During the winter season in Longview, it’s important to make sure your furnace is working properly. Take care of furnace problems before they become emergencies by watching for these eight warning signs that your heating system needs maintenance.

Strange Noises

Listen carefully to the noises coming from your furnace. If you hear a loud bang when you turn it on, it could mean the burners need to be cleaned. If you hear whistling or howling noises while it’s running, it could mean the fuel supply to the burners is being restricted. The professionals at JD’s A/C can diagnose furnace noises and perform the necessary maintenance and repairs to keep it heating your home all winter long.

High Energy Bill

If you are surprised by a large winter power bill, it could be a sign that your furnace is in need of maintenance. Your heating system will operate inefficiently when its parts are worn down or clogged by dirt. If your heating system is using more power than usual to heat your home, it’s a sign that it has become less efficient and needs to be inspected by a professional.

Strange Furnace Odors

Smelling dust when you turn on your furnace is normal — dust on the heating elements and in your ducts burns off as your home heats up. But unpleasant odors like burning rubber, oil, or smoke aren’t normal. These bad odors should be investigated, as they could indicate a serious safety hazard. If your furnace continuously produces strange odors call the experts to solve the problem before it gets worse or impacts your health.

Carbon Monoxide Leaks

A carbon monoxide leak is extremely dangerous, so it’s important to protect your home and family from this colorless, odorless gas. Mild carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Serious carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to a hospital visit or even death.

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, check the color of the flame in your furnace. Carbon monoxide is produced when gas or oil isn’t burned completely. The flame in a gas furnace should be blue — a yellow flame means that the furnace is producing carbon monoxide. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, it could mean a cracked heat exchanger in your heating system is releasing this deadly gas into your home. Get to a safe place and call a professional right away to have the furnace thoroughly examined and repaired.

You Can’t Keep Your Home’s Temperature Constant

Your HVAC system should keep all the rooms in your home at a comfortable temperature when the weather gets cold. If some rooms in your home are much colder than others or you’re constantly adjusting your thermostat to stay warm, your heating system needs to be evaluated. If the design of your home is to blame for some rooms being colder than others, consider zoned heating.

More Dust Than Usual in Your Home

Pay attention to your home’s indoor air quality. Dry or dusty air could be a sign that your system needs a tune-up. An older furnace, one with clogged air filters, or one with a malfunctioning humidifier could be affecting the comfort and health of your family. If you are starting to experience allergy symptoms, a dry nose, or dry skin during winter, it’s worth checking to make sure your furnace is working properly.

No Heat

Whether your furnace is old or new, unexpected problems can prevent it from heating your home efficiently. If your system doesn’t produce heat, it’s time to get some professional HVAC maintenance. Before you call, remember to check and make sure the circuit breakers that power your system are working.

Pay attention to warning signs that your heating system needs maintenance. JD’s A/C provides heating maintenance and tune-ups in the Longview area and eastern Texas. Call (903) 759-7483 to speak to a professional about your furnace maintenance today.

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