Imagine this. It is a cold winter night. You and your family have just come in from playing in the snow to find the house surprisingly cold. Hoping to warm up quickly, you head over to the thermostat to discover the house’s temperature is far lower than it should be. You ramp up the heat, and the furnace clicks on…only to click right back off. No warm air is coming from your vents, and you start to panic. You try again…nothing. Now you’re worried your family will freeze during the night. What should you do? It’s time to call for emergency heating repair!
As locals of the Tri-Cities ourselves, we know the fear of a cold night and have helped countless families with emergency heating repair services. We don’t want you to experience the same worry, so this blog will cover common heating issues, the importance of timely repairs, and tips for avoiding heating system failures.
Common Heating System Issues Requiring Emergency Repairs:
As homeowners, we often take our furnaces for granted. That is, until something unfortunate happens. However, by being informed of common issues, we can recognize and take action when something goes wrong. This, in turn, often negates the worst of the repairs, costs, and downtime. We suggest committing these common heating systems to memory to better understand your furnace.
- When the burner is not igniting (you may hear clicking, but fail to see the spark ignition)
- When you hear unusual noises, such as banging, squealing, pinging, popping, grinding, or rattling.
- When you smell an unpleasant odor, including gas, metal, rotten eggs.
- Note: the smell of burning dust is typical when first starting the furnace for the season. It should go away within 15 minutes. It is only a concern if the smell of burning dust persists.
- When your home experiences uneven heating or certain rooms are not warming up at the same speed as the rest of the house.
- When you notice frequent cycling (i.e., when the system turns on and off too often).
- When the furnace is not producing heat or blowing cold air.
- When you have a complete system shutdown or lack of airflow.
Signs You Need Emergency Heating Repair:
As you saw in our above list, there are quite a variety of potential concerns your furnace may experience. When it comes to these issues, one should never delay getting them addressed. However, there is a difference between getting emergency heating repair and waiting until the next business day to call for an available service. Here are signs you need emergency heating repair:
- Signs of smoking or burning.
- The carbon monoxide alarm is going off.
- There are persistent strange smells, such as burning odors.
- The system is failing to turn on.
- The system turns off and on frequently without maintaining the set temperature.
- Your energy bill has escalated wildly without increased usage.
If you notice any of these signs, be sure to turn off your furnace until your technician arrives.
Why Timely Repairs Are Crucial:
Taking action to secure emergency heating repair services as soon as you notice one of these critical warning signs does more than just get your system fixed. In the case of a severe emergency, such as issues 1-3, you are ensuring the safety of your family and home. The last thing anyone wants is for a fire to occur.
Additionally, by calling for quick repair, you avoid further damage to your heating system. As we are sure you are aware, HVAC systems are not cheap. By taking quick action, you can minimize the necessary repairs and further lengthen the lifespan of your system.
Even if you are suffering from a more common problem that poses no severe risk, getting immediate repairs comes with benefits. Not only will it decrease heightened energy costs, but it will help maintain a consistent indoor temperature. While that may seem like a small benefit, it is a huge advantage when temperatures drop!
Preventing Heating Emergencies:
Fortunately, there is an easy way to prevent the majority of heating emergencies! That is through regular maintenance and annual furnace maintenance.
In terms of regular maintenance, you can do this easily on your own. To know what is required of you, we highly advise following the recommended procedures provided by the manufacturer. This typically includes consistently changing the filters and guaranteeing that nothing inside your home is blocking the vents.
For annual maintenance, it is best to call in a specialist. Even if you are not currently seeing any issues, having a trained technician inspect, clean, and service your furnace is critical. Not only will they be able to identify any potential problems, but they can also clean away grime that may be inching up your energy bills and provide expert advice on actions you can take to keep your system running well.
We, as well as furnace manufacturers, recommend getting your system professionally maintained at least once a year. This will ensure everything is as it should be and guarantee most warranties. However, if your home or business puts a high strain on your heating system, you may want to consider bi-annual or quarterly services. We suggest asking your technician for their recommendation based on your unique situation.
Apollo Heating & Air’s Emergency Heating Repair Services:
As an award-winning, locally owned and operated business, we understand how crazy our Tri-Cities winters can be. The last thing you want is for your furnace to stop working during the middle of a snow-filled winter night.
At Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning, we offer emergency heating repair services. Our crews are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and we provide a response quickly to handle your problem right when you need us. Don’t let a heating emergency leave you in the cold. Call Apollo Heating & Air now for fast, reliable emergency heating repair services in the Tri-Cities!