There’s a sudden chill in the air, especially in the early morning before sunrise and evening hours when the sun sets. Kansas City is notorious for having dry, cool winter air, something we’ll be experiencing very soon with winter just around the corner. You’ve probably already switched the heat on, but if you haven’t, the time is coming!

The last thing you want this winter is to switch the heat on only to discover that it’s not working and your home stays chilly. It’s important to keep up with fall tune-ups to avoid a furnace system failure, but if you haven’t had one just yet, don’t worry – there’s still time to schedule one before winter’s arrival. 

Luckily, there are some warning signs that your furnace needs repair, you just have to know what to look for. Keep reading to learn about some signs your furnace needs repair so you don’t get caught in the cold!

It’s Making Strange Sounds

If you turn on your heat for the first time and notice some strange sounds, don’t panic. Most of these sounds indicate that the furnace needs repair, something Cates Heating and Cooling can easily remedy. Some common furnace sounds that indicate it needs repair are high-pitched noises, whistling, or buzzing sounds. High-pitched noises usually indicate there could be an issue with the motor’s belt while whistling noises often mean there’s a problem with airflow. Buzzing sounds are frequently the result of a loose part that vibrates within the system. Most of these sounds are minor repairs, however, banging sounds from a furnace means there’s something wrong with the gas burners and needs repairing immediately to avoid a gas leak.

Furnace Flame isn’t Blue

Furnaces should have a blue flame with a slight yellowish tip. This indicates the fuel is being burned efficiently and safely; if it’s any other color like fully yellow, purple, green, or red, it’s important to contact a heating and cooling company like Cates Heating and Cooling to assess the furnace flame. Do not attempt to fix it yourself as this could be dangerous, requiring a professional HVAC technician trained in troubleshooting and repairing furnace flames.

Poor Airflow

Are you barely feeling any warm air near a vent when you put your hand up to it? You should feel warm air blowing, but if it’s weak airflow or you can’t feel anything, make sure the vent is opened. If it is opened and you still don’t feel much airflow, it’s time to get your furnace repaired. The issue could be a blocked or dirty vent that is restricting airflow. It’s important to contact a professional HVAC company in Kansas City if you notice poor airflow to avoid a duct leak from excessive air pressure in the ducts.

Sudden Increase in Energy Bills

If your heat has been on for a bit and you notice a sudden increase in energy bills, it’s time to schedule a furnace repair. While a sudden increase in energy bills could be a simple fix like changing a dirty air filter, it could be a bigger issue like a duct leak, low refrigerant levels, or an old furnace that needs replacing. Whatever the case, a sudden increase in energy bills usually indicates an issue that needs repairing by a professional.

Certain Rooms aren’t Heating Up

Are you noticing certain rooms in your home are colder than others? Are some so frigid that you avoid them at all costs? If so, you’ll want a furnace repair or replacement immediately to keep warm this winter. Uneven heat throughout a home could indicate a clogged air filter, a blocked vent, a malfunction with the thermostat, a duct leak, too much space for one furnace to heat, or a failing furnace.

A solution may be to add a zoned HVAC system or mini-split system to heat all the rooms in your home. Zoned HVAC systems are great for heating and cooling areas into zones throughout your home to ensure you have control over the temperatures in specific zones. For example, if your bedroom and living room are in different areas and are never the same temperature, adding a zoned HVAC system would be a great option to keep them at various temperatures to maximize comfort. Mini-splits are great for additions with no ductwork because they allow you to heat or cool a single room without changing the temperature of the entire house.

It Hasn’t Been Serviced Recently

If it’s been a while since your last furnace tune-up, it’s time to schedule one to ensure there are no issues with your furnace before we start to get steady cold weather. Ideally, you schedule furnace maintenance annually, but sometimes people skip a year or two, only to discover a major issue with their furnace. Keeping up with tune-ups and repairs helps to avoid expensive repairs and system failure. 

Furnace troubleshooting can sometimes be done as a DIY, but it’s best to contact a professional to assess your HVAC system for issues.

Schedule a Furnace Repair or Furnace Replacement with Cates Heating and Cooling Before Winter

At Cates Heating and Cooling, we’ve been installing and repairing residential furnaces for over 50 years! Homeowners in and around Kansas City, Shawnee, Lee’s Summit, Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park have trusted Cates with their furnace repair, making us the premier local heating and cooling company. Our expert technicians have 400 years of combined team experience in the HVAC industry and can service any brand or model furnace.

Contact Cates with any questions or concerns about your residential heating and cooling and how we can help!