5 Signs You Need a Furnace Cleaning

This time of the year, your furnace is your best friend. But we’ve all had that friend we needed to take aside and tell them to shower.

A furnace is a highly active appliance that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. In fact, dirt and grime in your furnace can eventually damage it — and sometimes pose a safety risk.

So how do you know if you’re due for a furnace cleaning?

furnace cleaning

5 Signs it’s Time for a Furnace Cleaning

If you’re not sure if it’s time for a furnace cleaning, look out for these signals:

You’re Struggling to Get and Keep the Temperature You Want

Given that your furnace’s entire job is to warm your home, it’s frustrating when that isn’t happening. If you have any of the following issues, you could have dirt and dust that needs to be cleaned away:

  • Inconsistency with some rooms being colder than others
  • Your furnace isn’t maintaining the temperature you set on the thermostat
  • You have no heat at all
  • Your furnace is turning on and off too quickly
  • It’s taking too much energy (and too high of an energy bill) to reach the temperature you set

Strange Odors from the Furnace

Ever chased a mystery smell around the house? It might be from your furnace, and a good cleaning may fix it.

If you smell rubber, smoke, or oil while your furnace is on, it’s probably time for a furnace cleaning. Letting these smells continue without a cleaning can eventually lead to a dangerous situation.

It’s normal, though, to smell dust when you’re turning on your furnace, so don’t panic.

Yellow or Orange Flame

A lot of these “signs” aren’t black-and-white, but your furnace’s flame color is an easier indicator.

If your furnace is functioning correctly, the flame should be blue. If it’s yellow or orange, the balance of gas and oxygen is off. This could be caused by a dirty burner, so a cleaning is in order.

If you see a yellow flame along with any of the following symptoms, it could signal a carbon monoxide leak:

  • Alert from your carbon monoxide sensor (if you have one)
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, get out of the home and call for an immediate repair.

Strange Noises from the Furnace

Unusual noises are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. But in the case of a furnace, you might just need a good cleaning. Clogged air filters, dirty burners, or restricted fuel supply can cause these noises:

  • Loud bang when you turn on the furnace
  • Whistling or howling while the furnace is on

Reduced Indoor Air Quality

When there’s dust, mold, or dirt in your furnace or your ducts, it all gets into your air. You might notice that you need to dust more often, or that your air smells musty. You may even have allergy symptoms in the winter. If so, your indoor air quality could turn around with a simple furnace cleaning.

Preventing Problems Before They Start

Keeping your furnace clean can prevent or delay dangerous and expensive problems. But if you even want to prevent the issues listed above, keep up with consistent cleanings. We recommend having your furnace professionally cleaned at least once per year.

If it’s time, our heating and cooling professionals are here to help. For more tips about maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems, browse our blog.

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