There is an unfamiliar noise coming from your furnace? Some rooms are warm and others will not budge from the cold despite your best efforts. Then you see your heating bill has gone up for no apparent reason.
You have come to the right place if that is the case. We at Whipple Cooling, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical, or as we are called, Whipple Service Champions, have put in the work to keep Utah families warm since 1947. Give us a ring at (801) 515-2213 for prompt assistance.
Utah winter storms have a way of arriving in short order. The sun can be shining one day and the next there is snow on the Wasatch Front or a cold snap in St. George. You do not want to be without a working furnace when the mercury falls. Make sure you are aware of what your furnace might be telling you before the storm comes.
Why Your Furnace Fails at the Worst Time
It is a frustration with most furnaces: they will not break down in October while they are hardly on. Wait until mid-January and they are hard at work and then give out. A system left to its own devices for months is under considerable strain on the season’s first cold night.
What were minor issues over the summer can become major ones in a hurry. Add in a storm and the demand for repairs and wait times will lengthen for all. Best to get ahead of it.
Warning Signs
For the most part a furnace will let you know it is having trouble before it gives up altogether. Be on the lookout for any of the following:
- Banging, grinding, squealing or rattling from the unit on start up
- Rooms that do not heat up while the rest of the house is comfortable
- Excessive cycling on and off
- Vents with little airflow to speak of
- The burner flame is yellow rather than a consistent blue
- Unusual odours of gas or something burning
- An uptick in your energy costs with no change in your habits
Should you see these, do not put it off in the hope it will resolve itself; it will not.
The Usual Suspects in Utah Homes
We see certain things every winter in Utah and knowing them will tell you when to bring in a pro.
Take a clogged air filter, for instance. It is the number one offender. With the filter dirty the furnace cannot move air and must overwork, which is hard on the system and your wallet. Make a habit of changing it.
Or it could be the thermostat. The furnace may be in good order but the thermostat is not relaying the proper instructions. A unit that is miscalibrated or on its last legs will have the system running at inopportune times and leave you cold.
Problems with the pilot or igniter will put an end to things. The burners will not light and you will be left with a furnace that is running yet blowing nothing but cold air.
Then there is the matter of a cracked heat exchanger. More serious by far, this is the component that keeps combustion gases from the air in your home. A crack means carbon monoxide can get in, and that is not something to overlook.
Weak airflow and odd noises can be traced back to blower motors and belts that have seen their share of wear and require some tending to.
Preparation is Key
Plan ahead. Put in a new filter, give the thermostat a test run, open up the vents and put away anything you have put around the furnace. If in doubt, have a professional look at it.
Our Championship Club maintenance membership was put in place for just that reason. It is a way to nip small problems in the bud so they do not become an emergency and a cold night.
Let the Champions Handle It
From Salt Lake City to St. George and all points in between, Whipple Service Champions has been of service to some 250,000 homes in the state for 75 years now. We stand behind our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and provide free estimates. Synchrony financing can be arranged as well.
Do not let the next storm take you by surprise with a furnace unprepared for it, and if repairs are not enough our team can help you explore new gas furnaces as well. Today call Whipple at (801) 515-2213 and Champ and the rest of us will see to it your home is warm through the winter.
