While Santa Rosa and the North Bay area doesn’t have to deal with blizzards or sub-zero temperatures like other parts of the country, our winters can still be surprisingly cold. After sunset, it’s not uncommon for the temperature to drop by 30 degrees or more within a few hours. When this happens, you’re likely going to crank up your furnace to keep your home nice and warm.
Unfortunately, a good number of homeowners don’t really think about their furnace until it’s too late. They assume everything is working perfectly because their home is nice and warm. But then the furnace stops cycling, and suddenly it’s clear that there’s a problem.
Here at Valley Comfort Heating and Air, we’ve had our share of people calling in because it’s incredibly cold and their furnace has gone out. We hate to see people freezing in their homes due to a HVAC failure, and we want to help you avoid finding yourself in that situation. Your furnace is a complex machine with many parts that can fail, but fortunately, there are usually warning signs that occur before your heat goes out. Let’s take a look at some of these warning signs and what you can do when you see them.
Strange Noises
When your furnace is operating normally, you shouldn’t hear anything odd. A furnace without any issues has a predictable hum to it to the point that you don’t really even notice the sounds because you hear them all the time. However, if you start hearing noises from the furnace that are unusual or louder than normal, it can be a sign that something isn’t right.
- If you hear booming or banging when the furnace cycles on, it’s often a sign of delayed ignition. This means that gas has built up a bit before igniting, creating what is essentially a small explosion. Repeated explosions can crack the heat exchanger.
- If you hear squealing or screeching, you likely have a mechanical problem such as a dry motor bearing or a frayed blower belt.
- If you hear rattling, it can be something simple like a loose panel. It could also be something much more serious, such as a cracked heat exchanger.
What you should know: If your furnace is making weird noises, especially if it makes them every time it cycles on, it’s time to give us a call. Replacing a small, inexpensive part now may prevent an expensive system failure later.
Weird Smells
When you first turn on your furnace in the fall, you should expect to smell a bit of an odd scent as the dust burns off. That’s normal and nothing to be worried about. However, if this smell persists, changes, or becomes stronger, it’s a warning sign you shouldn’t ignore. Here are some of the types of smells you should be concerned about:
- The smell of rotten eggs is the most dangerous smell. Because natural gas is orderless, utility companies add a special type of chemical to it that makes it smell like rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell rotten eggs when your furnace comes on, get out of your house immediately and call the gas company. This is a serious problem that can be fatal.
- If you smell burning plastic or an electrical smell, it’s a good sign that either the blower motor is overheating or some wiring has started melting. While this isn’t as immediately dangerous as a gas leak, it’s still a serious concern.
- Finally, if you smell metallic scents or a musty smell, it’s usually a sign of either mold growth in your ductwork or corrosion. Both can impact your indoor air quality.
What you should know: An odd smell the first time your furnace comes on in the fall is normal, but rotten eggs or other types of strong or persistent smells can be dangerous.
Uneven Heating
Have you walked into one room of your home and suddenly felt cold, then went to another room and felt almost too warm? This type of uneven heating can be a sign that your furnace is having issues distributing air correctly. There are a few factors that can contribute to inconsistent heating:
- Warm air could be escaping into the crawlspace or attic due to leaky ductwork.
- Another issue is that your blower motor could be failing. If the motor isn’t able to provide enough power to the fan, it won’t be able to push the warm out to the rooms farthest from the unit.
- Age could also be the issue. As furnace units get older, they become less efficient. Just because your furnace used to be able to heat your entire house doesn’t mean it is still capable of doing so. It may be time for a replacement.
What you should know: If you can eliminate issues such as drafty windows, uneven heating is a sign that something mechanical is wrong with your furnace. Whether it’s new ductwork or a few motor, something likely needs replaced.
Short Cycling
Have you noticed that your furnace comes on, runs for just a few minutes, and then shuts off before your house reaches the selected temperature, then cycles back on a minute or two later? This is called short cycling, and it is very hard on your HVAC system. Every time the furnace starts a cycle, it uses a surge of power that puts wear on the ignitor and the motor.
What causes short cycling?
- Dirty flame sensor
- Clogged air filter (causes the system to overheat and trip the safety)
- Malfunctioning thermostat
What you should know: If your furnace is short cycling or seems to be stuttering, it’s using up extra gas and electricity while also causing damage to the entire system. Often, the fix is simple and inexpensive, so you want to take care of it before it becomes a bigger problem.
A Yellow Flame
If your furnace is an older gas model that has a pilot light you can see, the color of the flame can be a good indicator of how healthy your system is.
If it’s blue, it means you have a healthy furnace that is operating effectively. A blue flame indicates a clean burn. However, if the flame is yellow or orange, it’s a sign of incomplete combustion. That means either the burners are dirty or there isn’t enough oxygen getting to the furnace.
What you should know: Incomplete combustion is the main cause of carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless, and incredibly dangerous gas. If you see a yellow/orange flame or you notice streaks of soot around your furnace, you need to turn off the unit and call a professional right away.
Think Your Furnace Has an Issue? Reach Out to Valley Comfort Today
When it comes to your furnace, ignoring an issue is never a good idea. All it will do is make the problem worse. It’s might me time to upgrade to a better solution.
The team here at Valley Comfort Heating and Air has been keeping Sonoma County warm for years. We understand how the local climate can affect your heating and cooling concerns, and we’re here to make sure you never have to spend a night feel uncomfortable.
If you’ve noticed any of these furnace warning signs, reach out to your local certified Carrier experts at Valley Comfort Heating and Air today to schedule a diagnostic visit.
