Don’t Let a Broken Heater Ruin Scary Movie Night!
At Halloween time, it can be fun to cuddle up for a night of watching scary movies. Scary movies that send chills up and down the spine are exciting; getting chills because of a broken heater is the opposite of fun. Autumn nights can be quite chilly, so homeowners rely on heaters to keep their houses comfortable and to prevent pipes from freezing. When the heater breaks down, it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of a heater in need of repair.
Home Not Heating up
If the thermostat is set to 70, but the house still feels chilly, homeowners may need to call for heater repair. A number of issues could explain the heater’s failure, from a faulty motor to a dirty heating element, or even a malfunction with the thermostat.
Other symptoms to watch for are cold spots, where some rooms don’t get enough heat, which may indicate something is wrong with the blower fan or air ducts, and frequent power cycles when the furnace turns on and off too often. This demonstrates that the furnace is struggling to keep the house at the proper temperature.
Loud, Unusual Noises From Heater
Some minor noises are typical when the heater first starts up, but chronic loud noises spell trouble. Keep an ear out for:
- Screeching: The screeching of metal on metal could mean the shaft bearings are worn, or the blower fan is out of alignment, or the fan belt is loose, among other things.
- Banging: A loud banging sound may indicate loose air ducts or a buildup of dirt on the burner.
- Scraping: A scraping noise might be the result of a blower fan that needs adjustment.
- Grinding: Low grinding may be a warning of something wrong with the motor or the blower fan; possibly, the heater needs lubrication.
- Popping: A faint popping noise could suggest a problem with the heater’s ignition.
Unexplained Spike in Utility Bills
Household heaters use gas or electricity to heat the home. If there is a sudden, unexplained spike in the utility bills, it could be because there is something wrong with the furnace that is making it less efficient. Usually, a rise in the bill is because the heater is turning on and off too much. This frequent power cycling suggests the furnace is struggling to heat the whole house to the desired temperature.
The furnace may be struggling because there is something wrong with the ignition or fuel source, there may be a malfunction with the thermostat, the air filter, and air ducts may be dirty, or there may be a leak somewhere in the ductwork.
There are many things that can go wrong with a furnace. The best way to prevent these problems is to schedule routine maintenance of the HVAC system. Then, as soon as homeowners notice something unusual happening with their furnace, they should call a certified HVAC technician for a diagnosis and heater repair.
Rely on Skovron Mechanical Services, LLC
Skovron Mechanical Services, LLC, has been serving Manchester, NH, for over 15 years. Their technicians are trained in residential and commercial heating, cooling, and refrigeration. They specialize in heater repair and have experience with heat pumps, gas, oil, propane, and kerosene furnaces. If it heats the home, rely on Skovron Mechanical Services, LLC, to repair and maintain it.
