The weather in Sacramento this time of the year can be all over the place, with “unseasonably” warm weeks and chillier temperatures at night. That said, it’s important that we be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has to bring our way. The best way to do that is by staying on top of our HVAC service needs—namely maintenance and repairs.
Of course, scheduling your heating maintenance now (if you haven’t already) will reduce the likelihood that you’ll need repairs this fall or winter. During maintenance, our technicians thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust your heating system all while checking for small repair needs before they become much bigger. Of course, even with diligent care, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong. So, it’s important that you know the signs that something is amiss. Read on as we uncover three of those signs!
Foul Odors
If you’re one of many homeowners who owns a gas furnace, you should never assume that any smells coming from it are “normal.” Sure, you may detect a faint smell when you turn it on the first time for the season as dust burns off (unless you had the system maintained recently), but if you smell anything beyond that, it’s cause for concern.
You might be dealing with a gas leak or an exhaust problem. This can happen in an aging furnace especially, which is prone to accumulating cracks in the heat exchanger component. Also if this occurs, it can lead to carbon monoxide exposure.
Since this is an odorless gas, you won’t have your nose to rely on. In addition to smelling for actual gas, your home should be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors as well.
Difficulty Starting or Hard-Starting
Is your furnace having a hard time starting up? It’s probably not your imagination. You may turn your thermostat on to hear a slight boom or similar sound minutes later. What happens is that if the burners are obstructed, by dust and other debris for example, then they have to burn through the grime before they can effectively do their job.
You’re essentially hearing a small explosion within your furnace. While the system itself isn’t going to blow up on you, it could definitely create problems internally, including the aforementioned cracked heat exchangers.
Heat Is Not Powerful Enough
Your furnace is designed to heat your home to the temperatures shown on your thermostat. If you notice your thermostat is a few degrees above where you think the temperature actually is, or if you notice cold spots throughout your home, it’s time to give us a call.
If your heater isn’t actually heating your home properly, it’s a sign that something is preventing it from doing so, and it’s draining more power than necessary while trying to keep you comfortable. As a result it’s more likely to break down and accumulate wear and tear. Be sure to give us a call if your heating system is not quite up to par on performance.
For reliable heater repair in Sacramento, CA, contact Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc. The Guys in the Big Red Trucks!