Scary Movie or Broken Heater: Where is the Chill Coming From?
Look Out for These Signs of a Looming Heater Problem
The chills and thrills of a horror movie are all part of the Halloween experience. But the foggy breath and hair-raising chill should stop at the screen. When a home starts struggling with the cold, it’s time to take a look at the heater.
A broken heater will ruin more than just a movie night. Keep reading to find out the three key signs that point to the chills originating from a broken furnace and not a friendly ghost.
The House Is Always Cold
If the windows are foggy and the air is cold, there’s a chance the home is haunted, but it’s more likely that the furnace isn’t working.
A chilly home plus any of the following problems warrant a call to an HVAC technician.
- Thermostat Tweaking: Constantly needing to adjust the thermostat to compensate for a cold home is a sign that the furnace may need repairing.
- Constant Cycling: If the furnace is constantly kicking on and off abruptly, the sensor that controls heating may be dirty or damaged.
- Cold Spots: Unless Casper is haunting the bathroom or bedroom, cold spots in the room are a surefire sign that the heater is failing. A heating system should adequately and evenly heat rooms in a house, and cold spots point to a failure in ventilation, ductwork, or sensors in the heating system.
The Heater Is Making Haunting Sounds
If the heater is making a howling that even the Wolfman would appreciate, it probably needs maintenance or repairing. There are several noises that a damaged heating system may make; each indicates a different problem with the heater or ductwork that can lead to a cold home.
- Banging: Banging typically indicates weak, loose, or expanding ductwork. Adjusting the tightness, bolstering supports, and in some cases increasing the ductwork size can remedy this problem.
- Booming: Booming typically indicates a combustion problem in the furnace itself and should be addressed by a heating professional.
- Screeching: Screeching or squealing sounds indicate a misaligned, loose, or damaged blower wheel. An HVAC technician can remedy this situation.
The Electrical Bill Is Shockingly High
If the specter of an enormous electrical bill is haunting the house, the heater is likely to blame. As the heating system struggles to keep up with the demands of colder temperatures, the furnace will be pushed harder to maintain warmth in the home.
Damaged, derelict, and dirty heaters expend more energy heating the home and may constantly cycle, burning more gas than usually necessary to warm the home. No one wants to deal with a cold home as autumn arrives.
A qualified HVAC technician will identify and confirm any suspected heater problems in the home and get homeowners back to their scary movie night in no time.
About Air Comfort Service, Inc.
For over forty years, Air Comfort Service, Inc. has provided reliable HVAC services to the St. Peters, MO community. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will treat every home like their own. Family owned and operated, they have grown over the years, but their value of integrity and affordable services has never changed. Call them now for expert heating services!
