How Do I Know if I Need Heating Repairs?

November 20, 2023

The chilly weather has returned to the Albany area, and chances are you’ve had to run your home’s heating system by now. But maybe you’re not feeling as warm and cozy as you’d like to be. If not, your heating system might not be operating as well as it should be. How do you know if your heating system needs repairs?

In this article, we’ll talk about three different types of heating equipment – furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps – and some of the signs they might give you if they need repair services. And, we’ll explain how Family Danz can help. Keep reading to learn more!

Furnaces

Most of the homes in North America rely on a furnace to keep them comfortable during the chillier months of the year. Furnaces work by forcing warm air through ductwork that delivers the heated air throughout the house via registers. Some of the ways you can tell if your furnace needs repair services include:

  • Increased energy bills
  • Unusual odors
  • Strange noises
  • Uneven heating
  • Carbon monoxide alarm sounding

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, you should have your furnace checked out by a professional HVAC technician as soon as possible. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, you should leave your home immediately and call 911. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause serious illness and can be fatal.

Boilers

While most homeowners have a furnace installed in their home for heating, the next most popular system is boiler heating. Boiler heat is considered radiant heat because it delivers heated water to radiators throughout your home. The radiators then heat the air in your rooms. Signs your boiler may need repair include:

  • Radiators not heating or no heat at all
  • Signs of water leakage
  • Unusual noise
  • Low water pressure
  • The pilot will not stay lit

If you’ve checked your thermostat and that doesn’t seem to be the problem, the next step is to call your HVAC professional. A leaky boiler can do a lot of damage to your home quickly, so if you notice water collecting around your boiler or see an obvious leak, call as soon as possible.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps have been used in the south for home heating for quite some time, but are a relatively new way of heating homes in the Northeast. This is because early heat pump systems were not capable of providing adequate heating when the temperatures dipped too low. Modern technology has allowed cold-climate heat pump systems to be used more effectively in our chilly climate. Heat pump systems that need repair may show the following signs:

  • Increased energy bills
  • Ice on coil
  • Short cycling
  • Poor airflow
  • Constant operation

Because your heat pump system is often used for air conditioning in the summer, you’ll want to have it checked out right away if it doesn’t seem to be working right. While it can provide you with high-efficiency, year-round comfort, a problem that goes unchecked can spill over into the next season when you need it for cooling – and nobody wants a total breakdown on a hot summer day!

Family Danz can help meet your heating repair needs.

At Family Danz, we’re pleased to offer our customers complete heating services, so whether you have a furnace, boiler, or heat pump, our skilled technicians can help. They’ll thoroughly troubleshoot your system and make the repairs you need quickly. And, if repairs will either be extremely expensive or impossible, they can help you choose replacement equipment so you and your family can enjoy a comfy, cozy home all winter long. Just give us a call at 518.427.8685 and we’ll be happy to help you.