Ensuring your heating system is in good condition is key to staying comfortable throughout the winter. Whether you have a heat pump or furnace, problems most commonly arise due to age or a lack of maintenance. Even if your heating system is properly maintained, certain problems can suddenly appear due to normal wear and tear. Knowing the early warning signs of heating system issues lets you address problems before they worsen.
The Importance of Catching Issues Early
Some issues can lead to sudden furnace or heat pump failure. This includes loose wires and other electrical issues, as well as certain components wearing out and failing. Fortunately, most issues start out fairly minor and show some tell-tale signs. Even minor problems can affect a heating system’s performance. Letting these fester results in increased strain and creates the potential for further issues to arise.
Catching problems early can prevent issues from snowballing, increasing the risk of additional or more costly repairs. It’s also important for ensuring your heating system works efficiently and preventing your heating bills from suddenly being much higher. The increased strain a heating system experiences when it’s not performing effectively can also shorten its lifespan. This means you may need to replace it much sooner than you’d initially planned.
Knowing these warning signs also helps you avoid safety hazards, such as the furnace or heat pump starting a fire. Fires are a greater risk with gas furnaces, but wiring and electrical issues can also lead to a fire. A potentially greater concern with a gas furnace is the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
System Won’t Turn On
If your heating system won’t turn on and you can’t figure out why, check that your thermostat is still working. Make sure it is set correctly and that the breaker for your heating system isn’t tripped. Resetting the breaker or replacing your thermostat batteries is sometimes all you need to get your heating system running again. Virtually all other issues will require the help of a professional HVAC technician to diagnose and fix.
Unusual Noises
If your heating system suddenly starts making unusual noises or is excessively loud, you need to schedule a repair appointment. Some noises you might hear include squealing or screeching, rattling, humming, buzzing, or hissing. Each of these sounds can be related to different issues.
Squealing and screeching are almost always related to worn-out bearings in a motor. You might hear these noises from the indoor unit if you have a furnace or a heat pump. If you have a heat pump, you may hear the noise coming from the outdoor unit. In any case, a technician will need to replace the bearings. If not repaired promptly, this problem can leave the motor and other parts vulnerable to overheating. This is especially a concern with a heat pump compressor. Replacing the heat pump compressor typically costs over $1,000, making the ball bearing replacement a more budget-friendly option.
Humming and buzzing sounds most commonly occur as a result of an electrical issue, such as a faulty capacitor or contactor. They can also be a sign that a motor is failing and may soon fail. This would leave your heating system unable to function. A heat pump system will still turn on if the condenser fan motor is dead, but it won’t produce heat. The compressor may also overheat and shut down if the fan isn’t working.
Decreased Heating Performance
You should monitor the performance of your heating system and how long it runs. This provides an easy way to determine if it’s still working effectively. Furnaces and heat pumps typically run for 10 to 20 minutes, two or three times an hour. They’ll naturally run longer and more often as the temperature outside drops. Heat pumps can run for hours or even continuously if the temperature outside is below freezing. This typically indicates that your auxiliary heating source is not functioning properly.
With either type of system, you’ll likely notice that it takes longer for the furnace to warm your house. You may also notice that the air coming out of your vents doesn’t feel as hot as it usually does. Poor performance can happen for a wide variety of reasons. The only way to pinpoint the specific cause is with diagnostics from a professional technician.
Uneven Heating
A properly working heating system should distribute warm air around the house evenly. There may still be slight differences in temperature across the house, such as in rooms with large windows or higher ceilings. Nonetheless, if some rooms are frequently much cooler, your heating system likely isn’t working as it should. Uneven heating most commonly happens as a result of the air filter being clogged, which means it needs to be replaced. If the air filter isn’t overly dirty, the blower may not be circulating enough air. This can happen just because it’s clogged with dust and needs to be cleaned. However, it can also be a sign that the blower is malfunctioning or wearing out.
Unexpected Spike in Your Gas or Electric Bill
Your utility bills can fluctuate from month to month based on outside temperatures. The amount of time everyone spent at home throughout the month can also make a difference. You might have a problem if your utility bill is suddenly higher than it was the previous month. We recommend comparing your energy usage year-over-year. Many utility companies provide average monthly temperatures and energy usage for 12 or 13 months. Since nearly half of energy usage is from heating and cooling, this helps you track your system’s energy efficiency.
With a heat pump, decreased efficiency can indicate that one or both coils are dirty and need to be cleaned. A leak in the system or low refrigerant could also lead to decreased efficiency. At some point, refrigerant levels can drop so low that the system is unable to heat at all. Annual maintenance includes cleaning these coils and checking refrigerant levels.
Enrolling in our Club Member maintenance plan is a sound investment that can help you avoid problems. For furnaces and heat pumps, regular maintenance ensures your HVAC system works effectively and keeps your home comfortable throughout the year.
Get Prompt Repairs With Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers
When your heating system struggles in your Victorville, CA home or business, you can rely on the experts at Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers. We specialize in heating repair, and our certified technicians can work on furnaces and heat pumps from any manufacturer. We also offer heating system installation and maintenance. To schedule a heating system inspection or any other service, contact us today.
