As the fall season ramps up, you may be thinking more and more about your furnace. If you have not already turned it on, you will probably do so sometime this month, and you want your furnace to work at its best.
If you notice anything unusual about your furnace’s operation this season, it’s a good idea to call for furnace service in Clackamas, OR sooner rather than later. You can keep reading to learn more about some of the signs that can indicate your furnace needs a maintenance or repair appointment to help prevent problems later in the season.
Timing
You really need to schedule furnace service once each calendar year. The specific timing is less important; just schedule the service whenever it is convenient for you. Some homeowners like to schedule furnace service now ahead of the winter season. Other homeowners wait and schedule the service once spring arrives before turning their heaters off for the summer months.
The bottom line is, if you haven’t had furnace service in the past year, you need to schedule the appointment now. Even if you’ve skipped out on furnace service for years at a time, you can still enjoy benefits of getting back on track now. Then, you can consistently schedule furnace service around the same time year after year.
High Energy Costs
If your energy costs are creeping up, your furnace may be to blame. This might not be something happening right at this moment, as we are still in the fall where temperatures are more enjoyable. But as it gets colder outside, you’ll be using your furnace more.
Energy costs that are alarmingly high can point to issues with furnace operation. Small fluctuations are normal, but big ones are not. You may be tempted to simply adjust your settings in an attempt to save money, but that will only do so much. Addressing furnace problems is the best way to reduce high energy costs.
Lack of Heat
When you turn your furnace on, the air blowing out of the vents should be specifically hot. After all, this hot air has to mix in with much cooler air to increase the temperature and make your home comfortably warm. If the air blowing out of vents is lukewarm at best, your furnace is not doing much to heat up your home.
At this time of year, it may not seem like a huge deal. But as temperatures dip lower, it will become more and more of a problem. It’s better to schedule service soon. Otherwise, you may be left making an emergency appointment because your furnace is not working at all.
Other Signs of Issues
You can also pay attention to other signs that something is wrong with your furnace, even if it is producing heat just fine and your energy costs are normal. Unusual sounds coming from your furnace are always a red flag.
After having your furnace for a while, you should be familiar with what sounds are a normal part of everyday operation. Anything outside of the norm is concerning. Even if the sound is low, like a rattling or tapping, something is wrong.
On the other hand, you may hear a loud sound that only happens one time and then you don’t hear it again. You may think it was a fluke, but something could still be wrong, and it is better to get the potential issue checked out.
Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!
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