4 Things To Pay Notice To When You Turn Your Furnace On for the Winter Season

As autumn quickly creeps into winter, you will come across a time when you will have to set the heating element to thermostat mode and turn on the furnace for the first time in the season. While the process should usually go smoothly, you do not want to miss or ignore any problems that could impact your heat for the winter.

Check out some of the main things to pay attention to when you turn on your furnace for the first time. Extra awareness of these elements can help you detect issues early on and get the help of an HVAC specialist before problems become worse.

1. Over-Clicking

When a furnace goes to light for the first time, you will typically hear a clicking sound before the flame catches and the furnace lights up. If you notice your furnace clicking over and over, then you may have a problem with the flame itself. The furnace could have oil build-up in the filter or pipelines, preventing clean oil access inside the furnace.

You may also run into issues with the flames inside the furnace. The furnace flames should burn a blue color, but may have weakened flames that only burn yellow. In this case, your furnace may be due for a cleaning. A cleaning will not only prevent the over-clicking and ignition issues, but your oil will more cleaner and efficiently.

You will not burn through as much oil to keep your home heated and you will save money on oil costs through the winter season.

2. The Fresh Heating Smell

When you first turn on your furnace for the winter, you may notice a strange burning smell nears the radiators of your home. The smell is common and typically represents the dust that has collected on the radiators and base board heaters. As the heating elements warm up for the first time, the dust will burn off and the odor gets released into the air.

While the smell is normal for the first day or so, you should not continue to smell a burning for a number of days. If you notice a strange odor that lingers and remains persistent, then you may need to contact an HVAC specialist for an inspection. There could be another issue that is causing the smell and needs repairs.

The smell could be directly coming from the furnace itself. You do not want to worry about any leaks or other issues that could impact the furnace.

3. Room Zoning & Temperatures

When you turn your heat on for the first time, wait an hour or so to really warm up the home and then take a walk through the house. See if you notice any drastic changes in heat for certain rooms of the home. Some rooms may not get the same amount of heat as the others and could create issues as you try to heat the whole home.

The problem could be with the furnace output itself or relate to the thermostat. A busted thermostat may not properly detect the temperatures and offset any settings you try to put in. An HVAC specialist can complete a full inspection and help determine the exact cause of the heat distribution issues.

4. Air Quality

If your heating includes pushed air through vents, then you want to consider the air quality of your home during the winter months, especially when you first turn the furnace on. Pay attention to your breathing and any symptoms that may suddenly pop up once you start heating the home.

For example, if you're coughing or wheezing more, the reason could because of the air quality. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, itchy throat, or heavy congestion. an HVAC tech can perform a cleaning of your vents and check on the air quality within your home.

Fix any of your suspected furnace issues with our professionals at Century Heating & A/C Inc. We will help you with all of your furnace issues and ensure you have a heated home throughout the cold winter season.