How to heat your home is one of the bigger decisions you make as a homeowner.

Most homes are heated in two ways: furnaces and boilers. 

Furnaces: Heat and distribute air through a house using air ducts

Boilers: Heat water and distribute either hot water or steam through steam radiators, baseboard radiators, or radiant floor systems

One of the most obvious reasons you’ll know you need furnace repair is a cold house. But there are other things to watch for that may tell you you need something fixed. These red flags include water leaks, strong odors and unusual noises. Another indicator of problems may be an unusually high utility bill.

When you need your furnace fixed, you’ll find that there is a lot of overlap with other heating and cooling services. Along with furnace repair, you may be able to find HVAC repair or air conditioning repair services that can help you.

To find a furnace or other heating system repair person near you, check the list above and make note of BBB Accreditation status, reviews and complaints and overall BBB rating. Then, ask friends and neighbors if they have someone to recommend. Get written quotes from at least three businesses, and be wary of any quote that is much less expensive than the others. 

Bobvila.com points out that there are different factors that can affect how much repairs will cost. In addition to needing emergency furnace repair or 24-hour furnace repair, other things that will affect the cost include:

• Fuel type: electric, propane, gas or oil
• Type of repair: thermostat, blower motor, draft inducer motor, ignitor replacement, thermocouple replacement, flame sensor, gas valve, control or circuit board, capacitor, flue pipe, chimney liner, relay or high limit switches, pressure switch, transformer, oil combustion chambers, heat exchanger, coils, filter
• The average labor costs in your community
• Any active warranties or maintenance plans
• Accessibility of the furnace

According to Energy.gov, there is ongoing maintenance you should stay on top of with your furnace. While you may be able to do very basic things like replacing filters yourself, you should have a professional perform more complicated tasks:

• Check the condition of vents, pipes and chimneys. Consider installing new heating equipment that won’t require using a chimney.
• Check your heat exchanger and make sure it is not leaking. Leaks in furnace heat exchangers can cause dangerous mixes of combustion gasses and house air – which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms in your house.
• Adjust the controls for optimal efficiency and comfort.
• Make sure the combustion chamber doesn’t have any cracks.
• Clean and oil the blower.
• Clean dirt and soot from the furnace and check for corrosion.
• Seal all connections between the furnace and air ducts.

Once you have the information on getting your furnace repaired, you can also consider replacing your furnace. If the repairs are costly and your furnace is old and inefficient, you may be better off in the long run by replacing it.

For more information:

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