How To Know If You Need Heating Repairs

We haven’t had that first real cold snap yet in Sullivan County – just the normal share of cool evenings. But it’s coming – and when it does, we know to expect a flurry of phone calls from people requesting HVAC repairs and service.

The problem is there are only so many qualified and expert HVAC technicians to go around – which means someone unlucky homeowner will have to wait. It’s a common problem: most people don’t give their furnace or boiler much thought until the weather takes a significant turn for the worse. But by waiting that long, you could be backing yourself into a corner, leaving yourself little time to fix – or replace, if it comes to it – your heating equipment.

The best way to avoid the need for heating repairs, of course, is to prevent them from happening in the first place by getting professional preventative maintenance every year. If you haven’t scheduled your heating service yet, we recommend that you do it as soon as possible – before you really need your furnace or boiler.

In the meantime, if you know you need to have your heating equipment professionally repaired, it’s best to take care of it before the first cold snap: now, for example.

Four heating repair warning signs

If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your heating system – especially one of these telltale heating signs for a heating – contact us as soon as possible so we can take care of the problem before temperatures take their annual plunge:

• Bigger bills – Utility companies may raise their rates, but they typically do it slowly over time. If you notice a sharp rise in your heating bill, it’s generally a sign that your heating system has lost efficiency and needs repair.
• Uneven heating – If you have a forced-air heating system (one with vents and a furnace rather than radiators or baseboards and a boiler), you may find that that you have hot and cool “pockets” in your home; this uneven heating is usually the result of airflow problems. A heating expert will be able to help you assess where the problem is and what’s causing it so you can fix it.
• Strange noises – Most modern heating equipment runs pretty quietly. If you hear banging, clanking, or other unusual sounds, something is probably about to go wrong – if it hasn’t already.
• Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) – Have you noticed that a layer of dust forms not long after a thorough house cleaning – or that your allergy symptoms get worse when you spend more time at home? A furnace that isn’t working properly could be circulating dust, mildew, and other contaminants throughout your home. If you change your air filter and the problem doesn’t go away, you’ll need to call in a heating pro.

You may be ready for a lovely fall here in the Catskill Region, but is your heating system? Know for sure: contact us today for expert heating system service and repairs for your heating equipment from the pros at Black Bear.