How to Tell When Your Heater Isn’t Prepared for the Oncoming Chill
Preparing your home for winter is no small task, especially if you live in an area where snowfall and freezing temperatures are common occurrences. In these frigid months, a heater is an absolute necessity. But while you’ve been putting work into getting your home ready for the oncoming chill, your heater has been dormant. You may be relying on it to work as effectively as it used to when you turn it on, but the fact is that your heater may not be as prepared for winter as you are.
There’s a chance that your heater simply doesn’t have what it takes to get you through another winter. Wear and tear, age, and other factors all cause a heater to lose effectiveness and efficiency over time, and your unit may be giving you less reliable heat at higher costs. We asked our HVAC experts to outline the telltale signs that you should replace your heater as part of your winter preparations.
Spot the Signs of an Outdated Heater
- It’s over 15 years old
- Your utility bills have been steadily rising
- You’ve detected carbon monoxide in your home
- The burner flame or pilot light of your gas furnace has changed color
- Short cycling
- Dusty, foul-smelling air permeates your home when you turn on your heater
- Strange sounds are coming from your heater
- You’re constantly adjusting the thermostat
- It’s needed more and more repairs to keep going in recent years
When in Doubt, Call the Professionals
If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your heater, call a licensed technician for an inspection. A qualified expert can diagnose any issues with your heater that could threaten your comfort, and help you decide the best course of action to resolve them. Most heating professionals recommend that you get your HVAC equipment checked before it enters high-use periods, so your local technicians will know exactly what to look for and have extensive experience ensuring your home is heated effectively and efficiently.
Remember Regular Maintenance
All heaters need to be replaced eventually, but you can prolong the lifespan of your unit, and achieve a higher level of home comfort, by investing in regular maintenance. By cleaning and maintaining your heater at least once a year, you can minimize the accumulation of damages and address developing issues before they become big problems. If your heater is well-maintained, you won’t have to worry about it failing at a crucial time, because you’ll know that a licensed professional has made sure it’s up to the task of warming your home through the winter.
For heater replacements, inspections, maintenance, and more, contact the HVAC experts at Donmar Company Heating & Cooling by calling (703) 457-8676 or reaching out to us online!