Even in a mild Sacramento winter, nobody wants to go without home heating. But breakdowns happen, usually at the most inopportune times. When you need furnace repair in Sacramento, you can turn to the same company that you trust for new furnace installations and all of your other HVAC needs: Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning.
Common Furnace Problems in Sacramento
It’s not just home heating that comes in all shapes and sizes. So do furnace problems. If you’re noticing any of these warning signs, don’t wait — call us right away before a small issue becomes a big, expensive problem.
1. Climbing Utility Bills
This is one of the earliest and most common signs that something is wrong, and often the easiest to miss. If you see that your utility bills are climbing, check for a rate increase. If you’re seeing a bill that’s climbing out of proportion to rate increases, it could be that your furnace has an operating problem.
2. Unusual Noises and Smells
Furnaces aren’t silent when they run. Your furnace has a series of steps it cycles through as it cycles up, runs, and cycles back down. Your home, likewise, has a scent all its own. When those smells and noises suddenly change, it’s a good idea to call us. There’s one exception: if there’s a rotten egg smell, get everyone out of the house and dial 911. Don’t call us until the potential gas leak is addressed.
3. Odd Sights
Natural gas burns clean, and gas burners — in your furnace and stove alike — emit a blue flame. If that flame is any other color, that spells trouble. A dirty burner, or an inefficient burn, can cause a color change in the flame. That color change, in turn, is often a warning of a potential carbon monoxide risk.
4. Thermostat Problems
Your furnace problems don’t always start in your furnace. Furnaces, like air conditioning units, can “short cycle,” meaning that they rapidly run through brief periods of run time at rapid intervals. Short cycling is often a sign of a thermostat problem (though it can have other causes, too, like a draft). It’s annoying, but worse than that, it’s also causing mechanical stress on the system. On the brighter side, new smart thermostats can lead to much better control and energy efficiency.
5. Air Quality Issues
Choosing the right source for home heating repair matters. Indoor air quality is a great example. If your allergies are acting up for no apparent reason, if your throat is always dry and scratchy, or a family member’s asthma never seems to improve no matter what you do, there can be a number of causes. Sometimes it’s a simple fix (like changing your air filters if you’d forgotten), but in other instances, the culprit can be mold or mildew in your HVAC system — which may not be your furnace at all, and may actually require plumbing repair. Our experience leads us to find problems and solutions that others could miss.
Other Furnace Problems
This is, of course, far from a comprehensive list of furnace problems. Maybe your furnace is blowing cold air. Your home may have “hot spots,” or individual rooms that never seem to warm up. Or maybe you’ve noticed you’re using space heaters more often. In short, if anything at all goes wrong with your furnace, call us.
Average Furnace Lifespan
Furnaces last 18 to 20 years on average. We’ve seen them last longer with good maintenance, but we’ve also seen them fail long before then for a number of reasons. Poor equipment choices and a lack of maintenance will lead to that duration being much shorter. So if you’re relying on us for a Sacramento furnace installation, take our advice for the best new furnace for your home. But don’t stop there — make sure you take advantage of our home heating tune-ups as well.
Furnace Repair Vs Furnace Replacement
Age is a prime reason to replace your furnace. But it’s hardly the only one. Over time, any mechanical system is prone to more frequent breakdowns, and those repair costs add up faster than you might think. What’s more, if you’ve added to your home, your old system may not be up to the task even if you’ve kept it in good working order. It’s also worth bearing in mind that designs have advanced considerably, with newer furnaces delivering much better efficiency numbers — and, with them, lower operating costs.
Cost Factors
Unlike a furnace replacement, where there are many cost variables from the size of your home to the type of system you’re choosing, repairs tend to be a bit more straightforward. That said, costs for parts and labor can vary based on the nature of the repair, which is why we’ll always give you an estimate up-front so you can make an educated choice.
Why Ace Plumbing?
We specialize in home heating repairs and replacements, and we’re experienced with a wide variety of systems.
- Electric furnaces
- Gas furnaces
- Boilers
- Heat pumps
- Ductless split systems
Beyond being licensed, bonded, and insured, it’s that experience that makes the difference to Sacramento homeowners. Besides, we also offer furnace tune-ups, which can mean fewer repairs over the life of your system. So there are many good reasons to choose Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning.
Emergency Furnace Repairs in Sacramento
For furnace maintenance, or a replacement furnace installation, it’s easy to schedule an appointment. But we’re also aware that when a problem arises, it’s not usually going to be at a convenient time. That’s why Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning offers 24/7 emergency furnace service, so don’t ever hesitate to call 916-455-4548!