It was a little touch and go there for a minute but we think we can firmly say – winter is here! And with the temps sharply declining we’re finally having to kick on our heating for the few weeks we get to use them in the year! What happens when you turn on your furnace and you are still shivering? Looks like you are due for a furnace repair! Here’s what you need to know about furnace repairs and getting the most out of your home’s heating.

Furnace Basics

The furnace is a major appliance that heats homes and other buildings. In America, these are fueled by natural gas mostly, though there are wood and coal furnaces in some places. There are SIX main components to the gas furnace system.

Thermostat
- This is the piece most interaction is with. It turns the unit on/off and regulates temperature
Burner
- The burner, well, burns the gas (or other fuel)
Heat exchange
- The heat exchanger takes the heat created by the burner put into the air distributor
Blower Motor
- Pushes air through the duct system.
Ducts
- The passages the hot air will take through your home’s ventilation systems.
Flue
- Sends all the toxic gases from the exhaust fumes safely out of the home.

If any of these components break down or are performing sub optimally, the whole system begins to crash. Let’s take the flue for instance, should the exhaust no longer get pushed safely out of the home, you can have problems breathing or worse. If the motor doesn’t properly push the heated air throughout the system the furnace will burn, burn, burn but the home won’t warm at all and that’s no good!

Do I Need a Furnace Repair or Replacement in Phoenix?

Wondering whether you need to replace your furnace, or if some simple repairs will do? Here are some of the key questions to ask.

Is your furnace putting out carbon monoxide?

Is your furnace not heating like it used to?

Does your furnace make weird noises?

Is your furnace over 15 years old?

Is the cost of repairs over 50% the cost of replacement, or more frequent?

Is your heating bill going up?

Thinking of selling your home?

Retired?

Say yes to any of those? Well then it’s time to replace that furnace! If your furnace is making odd noises, not heating like it used to, or putting out carbon monoxide – those are all signs your furnace isn’t right. Repairs might help, for a time, but as we mention are the repairs getting to be too frequent or totaling over half the cost of a replacement? While sinking less money today might seem a better financial option, but having to do it every few months is going to cost way more over the remaining lifespan of the unit.

If you’re experiencing consistent problems with your furnace, it is time to get it looked at by a professional.

How to Avoid Costly Furnace Repairs

There’s one big way to keep your furnace running well and avoid costly repairs. Annual tune ups! Having a professional come out and take a look at our system once a year will help in a number of ways. It ensures that any failing parts are caught early, replacing them before they break completely beyond repair. They also can clean the coils and ducts of your HVAC system which both increases air quality and also keeps airflow moving. If air gets restricted, the efficiency in the system breaks down, costing you more money to find your level of comfort.