By Chance Croft, Crofts Air Conditioning
Southern Utah's temperature swings hard once November hits. Mornings in Hurricane and St. George dip into the 30s and 40s while afternoons can still climb into the 60s, and that's exactly the kind of shift that exposes a furnace that's been sitting idle since last winter.
Here's what we check when we go out on a furnace call this time of year, and what you can look at yourself before you need to call anyone.
Check your filter first A dirty filter is still the most common reason a furnace runs loud, runs long, or doesn't heat evenly room to room. If you can't remember the last time you changed yours, that's probably your answer. A clean filter also protects the system from strain that leads to bigger repairs.
Listen for short cycling If your furnace kicks on, runs for a minute or two, then shuts off and restarts again shortly after, that's called short cycling. It usually points to a thermostat issue, a clogged filter, or a flame sensor problem. It's worth having someone look at it before the coldest weeks hit, since short cycling wears on the system.
Uneven heat room to room If one bedroom is warm and another is cold, the issue is usually airflow: a closed or blocked vent, a duct problem, or a system that's sized wrong for the house. Ductless systems can solve this room by room without redoing ductwork, which is worth asking about if this comes up every year in the same rooms.
Strange smells on first run A faint burning smell the first time you run the furnace after months off is common and usually clears up as dust burns off the heat exchanger. A smell that lingers, or smells like gas, is not normal and is worth a call right away.
If you're in Hurricane, St. George, Washington, Ivins, or Cedar City and want a furnace checked before winter settles in, call us at (435) 635-7838. We're open Monday through Friday, 9 to 4.
Chance Croft, Crofts Air Conditioning