8 Signs Your Furnace May Need Repair Before a Calgary Winter
There are few appliances in a Calgary home that you depend on more during winter than your furnace.
Unfortunately, furnaces do not always wait for a convenient Tuesday afternoon to stop working.
The good news is that heating systems often provide warning signs before a complete failure. Knowing what to watch for can give you an opportunity to have the system inspected before you are waking up to a cold house.
Here are eight warning signs Calgary homeowners should pay attention to.
1. Your Furnace Is Making New or Unusual Noises
You know what your furnace normally sounds like.
If you suddenly begin hearing banging, rattling, squealing, grinding or other unfamiliar noises, something may have changed.
Different noises can have very different causes, so the safest approach is to have the system diagnosed rather than guessing.
2. Some Rooms Are Much Colder Than Others
Temperature differences between floors and rooms can have several causes.
However, if rooms that were previously comfortable suddenly become difficult to heat, your heating system may not be performing as it should.
A qualified technician can evaluate the furnace and other components of the heating system to identify the problem.
3. The Furnace Runs Constantly
Your furnace should cycle as your home calls for heat.
If it suddenly seems to run almost continuously—or cycles on and off much more frequently than it used to—it deserves attention.
Changes in operating behaviour can indicate a problem with the equipment, controls or other parts of the heating system.
4. Your Home Takes Longer to Warm Up
Think about how your furnace behaved last winter.
If you set the thermostat higher but your home takes much longer than expected to reach temperature, the system may need servicing.
This becomes especially noticeable when Calgary experiences sustained cold weather and the furnace has to work harder.
5. Your Heating Costs Rise Without an Obvious Reason
Energy bills naturally change with weather and utility rates.
But if energy consumption increases significantly without a corresponding change in weather or household behaviour, declining equipment performance is one possibility worth investigating.
A properly functioning heating system should deliver the heat your home requires as efficiently as the equipment allows.
6. The Furnace Is Having Trouble Starting
A furnace that repeatedly struggles to start, shuts down unexpectedly or requires resets should be inspected.
Repeatedly restarting equipment without determining why it is shutting down can allow an underlying problem to continue.
7. Your Furnace Has Not Been Professionally Serviced in a Long Time
Preventative maintenance gives a technician an opportunity to identify wear, cleanliness issues and operating concerns before they become emergency repairs.
This is particularly valuable in Calgary because your heating equipment may operate extensively for months at a time.
8. Something Simply Does Not Seem Right
Homeowners know their houses.
You hear the furnace every day. You know how quickly the rooms warm up and how the system normally behaves.
If something has noticeably changed, do not ignore it just because the furnace is technically still producing heat.
Repair the Problem Before You Need Emergency Service
Nobody can guarantee that a furnace will never fail, but addressing warning signs early gives you a much better opportunity to deal with the issue on your schedule.
Hansen Plumbing provides residential furnace and heating services throughout Calgary.
If your furnace stops working entirely and you need urgent help, Hansen also offers 24/7 emergency service.
Call 403-248-2996 to arrange furnace service or speak with Hansen Plumbing about your residential heating system.
Honest. Fair. Reliable.
