You depend on your heating system to maintain safety and comfort in your home throughout the cold months of winter. Regardless of whether you have installed a heat pump or gas furnace, it is important to have a healthy and working system. This will ensure that you continue to enjoy efficient heating and good quality indoor air, something that is good for your health.

Heating systems can develop problems without warning and inconvenience. Timely repair or replacement of the system is determined by how soon you realize that the unit has a problem. Therefore, ensure that your system is in top-notch condition to avoid going through the coldest months of the year without heat.

In this article, we have listed 8 signs of heating system failure, therefore, helping you identify them and contact a professional HVAC contractor on time.

1. Abnormal Sounds

Your heating system runs with minimal noise when in good shape. But when you notice a spike in the noise, or you hear an unfamiliar one, don’t waste time and contact a heating system professional to come over and have a look. He or she will investigate the source of the abnormal noise and advise on the next course of action.

Broken components and build-up of dirt and debris are some of the common causes of noise changes. If left unchecked, they may lead to major problems that are expensive to remedy. Therefore, it is vital that you have the noise checked and addressed as soon as possible.

2. Constant Cycling

Modern heating units are designed to automatically switch on and off depending on temperature changes. The unit should stop blowing hot air once your home reaches the right temperature and automatically resume blowing the air when the temperature shifts.

A system turning on and off continuously without any break in between is a sign that it is becoming inefficient. This may indicate that the unit is undersized, it has a damaged compressor, or it needs professional cleaning.

3. Excessive Condensation on Windows

Other than blowing warm air in your home, the heating system also helps in regulating moisture in the air. However, it does this to a small degree. But if you notice high levels of condensation on your glass doors or windows, contact your HVAC contractor because this indicates a problem.

4. Frequent Need to Adjust Settings

You should be able to change the temperature settings on your system at the beginning of the day and at night, without changing it multiple times in between, if you have a good heating unit.

Your system has an efficiency problem if you have to change its settings constantly to achieve a comfortable, and you should have it checked and repaired.

5. High Power Bills

Heating systems are likely to become ineffective as they age. As a result of the declining efficiency, the system will have to work harder to achieve the same level of efficiency in producing heat it did before. You will begin to notice increased need to constantly adjust the temperature settings, extra cycling, and an increase in your energy bills.

To confirm whether or not your bill has spiked, compare your current bill with those of previous years. After confirming this, the only reasonable thing to do is to upgrade your heating system.

6. History of Frequent Repairs

If the frequency of your heating system’s repairs has increased, it is an indication that the unit is about to fail. Even though these repairs will take care of small issues, you have to start thinking about replacing the system with a new one if they become too much. There are many replacement options and your contractor will help you make a good choice. The cost of buying a replacement unit might be scary, but you will come to notice that installing the new unit is a smarter investment than continuously covering repair costs.

7. Poor Indoor Air Quality

Many problems that heating systems develop are a product of these systems sitting idle for a huge chunk of the year. During this period, these machines gather a lot of dirt, dust, and debris. Consider cleaning your unit when you notice an increase in dustiness or dust blowing through your home. You might also need to do some repairs to the system if it has been sitting dormant for a long time as some of its internal components may have corroded due to grime.

8. Room-to-Room Temperature Changes

You should experience consistency in each room’s temperature, with minimal fluctuations around doors and windows in your home, unless the system you are using is a zoned one. But if you notice inconsistent temperature in different rooms in your home, then the heating system you are using might be too small to efficiently provide heated air throughout your home. Another sign that the system is not suitable for your home is significant drafts and sudden changes in temperature in the house. A good HVAC contractor will recommend a suitable replacement based on the measurements he or she takes from your home.

1) A Telephone Bid Just Isn’t Enough

Because there are so many different things to consider when choosing the ideal HVAC contractor, it’s impossible to have a bid given to you over the phone. A reputable contractor will acknowledge the need to visit your home to provide a bid for any work that is going to be carried out, because of various factors. These include the amount of ducting present and other variables that affect the work and the cost. Some brokers are simply trying to get a kickback from other contractors, and there are also plenty of inexperienced contractors around; if someone suggests to you that a telephone bid is adequate, be careful as it may be one of those scenarios. It’s important that all the relevant parts and fixtures in your home are checked thoroughly before giving you a bid for the work, and any reliable contractor understands this and will not try to suggest anything different to you.

2) Don’t Use the Same Model to Replace an Older Unit

You can expect your air conditioning unit to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years if it is properly maintained, and any good HVAC contractor will tell you that a unit made in the last few years isn’t comparable to one that was manufactured in 1990. You can enjoy a home that’s as efficient as possible and make sure your home meets the current standards, by working with an HVAC contractor who is properly trained and certified. Our company always gives the best possible advice for your particular situation and will customize the A/C unit you need, unlike some other companies that are simply trying to get rid of their inventory of older units. Not all air conditioning units are the same, and it’s very difficult to rely on the inventory in a warehouse to make sure you end up with the perfect unit for your needs. Choosing the appropriate model and size of the unit is a must, and our experts can help you to do just that.

3) Contractors’ State License Board Licensing Is Essential

You can be reassured that your chosen contractor will do a thorough and safe job if you make a point of working with an HVAC contractor who is licensed. Clearly, if you work with a contractor who isn’t licenced, you run the risk of having shoddy work carried out or the wrong system installed. Unfortunately, this is all too common in California and other states. The proper disposals are needed for such things as electrical systems and gas lines, and of course, working with someone who isn’t familiar with these can be downright dangerous too. If a contractor doesn’t have the proper licensing, then just don’t work with them; it means they don’t have the applicable experience or authorization to install an A/C system. Look for the contractor’s number, which should be clearly indicated on their website and any literature they give you. Be assured that all our contractors have the necessary licensing and training.

4) Get a Written Estimate From Your HVAC Contractor

A written contract is always recommended, partly in case it has to be used in legal proceedings if one of the parties forfeits the contract. Any reputable contractor should know this and should be prepared to supply you with a written bid for any proposed work; the best thing is just not to work with someone who doesn’t adhere to this. The bid must have the price that is being charged for the work and everything that is included in the work.

5) Beware the Lowest Bid

We pride ourselves on carrying out any HVAC work in your home safely and thoroughly, and we always deliver quality work. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for every HVAC contractor, especially those that place a bid that just seems too low. In this industry, you really do get what you pay for, and it’s well worth paying extra for reliable and knowledgeable service. In 2005, our company was needed to repair almost 30 percent of air conditioning units in residential homes that had been inadequately repaired by contractors who simply weren’t qualified to do the job. We really don’t want to have to fix an air conditioning unit that was supposedly repaired less than a year ago, but just wasn’t fixed properly.

6) Don’t Work With the One Brand Contractor

In the HVAC industry, it’s surprisingly common for some contractors to only work with one particular brand of unit, and if at all possible, you should avoid working with these contractors. Some brands are just better than others; they may just be a better and more respected brand, but they may also be more suited to a particular situation. However, there are plenty of dishonest and disreputable contractors out there who just won’t tell you this, and who are just trying to sell you a particular brand of unit. These contractors have typically signed a contract with a specific manufacturer and are then trying to do everything possible to sell that particular brand to homeowners. It doesn’t matter to them whether that particular brand is the best to do the job. We don’t work like that and will, of course, recommend the HVAC brand that will do the best job for your specific situation.

To Conclude

Trusting your instincts is something that is important when it comes to choosing a qualified and reputable HVAC contractor to carry out work in your home. But at the same time, it’s also important to do your research to make sure you choose the best person for the job. You don’t want to choose an HVAC contractor based solely on the rates they charge; it’s clearly just as important to work with someone that you trust, has a good reputation and will get the job done the first time properly. The process of installing a new HVAC unit or repairing or troubleshooting your existing one can go a lot more smoothly if you work with someone reliable. It may take a little research, and that can mean asking friends and neighbours for recommendations, looking at reviews and comments posted online, and talking to the contractor to make sure all your questions are answered. But the end result is well worth it when you know that the work has been carried out safely by someone who knows what they are doing and that you won’t need to call someone else to fix the work any time soon. We stand by our work and strive to deliver the best possible customer service, along with the highest quality HVAC products.

We provide a variety of HVAC services including sales, installation and repair of all types of heating and air conditioning equipment. Our heating and cooling professionals specialize in high-efficiency systems and can also install evaporative coolers and design custom sheet metal and ductwork. Call today to learn more, or for a free estimate.