When your furnace kicks on, you hear a bit of a noise, then you feel warmth begin to fill the house, and you stop thinking about it. But in the background, your furnace goes through its paces trying to keep your home warm.
What Are the Key Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair?
- Unusual or loud noises coming from the furnace
- Pilot light frequently going out or failing to stay lit
- A sudden spike in heating bills without increased usage
- Weak or inconsistent airflow from vents
- Furnace cycling on and off too frequently (short cycling)
- Strange odors or burning smells coming from the system
- Uneven heating or cold spots throughout the home
There are so many components and aspects of its operation that a broken furnace in Tampa, FL isn’t exactly uncommon. Let’s talk about what signs you can’t ignore and what they mean.
What Loud Noises from Your Furnace Could Mean
You know your furnace. You know that it usually runs a big loud at the start, but quickly quiets down and fades into the background. But now you’re noticing that it’s loud, or perhaps you just hear a noise that you know it normally doesn’t make. You’re right to be concerned.
The problem is, this in itself isn’t a problem, just a signal that something’s wrong. There could be a multitude of issues under the surface, but the only way you’ll know what it is for sure is when you have an HVAC technician take a look.
Why Your Furnace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit
When your pilot light goes out, it’s likely because there’s soot buildup around the flame sensor. The whole job of a flame sensor is to make sure there’s a flame going that keeps your furnace moving, and if that flame goes out, any gas in your furnace that’s not been burned yet could escape into your home’s air.
The flame sensor makes sure that doesn’t happen. But it could be so dirty that it thinks there’s no flame even though there is, causing it to kill the pilot light as a defense mechanism. By the way, it’s good that it’s doing its job, but it’s also impeding your ability to heat your home. This takes a service call to repair properly without voiding your furnace’s warranty.
Unexpected Heating Costs? Your Furnace May Be Failing
Heating season kicks in, you get your first bill, and it’s astronomically higher than the same bill from this time last year. If the gas rate hasn’t gone up and it’s not an exceptionally colder season than last year, that bill might stand out to you—as it should.
Your furnace has a level of efficiency, defined by an AFUE rating. This tells you how much fuel gets turned into warm air for your home. But even with that rating, it can drop when your furnace hasn’t been maintained or it has a broken component that, although doesn’t impair its operation, does make it work harder to achieve the same results.
Act Fast on These Furnace Warning Signs
Furnaces have so many potential problems that can spring up, and it’s important to pay attention to them all. We’re ready to help you fix any furnace problem you run into, and set you up with proper maintenance moving forward so that you have a low chance of running into these again. All it takes is a phone call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What are classic signs that a furnace might be broken?
Answer: Classic signs include unusual and loud sounds that aren’t normal for your unit, a pilot light that repeatedly goes out, and heating bills that suddenly spike without obvious cause. These indicate inefficiency or internal problems with your furnace.
Question: Why do unusual furnace noises matter?
Answer: If your furnace starts making noises it didn’t make before, such as banging, rattling, or excessive loudness, it often signals worn or failing internal components that need professional inspection and service.
Question: What does it mean if my furnace’s pilot light keeps going out?
Answer: A pilot light that frequently extinguishes usually means there’s soot buildup or a dirty flame sensor, preventing the furnace from maintaining fire and proper heat output. This needs servicing to avoid inefficiency or safety issues.
Question: Can a broken furnace cause high heating bills?
Answer: Yes. A furnace that is working harder than it should because of inefficiencies or internal issues will consume more energy, leading to noticeably higher heating costs even if the weather hasn’t changed.
Question: Are there other common signs a furnace is failing?
Answer: Other common signs include inconsistent heating throughout the home, short cycling (frequent on/off cycles), and a flame color that looks yellow rather than blue — which can signal incomplete combustion or potential safety hazards.
Contact The A/C Guy of Tampa Bay Inc. today to schedule your furnace repair as soon as possible.