7 Signs You Need Emergency Furnace Repair

Having your furnace conk-out on a cold winter’s night is not an ideal situation, especially if you’re snowed in and a technician is unable to get to it right away. While heating emergencies tend to increase during the colder months, there are steps you can take to be proactive and catch a problem before it becomes dire. 

When to Schedule Emergency Furnace Repair

Knowing when to schedule emergency furnace repair services is always helpful. Keep in mind that the winter months are some of the busiest times of the year for HVAC professionals. You may have to book an appointment far in advance, while emergency furnace services could be significantly delayed during the winter. 

The best case scenario, to avoid being without heat when you need it the most, is noticing the warning signs beforehand so you can schedule a routine furnace tune-up ahead of calling for emergency furnace repair. Here are some warning signs that you need to book a furnace tune-up or emergency furnace repair services. 

1. Yellow Flame in Your Furnace

It’s that simple. If you visually inspect the pilot light on your furnace and you see a yellow or orange flame that means the gas isn’t burning hot enough. Not only is this an indicator that your furnace is not operating properly, but it could mean that you have a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide leaks can lead to serious health problems and even fire hazards. You’ll need to call a professional HVAC repair company immediately to safely repair the issue. This is not something you should try to fix on your own. 

2. The Fan Won’t Shut Off

This is a common problem that sometimes is due to human error. If you noticed that the furnace fan won’t shut off or just runs continually, first check that your thermostat is set to “auto” and not mistakenly set to the “on” position. If you have ruled out human error and your thermostat is set to auto but your furnace continues to run even though it has reached the set temperature, then there is a likelihood that your furnace and thermostat aren’t communicating properly and there is a connection issue. Your HVAC technician will be able to assess whether it is a mechanical failure or an electrical issue with the thermostat and/or the furnace itself. 

3. Carbon Monoxide Detector Keeps Going Off

When your carbon monoxide detector goes off, you should take it seriously. Carbon monoxide leaks can be harmful to your home and your family, not to mention you. The detector being triggered could be several different issues like a gas leak or a problem with your furnace’s ventilation system, but all of them need to be addressed by a professional furnace repair technician immediately. 

4. Puddles or Steam In The Basement

If you are one of the many American households that have a boiler system or furnace in your basement, this warning is for you. Pooling water, an accumulation of steam, or water dripping from the walls of your basement are all indicators that your furnace has sprung a leak or there is an issue with the valve. Turn your HVAC, boiler or furnace off and call for emergency furnace repair. 

5. No Warm Air Is Coming From Vents

This is an obvious sign of trouble. Clearly, you need to be able to heat your home during the winter. If your furnace has stopped cranking out hot air it could be due to the pilot light or burner being out. These are not issues that fix themselves. It is wise to contact a professional furnace technician to diagnose the problem and fix it before colder temperatures descend on your area. 

6. More Dust in Home

Dust happens! This may not be an obvious sign that something is wrong with your furnace, but it very well could be. When furnaces get older they have to work harder to meet the demand of any household. If you notice an unusual amount of dust accumulating on surface tops around the house, check the furnace air filter. It may be that it has become clogged with dust and dander and isn’t able to adequately filter the air. In which case, it is time to replace the furnace air filter. 

7. The smell of Rotten Eggs

And finally, the rotten egg smell. This is a common issue and probably one that tends to get people’s attention. Some furnaces are fueled by natural gas, which is odorless. Gas companies intentionally add a chemical that smells like rotten eggs called mercaptan. This should alert homeowners that there may be a gas leak and to call the pros before it escalates to a much larger problem. 

Contact Sky Heating

We can address any cause of your furnace leaking water to protect your appliance and home. Our technicians are fully trained and equipped to quickly determine the source of the problem and correct it. In addition to repairs and furnace replacement, we provide ductwork, air quality, and plumbing services in Portland, Gresham, The Dalles, and elsewhere across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Call us at 541-275-2918 or reach out online to schedule HVAC service.