According to a report by Consumer Affairs, furnace repairs were among the most common types of home repairs in 2019. Texans, in particular, do a lot of home repairs. The state tied for 9th on a list of predicted home repairs for 2020.
With so many furnaces needing repairs in a given year, it’s important to know the difference between a healthy furnace and a broken furnace. While a furnace can suffer from any number of issues, there are a few signs that will usually tell you if it’s broken. We’ll discuss some of these signs and what to do about them in this article.
1. Yellow Pilot Light
The first and most important sign to look for is a yellow flame in your pilot light. Under normal circumstances, that flame is supposed to burn blue. If the flame is burning yellow, leave the house immediately.
A yellow flame is a sign that you may have a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is a highly dangerous gas that can get into our bloodstream and replace oxygen. Since our bodies can’t use carbon monoxide, its presence in our blood makes it harder to breathe, and too much can be fatal.
If you have a carbon monoxide leak, leave your home before calling your gas company and then 911. Some of the earliest symptoms of carbon monoxide are dizziness and hallucinations, so if you’re feeling light-headed and are seeing or hearing strange things, leave the house, and call your gas company.
2. Unexplained Moisture
If you’ve been noticing condensation in places where it shouldn’t be, such as living room walls, the insides of windows, or bedroom ceilings, it could be a sign of furnace problems.
If your furnace isn’t working properly, then there isn’t as much heat in the house. Plus, the air isn’t being circulated as much, which could lead to water forming on surfaces.
If you notice any dripping from pipes or significant puddles, we recommend that you call a specialist because there’s probably a leak. If you hire us, we can do a furnace repair and give you some advice on how to keep it going strong.
3. Higher Energy Bills
If your furnace is broken, you might not notice it immediately, which could cause you to turn the heat up higher or run it longer. This, in turn, will lead to higher energy bills when that time comes around.
The unfortunate downside of this is that it’s often the last thing you’ll notice, and it can cost you quite a bit of money in the meantime. Look out for other signs, because it could save you money in the long run.
Signs of a Broken Furnace
If you think you have a broken furnace, there are plenty of signs to look for. We’ve discussed some of them in this article, but there’s always more to learn.
You can learn more about furnaces and furnace repair by looking around our site. We are a family-owned company that has specialized in heating, air conditioning, and plumbing since the 1970s.
We have proudly been providing services to the area in and around Huntsville, Texas for three generations. Feel free to call us if you’re in the area and need heating, air conditioning, or plumbing.
