The furnace that does the important job of keeping your home warm has probably been “on vacation” for most of the summer and well into the fall. But it’s almost time for the furnace to get back to work: temperatures are dropping, and winter lurks right around the corner.

When you turn your furnace on for the first time during the season, keep a close watch for any signs that it’s malfunctioning. You want to have repair issues taken care of as soon as possible—that way you won’t end up with a non-working furnace on the coldest day of the year!

Some “First Day” Furnace Troubles to Look For

• Rattling noises: As the furnace comes on, you’ll probably hear some metallic rattling sounds. This is likely the sound of the ductwork as it heats up and isn’t anything to worry about. If it continues, however, it may warn that something is loose in the air handler or the blower fan is damaged.
• Burning smells: Like the rattling of ducts, this is something you can expect to run into as the furnace gets back to work. The source of the acrid odor is dust that gathered over the heat exchanger or heating elements over the summer. This dust will burn off as the heat turns on. If the burning smell continues for more than an hour, however, you should call for repairs.
• Uneven heat: Walk around the rooms of your house to see if the furnace is distributing heat evenly. If you detect cold spots, check first to see if there’s heat escaping around a window, or if a room vent has been accidentally blocked. If you can’t account for the lack of heat, call on a repair specialist.
• Low air flow: Does the air coming from the furnace feel sluggish? Check on the HVAC filter to see if it’s clogged. The furnace should always start the heating season with a clean filter!

If you need repairs done on your furnace, call our technicians. We offer 24/7 emergency service for your convenience.

Call Bud Matthews Services for all your home service needs in Durham, NC.