (carbon monoxide), but we can smell Aldehydes—a by-product of poor combustion.
2. Leaking Furnace
Are you seeing a pool of fluid around or near your unit? Don’t panic. Leaking furnaces are common issues Calgary homeowners face throughout their lifetime.
Expect a little bit of condensation, but if water is forming in puddles outside your furnace or right on the floor quickly after you start up your unit, then there is a problem that requires you to call an expert.
3. Yellow Flame
A blue flame indicates our furnaces are working well, but a yellow one means the flame’s temperature is low. We also need to note that an orange-coloured or yellowish flame is a sign that our furnaces are leaking CO.
In this situation, you must contact a furnace repair technician to have the unit fixed. Otherwise, a CO leak can be very harmful to our health and even cause a fire hazard.
4. Fan Not Shutting Off
This is one of the most common issues, which sometimes happens because of human mistakes. If you realize that your unit’s fan isn’t shutting off or running continually, then you have to countercheck whether its thermostat is reset to ‘auto.’
If you rule out human error and still have issues, it means your thermostat and furnace aren’t working well. Your repair technician should be able to determine whether this is an electrical problem or mechanical failure with the unit or the furnace.
5. Strange Noises
Is your unit rattling, squeaking, banging, popping, or squealing? These are clear signs of worn-out parts in our furnaces, including bearings, fan belts, and blower motors.
Noises, such as pings or pops, can also come from our air ducts’ thermal expansion as the season changes, but those sounds won’t persist like strange noises coming from our furnaces under stress do.
6. Unit Not Heating Our Home
Your furnace may not always be the culprit. Your kids have probably been playing with the unit’s thermostat. However, if this isn’t the issue, then your furnace is the culprit, and only an emergency repair technician can fix it.
In conclusion, don’t ignore these signs. Ignoring them may lead to a furnace breakdown and pose a great risk to your safety and health. If you observe any of these signs, contact a professional in Calgary for emergency and quality repair services.
