3 Signs That Your Furnace Needs Some Tlc | Sound Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

Inconsistent Heat

Your furnace can be inconsistent in a couple of different ways. The first is that your home is warmer at some times and cooler at others. Ideally, your furnace should be able to maintain a consistent temperature for your home over the course of a day. However, this can be hampered when temperatures outside fluctuate significantly.

Before you jump to any conclusions about potential furnace issues, consider whether or not you’ve had a cold snap. This may require adjusting your thermostat down some so your furnace doesn’t have to strain while trying to heat your home. However, if temperature inconsistencies are persistent and you never know what to expect, then it becomes a red flag.

It is also possible that inconsistent temperatures happen across your home as a whole. For example, you may have one room that is warmer and another room that is cooler. This problem usually has more to do with your ductwork and your furnace itself. Holes in your ductwork may allow heat to escape from certain areas before reaching the individual rooms, resulting in cold spots.

Unusual Cycles

Another red flag is if your furnace suddenly starts to cycle differently. This can be difficult to pinpoint if you don’t pay attention to how your furnace operates. It’s a good idea to monitor furnace operation purposefully at least once a month. Time heating cycles for an hour or so to make sure they are consistent.

If heating cycles are turning on and off every couple of minutes, something is wrong. The same is true if your furnace is turning on and staying on consistently for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. When this happens, your furnace may be struggling to keep up with warming your home to the thermostat settings you have selected.

Lack of Maintenance

When was the last time you scheduled maintenance for your furnace? If it has been longer than a year or you don’t even know if and when you’ve had professional maintenance for your unit, that’s a big indicator that it’s time to put some love into it.

Your furnace will only work well if it receives the care that it needs. It’s completely normal for your furnace to age and wear out as time passes. Investing in professional care can help slow down that aging process so your furnace can maintain efficiency for longer.