Central Alabama continues to experience below average temperatures this winter…how’s your heater holding up? We don’t want you to have to deal with a problem at the most inconvenient time- like in the middle of a freezing cold night. Know what to look, smell, listen, and feel for to catch a potential heating problem before it goes out on you. If you notice any of the following signs, give Mainline Heating and Air Conditioning a call so we can diagnose, make the necessary repairs and help prevent a furnace failure.
Here are five of the most common signs you to be aware of:
1. Unusually High Energy Bills
Understandably, this is one of the first signs that indicate a problem. While it’s normal for your electricity or gas bill to be higher when temperatures are cold, the difference shouldn’t be astronomical. Just like how a drastically high water bill is an indication of a water leak, a high energy bill can indicate poor efficiency that can mean your unit needs attention. Similarly, if you also feel as though the heater is turning on much more often than it usually does, this can be a red flag. When the heat runs continuously throughout the day with no (or very few) breaks, the unit will wear down faster and could even overheat.
2. Your House Doesn’t Stay Warm
If the air still feels chilly in your home regardless of the temperature you’ve set on the thermostat, then you should call us as soon as possible. You and your family need a warm home on these cold winter days and we want to help! Address this problem as soon as you notice it. Our Mainline technicians are standing by and ready to complete heater repairs in and around the Birmingham, AL area.
3. Unusual Noise from Unit or Vents
Heating systems are somewhat noisy by default, but when it’s noisier than usual this could indicate a malfunction. In addition, noises coming out from the vents could also mean that the system isn’t working properly. It will be hard to determine if it’s a minor or major problem just from this observation, but either way, this is a sign that you need to call Mainline and let us figure out what’s going on.
4. Yellow Pilot Light
It’s a good idea to safely take a look at the pilot light of your furnace, and you should do this regularly but especially when your heat isn’t working well. The pilot light should be blue as opposed to yellow (or any other color). If you don’t see a flame, it means your pilot light went out and will need to be reignited, and inspected to see what caused the issue. If the color of the flame isn’t blue, you could have an issue with the efficiency of the furnace, which could potentially affect the air quality inside your home.
5. Uneven Hot and Cold Spots Around the House
Have you noticed that the heat doesn’t seem to work in certain areas of the house, but works totally fine in other spots? If there isn’t a reasonable explanation for this (drafty windows or lack of vents), then this could be a sign of some heater and/or ductwork problems. This is a common problem in many homes, but especially in older homes. Some ductwork may not have been set up properly, while other systems are simply aged and worn down. Old home or not, it’s a good idea to contact us to check the status of your heating and duct system and see what can be done to enhance its efficiency. We want every room in your home to be nice and warm, and that is possible through a few different options.
Do You Need Heater Repairs?
Your heater won’t perform at peak efficiency if you don’t take care of it.
So now you’re aware of the most common signs that your heater most likely needs repairs. Don’t wait until something’s broken to contact Mainline Heating and Air Conditioning. After a tuneup and/or repairs, you won’t have to wonder if your home’s heating system will be able to cope with the next cold snap.
