Whether people want to believe it or not, winter is coming, and it’s coming fast! Homeowners need to ready themselves and their homes for the months ahead. As the seasons change, now is the time to make sure everything is in place to keep the house comfy and cozy during those long winter months.
The heater has a major role in the HVAC system, as it’s used daily by most households in the winter. To stay comfortable indoors when the temperature drops below 0°F, homeowners should inspect their heaters to make sure everything is working correctly. Here are a few common signs your heater might be broken.
1. It’s Blowing Cold Air
The main job of the heater is to send warm air throughout the house, so if the heater starts blowing cold air instead of warm air, this is a telltale sign of heater malfunction. There are a few different reasons that this can happen. One common mistake is setting the thermostat too low, so this is always the first thing that homeowners should check when the heater starts blowing cold air.
Dirty air filters are another common cause of this problem. If the air filter is too dirty, it could block the warm air from traveling through the ductwork. It could be a broken pilot light or a tripped breaker. Homeowners should always treat this problem with urgency and work to get the issue resolved quickly.
2. It’s Making Unusual Noises
It might sound a little spooky, but houses do communicate with the people living in them. If the heater starts to experience a breakdown, it will often communicate this through loud, strange noises.
- Scraping: If you hear a scraping or grinding noise, there is likely something wrong with the blower wheel. It may be too old, or it may be experiencing wear and tear. But in the end, it likely needs to be replaced.
- Banging: Banging noises are most common in gas furnaces. If the gas burner is too dirty, it can delay ignition. Once the burners finally ignite, all of the gas buildup results in a loud bang. Having the burner cleaned can usually resolve this problem.
- Screeching: Screeching noises can be a sign of problems with the blower motor, the blower belt, or the shaft bearings. This is typically due to poor maintenance, like a lack of oiling and lubrication.
3. The Pilot Light Turns Yellow
When all is working well, the pilot light should burn blue. This is the natural color of a flame when it is receiving adequate oxygen. However, if the oxygen is restricted, the flame will turn yellow. Two very serious problems can occur as a result:
- Yellow flames are not as hot as blue flames, so that it can go out frequently. When this happens, the gas supply is shut off, and the heater can’t produce heat.
- Because the yellow flame is weaker, it cannot burn up all of the carbon monoxide that a blue light can burn. As a result, this poisonous gas can start to leak out to the rest of the home and put the health of homeowners and their families at risk.
The buildup of dirt on the air intake valve is the most common cause of a yellow pilot light. If homeowners notice the pilot light turns yellow, they should contact an HVAC professional immediately.
About Maitz Home Services
For more than 50 years, Maitz Home Services has been trusted by families all across Allentown and the surrounding areas. Maitz Home Services believes in keeping the promise to get our customers’ problems fixed fast and fixed right. More than a promise, that’s the way we do business. We won’t be satisfied with the work we’ve done until our customers are! Give us a call today to schedule your heater repair service.