4 Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair

Furnaces are reliable appliances that can run for a long time with little maintenance, but sometimes components do malfunction and need repair. If you notice any of these four signs, it's an indication that your furnace is in need of fixing.

1. Dust Emitting from the Furnace Vents

The only thing that should come from your furnace's vents is warm air, and dust particles certainly shouldn't come out of the vents. If you notice dust particles coming out of your home's heat vents, there's a dust problem within the system somewhere.

Sometimes a dust issue is resolved easily by changing out the filter, but usually, there's a bigger problem by the time dust actually comes out of the vents. To remove the dust buildup that's in the heating system, the heating vents must be cleaned out by a professional HVAC technician.

2. Cold Air Comes from the Furnace Vents

A furnace is supposed to provide warm air, and something is definitely amiss if it's blowing only cool or even cold air into your home. This could be a sign that the blower fan, which blows warm air through the system, has failed. There are several other issues that could also lead to cold air coming from heat vents, though.

If cold air comes from your furnace, an HVAC technician will often be able to determine what the precise issue with the system is. They'll also know how to fix it.

3. Unusual Noises Come from the Furnace

Should you ever notice unusual noises coming from the furnace itself, there's likely a developing problem with the mechanics of the furnace's machinery. 

Squeaks, pops, whines and other noises that weren't previously coming from the furnace ought to be investigated by an HVAC technician — and an appointment with a technician should be made promptly before the noises grow to be a bigger problem.

4. Heating Bills Increase Dramatically Year-Over-Year

Heating bills naturally fluctuate with the seasons, but they should remain relatively comparable from one year to the next. While heating costs might increase or decrease slightly, there shouldn't be dramatic increases from one year to the next unless you can see an obvious explanation. For instance, building an addition will naturally increase your heating costs.

If your heating costs go up from one year to the next, an issue with your furnace might be to blame. Problems may be developing that reduce the furnace's efficiency. An HVAC technician can perform a tune-up to get your system running well again.

If you are having trouble with your furnace, contact a furnace repair service.

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