Learning about the 5 common signs of a broken heater can help you identify when your heating unit needs to be repaired or replaced. Educating yourself in this matter is incredibly important, as it can help you get the HVAC service you need before the cold season when technician demand is high, and temperatures are unforgiving.
At Ambient Edge, we feel it’s our duty to provide homeowners with the information they need to make informed decisions regarding their home’s heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment. That’s why our team has decided to compile a list of the signs you’ll notice when your heater is broken.
1. Odd Noises
If you hear noises coming from your heater that you haven’t noticed in the past, it might be a sign that it’s broken and in need of repair. Here are some of the different sounds that broken heaters make and what they indicate:
- Rumbling: A rumbling noise coming from your boiler could indicate that it is overheating.
- Clanging: If you hear a clanging noise from your heater, you might need to replace the fan belt.
- Clicking: If you have a heater that runs on natural gas and you hear a clicking noise, there could be a crack in its heat exchanger. This is a very dangerous problem and must not be taken lightly. Contact a professional HVAC service ASAP and leave your home if you start to smell gas.
2. Heater doesn’t Warm Up
Since your heater’s main function is to warm your home, there’s probably something wrong with it if it’s not heating up properly. However, before you call an HVAC company to repair your broken heater, there are a few things you should check.
First, check your circuit breaker panel, as a power surge may have temporarily disconnected your heater. If your breakers seem fine, check to see if your thermostat is working and set to your desired temperature.
If you don’t find anything wrong with your circuit breaker or thermostat, contact an HVAC repair company near you. They’ll send a qualified technician to your home who can diagnose and fix the problem in no time.
3. Increase in Energy Bills
If you notice an unexpected increase in your energy bill, it might be a sign that your heater is broken or not functioning as efficiently as it should. Heaters often consume excess energy to compensate for a malfunction, so an energy bill spike is a telltale sign of a heating issue.
We recommend contacting an HVAC repair company as soon as possible if you notice a change in your home’s energy usage. Getting the repairs you need today could save you from an incredibly expensive replacement in the future.
4. Automatic Safety Switch Failure
Older heating units come with built-in safety switches. These switches were designed to shut down your system in the event of a malfunction or issue that could put you in harm’s way. If the safety unit on your heater shuts the system down, it could be a sign that your heater is broken or that it’s having one of the following issues:
- Wiring problem
- Clogged evaporator coil
- Motor blower malfunction
- Dirty pipes or air filter
- Control board problem
5. Some Rooms Aren’t Warming Up
A properly functioning heater should consistently heat every room in your home. If you notice that one or more of your rooms aren’t warming up when you turn your heater on, it could be a sign of an underlying problem.
However, before you call your local HVAC repair service, consider adding insulation to the rooms that aren’t receiving proper heat. Poor insulation can allow heat to escape, leaving you to think that your heater is broken when it isn’t. If the rooms in question are well insulated, you’ll want to have a skilled technician come to take a look at your heating unit.
Preventative Maintenance Can Help You Avoid a Broken Heater
While learning about the warning signs of a broken heater can help you determine if you’re having an issue with your heating system, investing in preventative maintenance can help you avoid heating issues in the first place.
During a preventative maintenance visit, an experienced technician will run diagnostic tests on your HVAC units. They’ll identify small issues that have the potential to turn into big problems and nip them in the bud.
Scheduling annual or bi-annual preventative maintenance check-ups can help you get the most out of your heating and cooling units. The small adjustments your technician makes will increase your HVAC units’ energy efficiency, effectiveness, and lifespan.
Contact Ambient Edge to Get Your Broken Heater Repaired Fast
If you’ve noticed one of the 5 signs of a broken heater, you’ll want to contact the HVAC repair team at Ambient Edge ASAP. We’ll send a NATE-certified technician to your home at a time that works for you. They’ll run tests on your heater and determine what’s wrong with it. Once they’ve diagnosed your heating problems, they’ll make the fixes it needs to run like new.
Our technicians always carry all the parts they need for a job, so it’s likely that they’ll be able to fix your heating unit in as little as one visit. If they find that your heater is too damaged to repair, they’ll recommend a new unit that’s powerful enough to effectively cool your home and install it correctly. Contact us today to repair or replace your broken heating unit.