Frustrated with your furnace? If you already see signs of trouble with your furnace and calling in HVAC repair services seem to be necessary, here are a few tips from DoItYourself on what to do:
Always Start with an Inspection. Look over every inch of the unit. Assess its overall condition. Is there any buildup of black soot anywhere on the unit? When you turn on the thermostat and check the flames, are the flames blue instead of orange or yellow? Do they seem steady or are they flickering on and off? The absence of soot in your unit as well as the blue flames, both mean that your unit isn’t in any risk of dying on you, not anytime soon at least.
However, if you see orange flames or some accumulated black soot around the unit—suggesting it’s been there for some time—turn your thermostat off and call for the services of a professional HVAC repair expert since the signs indicate a major combustion problem in your furnace. Don’t DIY your way through this one. Let an expert handle it for you. Insisting on doing the repairs yourself might just result in even more damage to the unit.
Clean the Unit. Some HVAC systems perform better with regular maintenance and care. This would include regular cleaning duties. If your unit improves in terms of efficiency and power right after it’s been cleaned up, then you know your unit was simply due for some regular cleaning. In this case, you won’t have to go shopping for a new HVAC system any time soon.
Check Worn-out Parts. If your unit seems to be slowing down some, you might want to check some parts that usually get worn down over time. If you’ve got a fan belt in your furnace blower, make sure the belt isn’t cracked or dry—2 signs that your belt is simply too old to function. That or check your furnace filter. It’s a good move to regularly replace those filters. With regular inspections, you should be able to catch any problems before they escalate.
If any of these won’t work, though, and you still find yourself throwing money out the window with constant furnace repairs, you might have to face up to the fact that you need to get your HVAC replaced. So save your cash and start looking for a new replacement as soon as you can.
