Here’s something you don’t want to happen this winter: a furnace that abruptly ceases to work. Nobody wants to be trapped in a cold house, desperately trying to arrange for the furnace service in Akron, OH to warm it back up. We have 24-hour emergency repairs to help whenever you encounter a furnace failure, but we know you’d rather avoid this sort of trouble in the first place if possible.
The good news is that furnaces rarely fail without giving off some early warnings. If you know what to look for, you can get our technicians in early to repair the furnace (or, in cases of extremely aged furnaces, replace it) at a more convenient time. The 50% rule for replacement can help you decide when it’s time to stop spending on repairs. Below is a list of the more common warnings that you have a furnace heading for trouble.
What are the early warning signs of a failing furnace and how can maintenance help?
Regular maintenance makes it easier to spot these common warning signs early:
- Moisture buildup indoors – could signal airflow issues in your furnace.
- Short-cycling – frequent on/off cycles stress components and waste energy.
- Yellow, red, or green burner flame – indicates poor combustion or ventilation, a safety risk.
- Unusual noises – rattling, banging, humming suggest motor or blower trouble.
- Rising energy bills or weak airflow – signs of clogged filters, worn parts, or inefficiency.
- Frequent repair visits or increasing problems – means system nearing end of life.
ONE: Moisture build-up in the house
At first, this may not sound like an issue that has anything to do with your furnace. But if you’re encountering moisture appearing on the walls or ceilings during the winter, and it isn’t something you’ve seen before, it could be that the furnace has airflow issues and the air is becoming stagnant. Proper ventilation and airflow are signs of a healthy furnace, so when they stop, the furnace may not be healthy.
TWO: Short-cycling (the stop-n-start furnace)
Have you noticed that the furnace is turning on more often than usual? The standard way a furnace runs is in heating cycles that last 15 minutes or longer. When the furnace shuts down early and then turns back on again, repeating this process a few times an hour, it’s called short-cycling. What to do about short-cycling depends on the root cause, but a professional diagnosis is always recommended. It places heavy wear on the furnace and can indicate a range of major repair issues that require professionals to investigate.
THREE: Change in burner flame color
If you have a furnace where you can look through the cabinet and see the burner flames, make an occasional check on them to see if they’re burning a steady blue. A change to yellow, red, or green means incomplete gas combustion and possibly poor furnace venting. Both require professional attention, so we recommend you shut the furnace off and call us for assistance.
FOUR: Strange sounds
Any noise that’s out-of-the-ordinary for your furnace is something to pay attention to. These warning sounds include shrieking, hissing, clanging, booming, clicking, and grinding.
FIVE: A spike in heating bills
Most malfunctions in a furnace, even if they’re not yet affecting heating output, will cause the system to expend more energy to run. This will appear on your utility bills. Don’t shrug off an abrupt rise in heating costs: not only is it expensive, but it may be telling you the furnace is heading for a breakdown.
SIX: You can’t adjust the thermostat to where you’re comfortable
Under normal circumstances, you should be able to set your thermostat to a steady temperature during the day, with an adjustment at night, and have the comfort you need. If you find that you’re continually making adjustments because the temperature keeps fluctuating, the issue could be with your thermostat or the furnace itself. In some cases, a faulty sensor could be to blame and may trick the system into shutting down too early.
Call Crown Group Ohio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for heating service.
