Don’t let Heater Repair Catch You by Surprise this Winter 

The first Fall weather indicator is a little nip in the air, accompanied by a wind from the northwest. In the beginning stages, a few days require both AC and furnace in a single day, but after a few weeks of adjustment, the cooling season ends, and the heating season begins. During this adjustment period, use your senses to discern if and when your heating system needs to be repaired. Here are a few pieces of sensory information to help you decide whether a heater repair is required or not.

Different Smells

During the cooling season, it is important to detect musty or moldy type smells. The air conditioning process should remove significant humidity from the air and if the condensation does not drain properly, it can lead to air quality problems. But during the heating season, be aware of a different set of potential odors.

• Electric furnaces give off a burning odor upon the initial call for heat; that is the dust burning off the heating elements. Any burning or “hot plastic” odors are not normal smells and indicate trouble. These smells might be intermittent and hard to locate but be persistent until you find the issue.
• Any musty smell during the heating season is also unusual. It might indicate a leak in the ductwork, pulling in air from a crawlspace or attic.
• If your heating system is gas-powered, it is essential that you install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors. This byproduct of combustion is odorless and deadly, so protect your family with adequate detectors.

Different Sounds

Most noises that emanate from your HVAC system will be mirrored between the heating and cooling seasons. We are accustomed to the “background noises” of life and typical noises from your system include the sound of your blower motor pushing air around the house and the noise of the outdoor condenser unit. Unusual noises that should catch your attention include:

• Screeching or grinding noises. There is only one moving component in your HVAC—the blower motor, located in the central cabinet of your system. Expect this noise to get louder and more persistent if ignored. This will require a repair.
• Banging or thumping noises. As a large volume of air is pushed through your ductwork, any loose piece of sheet metal will bang or thump while the blower motor is cycled ON. Locating the noise will be very helpful for the repair technician.
• Buzzing or loud humming. When an electrical switch or controller is ready to fail, it often buzzes louder than normal.
• When the ignition system for gas-powered furnaces needs attention, you might hear a “false start” popping noise, similar to a soft misfire on an automobile.

Unusual Feelings

Trust your instincts concerning how your heating system “feels.” If something does not seem right, but is hard to define, be proactive and ask for a heater repair technician.

• During the cooling season, moist, sticky, humid air indicates a problem. If your home is too dry, it does not necessarily indicate a problem. It may indicate the need for a humidifier to make your home comfortable and healthy.
• Too hot. If your home is consistently hotter than the thermostat setting, it may result from solar gain. You can help by closing drapes or blinds. However, it may indicate a problem with the thermostat.
• Too cold. If your home is consistently too cold many factors might be involved. A clogged air filter or covered supply vent might be an easy fix. If an easy fix is not evident, it is time to call a technician.

A good time to ask questions about things like unusual smells or noises is during an annual preventative maintenance visit.

If you have Heater Repair Questions, R.M. Mullinix has the Answers.

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our Heater Repair services, schedule an appointment, or visit our HVAC maintenance information page.