Wintertime temperatures are slowly but surely making way for warmer weather. However, with temps staying in the upper 60s and low 70s for now, nobody is likely to be turning on their air conditioners real soon. Your heater still has some time left before you can stop using it, but do you know if it will make it until the end of the heating season?
The answer to this depends on a number of things—the biggest factor being if your heater is in need of repairs. If your system does need repairs, the best thing you can do is give our team a call. But how do you know when you have that need? Read on as we uncover some of the top warning signs.
1. Strange Noises
If you have a furnace as your heating system, you’ll likely hear a little bit of noise coming from it during its operation. However, ongoing or especially loud noises are not normal occurrences. Things like extended clicking, rattling, squealing, and hissing are noises that should definitely signal you to call the pros.
If you have a heat pump, strange noises are an even bigger concern since these systems are generally pretty quiet.
2. Odd Smells
At the beginning of the heating season, it’s natural to smell a very faint burning odor. This is indicative of dust burning off the heater’s coils and vents. This smell typically dissipates in a few days, if not on the first day.
If you smell burning beyond this point, or at the end of the heating season, then it could be the sign of burning electrical components, leaking gas, or sulfur—all of which require an immediate emergency call to our team.
3. Lack of Warmth
Your heating system has one job, right?! It’s to keep your home warm and comfortable. If it can’t do this successfully, you should call for repairs right away. In a furnace, not only is this an annoying problem to have but it can signal a dangerous problem. A lack of warmth may be due to damaged heat exchangers which have the potential to leak harmful gases into your home.
In a heat pump system, a lack of warmth can mean that you have a refrigerant leak or some other problem.
4. Higher Than Average Utility Bills
Your energy bills will, of course, fluctuate according to the seasons and how much you actually use your heating system (as well as your air conditioner in the summer). What you shouldn’t see, though, are bills that are much higher than they were this same time last year. If you do discover this, it’s a sign that something may be causing your heater to work inefficiently.
The best thing you can do for your family’s comfort and for your budget is to give us a call ASAP. Even if the problem you’re having isn’t a dangerous one, it can impact the functionality of your heater, leaving you without warmth when you need the system next fall.
Have any concerns about your home heating system? Schedule your heating repair in Torrance, CA with Greenleaf Heating & Cooling. Contact us today!