February 5, 2024

Common Reasons Why Your Furnace is Making Noise

Is your furnace suddenly making noises that have you concerned? Normal furnace operation features clicking or tapping sounds as it ignites and turns off. However, when your unit makes strange noises during the entire operation, it indicates an underlying problem. So, why is your furnace noisy? 1. Banging Sounds A banging sound is commonly a sign of an ignition problem. When the thermostat signals the furnace to start a new cycle, the gas valve opens up. The ignition system should ignite the gas immediately. Sometimes, this process fails due to a faulty ignition system. Some gas leaks into the combustion chamber. When the fuel is finally ignited, the gas in the chamber burns suddenly, creating a banging sound. Be sure to contact a furnace repair professional before this gets any worse. 2. Screeching or Squealing A loose blower fan can drag its blades against the furnace causing screeching or squealing sounds when the furnace operates. A worn-out or slipping blower belt also makes high-pitched noises during operation. 3. Whistling Sounds Whistling sounds are a result of the furnace forcing air through blocked components. This may apply to air filters, ductwork, or vents. When cleaning the internal components does not solve...

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November 18, 2023

Is it Better to Repair a Furnace or Replace it?

Your furnace hasn’t been acting right lately, so it’s time to call for service. As you pick up the phone to dial, you may wonder, “Should I repair or replace this furnace?” To help you decide, consider the following factors. Frequency of Service Calls An occasional repair visit is no big deal, but frequent repair needs can really try your patience. If you’ve dialed our number so often that you have it memorized, it may be time for a new unit. You’ll get greater reliability with a furnace upgrade. Plus, your new model may come with a promising warranty. Cost of Repairs Some repairs are minor and don’t cost much to fix. Others come with a heftier price tag. That’s when you may start to think seriously about a new unit. Experts often suggest that you take the price of repairs into account when deciding whether to repair or replace your furnace. Opt for a replacement when the repair bill is going to be at least 50% of the price of a new model. Age of System Furnaces can last for many years, but they always wear out eventually. If yours has been around for a long time, then a...

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December 21, 2022

Furnace Lockout: Causes and Solutions

Is your furnace leaving you out in the cold more often than not? Is it refusing to restart after several attempts to reset it? You may be experiencing a furnace ignition lock out. What Is Furnace Lockout? Today’s modern furnaces come equipped with various safety sensors that ensure its proper function. If these sensors detect a condition that is determined to be unsafe, the furnace will be forced to shut down to prevent any safety hazards or damage to your unit. While these safety measures are effective, your furnace is likely to remain in lock out until you or a professional technician reset it. Many homeowners send a furnace into lockout mode after attempting to get it going several times without success. Furnace lockouts most commonly occur due to: Issues with a flame sensor Issues with the ignition mechanism Issues with a limit switch Issues with gas supply Faulty Flame Sensors A faulty flame sensor is one of the more common causes of a furnace lockout. As a furnace starts a cycle, a safety sensor checks for the presence of fire. If the safety sensor is defective, it will not detect a flame, and a control switch will halt the...

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March 20, 2019

3 Reasons to Get Professional Heating Help

Here in Madison and St. Clair counties, we invest quite a lot in keeping our homes warm. It is tempting for families that have a member with some DIY skills to try to install, maintain or repair the family heating system. However, this is not a good idea. Unless you are a licensed heating professional, working on your own heating system could be dangerous to your home and those in it. 1. Heating Professionals Are Fully Trained Experienced, licensed heating professionals are able to spot small problems today that could become larger problems tomorrow. They are trained to perform multi-point heating system evaluations. These include things like checking the air pressure in the vents, looking for air leaks in the ductwork, examining the blower motor and testing the amperage flowing through different parts of the system. This work takes specialized knowledge and tools that are often beyond the scope of a typical homeowner. 2. Heating Professionals Detect and Correct Safety Issues Working with furnaces involves dealing with explosive gases. Many homeowners do not have the training to safely work on propane and natural gas heating devices. Heating professionals are trained to spot safety issues as their main priority. Homeowners can...

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October 10, 2018

Does Weather Damage My Heating System Over Time?

While normal rainfall does not damage an HVAC system over time, heavy amounts of continuous rain, as well as other forms of water, will deteriorate the interior and exterior of a heating system with proper maintenance by professional HVAC technicians. Flooding Flooding can severely impair the ability of a heating system to function properly. If your neighborhood has received over 10 inches in a short time, contact McFarland Indoor Comfort Systems today to schedule a thorough inspection of your unit. Excessively wet HVAC systems that cannot dry out for extended periods may suffer clogs, deteriorating wiring, insect infestations, and other problems potentially leading to operational failures. Hail and Ice While very short bursts of smaller than pea-sized hail won’t damage a heating system, longer bouts of bigger hail and icy rain will batter and possibly breach an unprotected HVAC system. However, what many people don’t know is that placing a heavy plastic tarp over an HVAC unit prevents air from flowing around the unit. Overheating or freezing up of the system could occur when HVAC units are too tightly covered. Snow Allowing snow to cover an heating unit for more than a couple of days allows moisture to constantly melt...

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