5 Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair Before It Breaks Down
Nobody wants to wake up to a cold house in the middle of a Michigan winter. The good news is that most furnace failures give you warning signs before they happen. Catching these early can save you from an emergency repair call — and often costs less to fix when caught sooner.
Here are five signs your furnace is telling you it needs some attention.
1. Strange Noises
Your furnace shouldn't sound like it's working hard. If you're hearing banging, rattling, squealing, or grinding, something is likely loose, worn out, or failing. A banging noise often means a delayed ignition (gas builds up before it lights), which is both an efficiency and safety concern. Squealing could be a belt or blower motor bearing on its way out.
What to do: Don't ignore unusual sounds. A quick service call now can prevent a bigger (and more expensive) failure later.
2. Your Energy Bills Are Climbing
If your gas or electric bill has gone up but your usage hasn't changed, your furnace may be working harder than it should. Dirty burners, a failing blower motor, or clogged filters all force your system to run longer to produce the same amount of heat.
What to do: Start with a filter change. If that doesn't help, a professional tune-up can identify the issue.
3. Uneven Heating
If some rooms in your home are warm while others stay cold, it could be a furnace issue, a ductwork problem, or both. A furnace that's losing efficiency may not produce enough heat to reach every room, especially on the coldest days.
What to do: Check that your vents are open and unblocked. If the problem persists, have a technician inspect both the furnace and ductwork.
4. The Furnace Short-Cycles
Short-cycling means your furnace turns on, runs for a few minutes, shuts off, and then repeats. This is hard on the equipment and means your home never quite reaches the set temperature. Common causes include a dirty flame sensor, overheating from restricted airflow, or a thermostat issue.
What to do: Check your filter first — a clogged filter is the most common cause. If the filter is clean, you'll want a technician to take a look.
5. Yellow or Flickering Pilot Light
A healthy furnace flame should be steady and blue. If the flame is yellow, orange, or flickering, it could indicate incomplete combustion — which can produce carbon monoxide. This is a safety issue that should be addressed promptly.
What to do: If you notice a yellow flame or suspect a carbon monoxide issue, call a professional right away. Make sure your CO detectors are working.
The Bottom Line
Most furnace problems don't happen overnight. If you notice any of these signs, getting a professional inspection sooner rather than later can save you money and keep your family comfortable. Regular maintenance — a fall tune-up before heating season — is the best way to catch issues early and prevent surprise breakdowns.