4 Signs You Need an Emergency Furnace Repair

here is nothing quite like stepping into the warm embrace of your home after a long, cold day. The catch is “how warm” depends on the condition of your furnace.

A reliable furnace is essential to keep your home comfortable. However, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to neglect the need for regular furnace maintenance, which can lead to a greater chance of complications and repair costs.

Heating systems have the tendency to break down at the worst moment, creating a major inconvenience for you and your family. Grab the blankets and light the fire while you read these signs you may need an emergency heating repair.

How do I know my furnace repair is considered an emergency?

Furthermore, it is not always easy to recognize a broken furnace or heat pump until it becomes an emergency. You can miss some of the signs if you don’t know what to look for, or the problem may seem so minor that you think you can wait until a bigger problem occurs to call your local furnace maintenance services.

So how do you know when your furnace is trying to tell you something? Here are four signs it might be time for an emergency furnace repair.

1. My Furnace is Leaking

If there is a pool of liquid underneath near or around your furnace, something is wrong, but don’t panic. A leaking furnace is a common problem many homeowners face throughout their heating system’s lifetime. While a little bit of condensation is expected, water forming on the floor or in puddles outside the furnace rather quickly after starting it up could indicate a serious problem. Any sign of water around your furnace calls for emergency heating services.

What liquid is leaking from my furnace?

Do not worry. The pool of clear liquid around your furnace is just water. The water is just condensation that has leaked out of your heating system. Even though water is not directly harmful, if neglected, your home is susceptible to water damage, mold, or rotting. It is important to listen to the warning signs to avoid any detrimental damage.

What do you do with a leaking furnace?

Here is what to do when you find water around your furnace

Shut off the furnace
Immediately clear the water around the system
Vacuum the area in case of excess water
Call an HVAC contractor

If your furnace is leaking water, that’s a sign that there is something wrong with your furnace. Most likely, the culprit is either your drainage system is clogged or a coil is frozen. Call heating repair experts today!

How to keep my furnace’s draining system from clogging?

It is a good idea to develop good habits to keep your heating systems in tip-top condition. Pour bleach into the condensation line once a month to clean the line to ensure condensation can drain properly from your heating system.

What does a frozen coil in my HVAC mean?

When your air filter is not cleaned regularly it can cause irregular airflow in your heating system. If the air filter is clogged and air has a hard time getting through, the reduced flow of air will cause the coils to freeze. The pool of water underneath your furnace appears when those frozen coils start to melt and water is leaking from places that are not equipped to catch water. A frozen coil is reason to call the local furnace repair experts.

2. My Furnace Is Making Strange Noises

Your furnace will need an emergency furnace repair if you start hearing strange noises while it’s running. A clanking, whistling, or rattling sound is not normal and means something is wrong with your unit’s components such as the motor or fan. However, the specific problem will depend on the noise produced.

Why is my furnace making weird noises?

It could be a sign that it’s about to break down for good. When components aren’t working correctly and begin to wear out, they can make odd sounds that are difficult to identify. If something seems very wrong with your unit, you should call a repair technician to listen for these clues before calling for a replacement.
It could have an electrical issue. This is evident through a buzzing sound that could indicate a problem with the blower motor. The sound could either mean that it is aged, needs lubrication, or that it could be failing.
It could also mean your air filter is dirty. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase the energy consumption of your unit. Your furnace might be working harder than it has to because of this issue. If you notice strange noises coming from your unit, check your filter right away and replace it if it needs cleaning or changing.

How often should I replace my furnace’s air filter?

It is important to check up on your furnace monthly. Check the draining system and the filter to ensure everything is running smoothly. To be safe, change your furnace’s filter every 3 months, but that number can vary depending on the type of filter.

3. Cold Air is Coming Out of My Furnace

An emergency heating service may be in order if your furnace is no longer producing heat.

You should get this checked as soon as possible as this problem can cause damage to other areas of your system if it isn’t fixed quickly enough.

Why is cold air coming out of my furnace?

A problem with insulation, therefore it takes longer for the heat to reach the room.
Some pipes in your system are frozen and therefore affecting the flow of hot air through the vents in your home.
Your heating system could be running, but not producing heat, which means there is an internal blockage in the HVAC system
Faulty electrical wiring from the controller
A blocked venting system
If the air filter is clogged, it will push more work onto the unit, causing it to work harder and longer to get the job done. If it’s not just once in a while but every day you find yourself turning up the temperature, it’s time to call your heating repair company right away.

4. Weird Smells Coming from My Furnace

There could also be strange smells coming from your furnace or vents. If you find a burning smell, it could mean that there’s an oil leak, smoke damage, or other issues with the internal components of the unit.

What do I do if there is an oil or gas leak in my furnace?

Turn off the system
Turn off the switch to the oil supply
In case of a gas leak, make sure everyone is evacuated from the house
Call for emergency furnace repair

A leaking gas furnace sends fumes into the air that is unsafe and can make you and your family sick. Not only does this put you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, but leaks can also cause fires or explosions.

You can avoid these dangers and get the repair you need with emergency furnace repair services.

What types of smells could be coming from my furnace?

If your furnace is not working properly, these are the common smells that can troubleshoot the problem:

Why does my furnace smell like rotten eggs?

If you smell rotten eggs, evacuate your house immediately. It could mean there is a gas leak in your house. Many harmful gases are odorless, so utility companies often integrate odor-indicating substances in natural gas to alarm residents of a potential threat. Call emergency heating repair right away.

There is a metallic smell coming from my furnace, what does it mean?

If you sense a metallic smell, it could mean a component of your heating system is overheating and possibly burning or melting. Immediately turn off the furnace and call emergency HVAC repair services.

There is a burning dust smell coming from my furnace, what does it mean?

A burning dust smell may happen when you turn your furnace on for the first time for the winter season. The smell is normal and may go away after a couple of days. If the smell does not go away, try changing the air filter. If the smell still persists, call an emergency heating repair professional at Patriot Air.

There is a moldy smell coming from my furnace, what does it mean?

If your furnace smells like mold or mildew it could point to a mold infestation. Mold infestations are serious as it can decrease the quality of the air you breath and impact your health. Flu-like symptoms can occur when exposed to a mold infestation. Call the duct-cleaning experts at Patriot Air to fix your furnace.

Why does my house smell like my pets when I turn the furnace on?

If one day you wake up and your whole house smells like your pets, before you start yelling at your furry friends, it could be your furnace’s fault. The furnace’s floor level ventilator registers could be clogged with pet hair and debris causing the pet smell to be pushed around your home. Cleaning the registers should do the trick.

Emergency Furnace Repair in Columbus, Ohio

If you want to keep your family warm, go with a trusted heating and cooling contractor in Columbus, Ohio, like Patriot Air.

When you need an emergency furnace repair in Columbus, turn to the professionals at Patriot Air Comfort Systems. We provide an array of HVAC services, including installations, repairs, and regular maintenance. Our NATE-certified technicians have the expertise to handle any situation.

We are also proud to offer Lennox, Carrier, and WaterFurnace products—preferred brands by both residential and commercial customers in Columbus, Ohio.

Our 24/7 emergency furnace repair service eliminates stress and inconvenience, allowing you to focus on what’s important – getting your home back to its normal temperature as quickly as possible.