As with all mechanical appliances, your gas furnace will need to be tuned from time to time to ensure it continues to function properly. Most gas furnaces come with safety components that help to identify potential hazards. However, this does not mean that you should solely depend on the components for alerts on when to tune your gas furnace.
You can identify problems with your furnace even without relying on the safety components. Below are some telltale signs that your gas furnace needs a tune up:
Strong foul smell
If a foul smell emanates from you gas furnace, this may mean that there is a gas leak. When you suspect you have a gas leak, do not fiddle with the furnace. Instead, open the doors and windows and leave the house. Then, call in a licensed and certified technician to inspect the gas furnace. You may also have to inform local law enforcement and/or the fire department of the situation since it is a potential fire hazard.
Carbon monoxide detector goes off
You might not be able to know when your gas furnace is emitting carbon monoxide since the gas is odorless. It is therefore a good idea to install a carbon monoxide detector to monitor the levels of the gas in the air.
Carbon monoxide is usually emitted when there is incomplete combustion. If the detector goes off, this means your gas furnace is not functioning properly. In such a case, you should call a professional HVAC maintenance company to tune up your unit.
Insufficient heat
You will probably have to adjust the unit’s thermostat setting according to the season and warmth that you require. If you crank up the thermostat but the heat is still not sufficient, there is something wrong. Either the thermostat is faulty or there is an issue with the furnace.
To determine the problem, call over a qualified technician to inspect the entire heating unit. The technician will identify the issue affecting your heating system and perform the required tune up and repair.
Sudden spike in your utility bills
Like is expected, your utility bills will go up in the winter as your heating requirement goes up. However, if there is a sudden and unanticipated spike in the bills, your furnace may not be working properly. Higher bills can mean that the furnace is broken or way past its servicing period and it uses more power to attain the heating requirement of your home.
If you see any of the above signs, it is time to call in the professionals at McMaster Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Irvine, CA to tune up your heating system.
