Imagine it’s the middle of winter. Snow is flying, and the air is freezing cold. But when you step into your home, you don’t hear that familiar sound of air blowing through your vents, and there is no heat inside to warm you up. You soon realize your furnace has died on you.
This isn’t just an inconvenient and uncomfortable scenario, it’s also a potentially dangerous situation when outdoor temperatures reach single digits or lower. If you need furnace repair in Lafayette, IN, contact Edwards Royal Comfort today. Our friendly heating and cooling technicians are expertly trained to make any repairs to your electric or gas furnace, while providing great service along the way.
Signs Your Furnace Needs Repaired
In a perfect world, furnaces could communicate with homeowners to tell them exactly what is wrong. Although that obviously isn’t the case, there are several signs to watch for to indicate that repairs may be imminent. The quicker you call a qualified Lafayette HVAC company to inspect your furnace, the better chance a technician can make a fix before it leads to expensive repairs or even system replacement.
Some of the signs your system might need to be repaired include:
Blowing cool air
Furnaces can blow cold or cool air instead of providing heat for several reasons, including:
- An improper thermostat setting
- A dirty flame sensor
- A clogged or dirty filter
- Improperly functioning pilot light
- A broken control panel
Making strange banging noises
Although some noises are common when the system kicks on to run a cycle, a loud banging noise isn’t one of them. A banging noise at the start of a heating cycle is typically caused by a dirty burner and should be repaired immediately. When dirt builds up in the burners, it causes a loud banging noise when the gas ignites. The longer this goes on for, the more damage it can cause.
Higher energy costs
Are you suddenly experiencing higher energy costs from heating and cooling your home? Higher heating bills in the winter often indicate your furnace isn’t operating as efficiently as it should. This can occur when a furnace hasn’t received routine maintenance or is aging. Both scenarios cause a decrease in the heating unit’s performance.
Again, a clogged or dirty air filter could also be the culprit here. A clogged filter causes your furnace to work harder to deliver heat, which in the process increases the amount of energy it consumes – resulting in higher utility bills. Although several factors affect filter replacement intervals, you should typically replace it every two to three months.
Smells
Over time, furnaces can begin to smell for a variety of reasons, and none of them are good.
Most or mildew
A musty of mildew-like smell is caused by a buildup of moisture in the furnace and air ducts. Mold that grows in the ducts can affect your Lafayette or West Lafayette home’s indoor air quality and should be inspected immediately. Mold can be especially harmful for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues. Common reasons for excess moisture include a break in the condensation line or a clogged condensation drain or tubing.
Rotten egg smell
A rotten egg smell, or sulfur, is typically caused by a natural gas leak. Although natural gas is odorless, utility companies often add a smell to it to alert homeowners of a leak. If you notice a sulfur smell, exit the home immediately, and call the gas company for emergency service.
Chemical odors
If you smell a chemical odor such as formaldehyde, it could indicate a cracked heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger can allow carbon monoxide to enter your living areas. This is another serious situation, and a heating and cooling professional should be called. Make sure to install carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your Lafayette or West Lafayette home.
Electrical smell
An electrical smell may be caused if electrical elements or other components in the electric furnace are too hot, which produces the smell. If this occurs, turn the system off, and contact an HVAC system company.
Dusty or burning smell
This is a smell homeowners hopefully don’t need to worry too much about. A dirty or burning smell is pretty common when you start up a system for this first time in the fall or winter and will stop after about 20 minutes once the dust is blown out. If the smell persists, though, we highly recommend you contact us for a heating or indoor air quality inspection.
If you experience any of these issues with your home’s furnace, call us as soon as possible for repairs.
Choose Edwards Royal Comfort for Great Service
At Edwards Royal Comfort, we’re not satisfied unless you are. We are family owned and have years of experience in the HVAC industry. We guarantee 100% satisfaction, or we’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. Call us today to learn more about how our services can bring comfort back to your home.
Some of the perks of hiring Edwards include:
- On-time service
- Free service call if we’re late
- Experienced and certified professionals
- Affordable solutions
- No upselling
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating
- Available around your schedule
Quality Furnace Repair in Lafayette, IN
Edwards Royal Comfort offers the best customer service in West Central Indiana. All of our technicians have received rigorous training and deliver dependable workmanship and honest and efficient services. If you’re in need of a Lafayette, IN, furnace repair company, we highly recommend that you contact Edwards Royal Comfort today. We can provide all types of HVAC system repairs for your heating or air conditioning systems.