Signs you Need a Yearly Furnace Tune-Up
Posted by Moore Home Services
HVAC Basics
A yearly furnace tune-up ensures your home’s heating system runs at peak performance. Far too often, when homeowner experiences furnace problems, they don’t realize it until they’re faced with no heating and a costly repair bill.
Looking out for these common furnace issues and booking a yearly furnace tune-up will help prevent HVAC problems later down the line.
How often should I book a tune-up?
Furnace tune-ups are important for a number of reasons. Firstly, they help ensure that your furnace operates safely, efficiently, and with minimal noise.
Secondly, a furnace tune-up also helps you save money on utility bills by ensuring that your furnace runs at peak efficiency. This means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, lowering monthly bills.
Depending on the type and age of your furnace, a tune-up once a year before furnace season should keep your system in good working order.
Why is a Yearly Furnace Tune-Up Important?
You may be tempted to put off a yearly furnace tune-up, especially if there aren’t any problems to fix. But regular maintenance is an important part of keeping your heating system running efficiently.
The purpose of a furnace tune-up is to inspect the entire system and make any necessary repairs. Moreover, there are a heap of benefits to be gained from having regular furnace maintenance, including:
Improved efficiency. A properly tuned furnace will provide better heating and cooling results than an untuned one.
Lesser energy usage. You’ll use less energy while still getting the same amount of heat or cooling from your unit. This means lower utility bills and more money saved in your pocketbook each month.
Less wear and tear on parts. Regular maintenance helps prevent wear and tear on components inside the unit, leading to expensive repairs down the road if left unchecked over time.
Signs your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up
Not sure what to look out for? If you see any of these signs, book some furnace maintenance.
Higher Energy Bills
Your furnace should be able to keep your home at the desired temperature. Furnaces have moving parts that become less efficient over time and create friction. This causes them to use more energy, leading to higher utility bills.
Something Smells Funny
Do you smell something burning? It’s probably your furnace. Smoke and strange odors are a sign of a malfunctioning furnace. The most common cause is a dirty filter. If you have pets or allergies, cleaning or replacing the filter should be done monthly during the heating season.
A blocked flue pipe can also cause smoke from vents, along with strange odors like sulfur or rotten eggs.
Heat is Patchy (Or There’s no Heat at All)
If you have a problem with the thermostat, it can cause the furnace to run in cycles. This means that it may not provide heat to all parts of your home or only provide heat to certain rooms. The other possibility is that there’s a problem with the vent system.
Changing the Thermostat Makes No Difference
If your thermostat isn’t working correctly, it could indicate something is wrong with the furnace itself. The thermostat measures the temperature in your home. It tells the furnace when to turn on or off based on the temperature range you set up. If something is wrong with this system, the furnace will run improperly and may not operate.
Pilot Light is Yellow or Orange
The pilot light on your furnace is supposed to be blue. If it’s red or orange, it’s time for a tune-up. When the pilot light goes out, it can cause problems. Here are a few reasons why your furnace might not be showing a blue flame:
The thermocouple is malfunctioning. The thermocouple detects when there is no flame in the combustion chamber and shuts off the gas to prevent any damage to the furnace.
The gas valve is malfunctioning. The gas valve opens and closes to allow gas flow from the tank to the burner assembly. If this valve sticks open or closed, it will cause your pilot light to flicker or go out entirely.
There isn’t enough oxygen. A blocked pipe could prevent oxygen from getting through to help the gas burn correctly. These needs to be checked immediately as it could lead to carbon monoxide escaping into your home.
Furnace is old
Older furnaces tend to lose efficiency over time due to accumulated dust buildup inside the heat exchanger (heat shield). Dust particles block airflow through the burners, which reduces their ability to combust properly while increasing fuel usage and carbon monoxide emissions into your home. A technician will clean out debris blocking air vents to restore proper combustion.
Keep your Santa Rosa home cozy this winter by booking a furnace tune-up with the pros at Moore Home Services.
