Broomall, PA goes into a deep freeze every winter and this year has been no different. Residents and commercial services alike depend on a functional heating system to keep their space warm and their families, employees and customers comfortable. If any problems develop with their heating system, they need to get it fixed immediately before the space turns into a popsicle. Only a trained technician can correctly diagnose any problem with the heating system, and you should never attempt to make repairs yourself: it requires proper licensing and experience.
Having said that, there are a number of general symptoms that occur over a broad range of problems. If you spot them, it’s a pretty good sign that you need a repair service to take a look at your heater. We’ve presented three of the most common signs of trouble below.
1. Reduced Heating Levels
Obvious signs, like a furnace that won’t turn on or a furnace that blows only cool air, are easy to spot. But many problems will reduce the overall heat levels without dropping the heat entirely. They can include little issues like clogged burners, which can be easily corrected with a cleaning, or big ones like trouble with the heat exchanger, which may entail replacement of the entire unit, as well as a number of issues of varying scope and complexity.
The trouble is that reduced heat levels mean that the furnace needs to work much harder to warm your home. That raises monthly costs and puts additional strain on the system, increasing the chances of further breakdowns.
2. Low Air Flow
Sometimes, the heat levels are just fine, but the flow of air out of your vents is reduced. This usually stems from one of two basic sources:
- Something blocking the flow of air. That can include clogged filters, dents in the ducts, build-up or breaches, as well as an obstruction somewhere else in the system.
- Reduced blowing power, which usually stems from trouble with the fan. That can include faulty electrical connections, trouble with the fan motor, bent fan blades or the like.
The problem here is similar to the problem with low heating levels — it forces your system to work harder than it should. Furthermore, in many cases, the hot air remains trapped in the system itself, which can cause other components to overheat. Most modern systems have automatic shutdowns that prevent such an occurrence, but that still leaves you with the fundamental problem still waiting to be fixed.
3. Higher Monthly Bills
Sometimes, the problem doesn’t overtly show itself at all, but still forces the heater to work harder than it should. In these cases, you can notice the issue by looking for any unexpected spikes in your heating bill, especially if you don’t recall using your heating system any more often than normal.
If you spot any of these signs — or anything else out of the ordinary — then turn your system off and call a professional repair service immediately. The professionals of Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning are standing by to help!
