FAQ - Common Questions About Furnaces Answered

Bryant Evolution 987 Furnace

Is servicing my furnace important?

Certainly. Annual furnace tune-ups are an essential part of maintaining the furnace. Before the manufacturer can honor a warranty, they will first ask you for any proof which shows that you have been servicing your unit. The advantages of regular maintenance include efficiency, durability and the furnace will also be safe to use.

Why is my furnace making strange noises?

Most furnaces have two electric motors driving fans that can become restricted or out of balance due to dirt or airflow restrictions. The result is vibration that will produce noises wherever two surfaces are close enough to rub together. Continuous rattles, rumbles, squeaks, humming, (people use so many describing words for these) are going to need to be traced down, and the root problem corrected. Louder noise, such as booms, bangs, and anything that shakes the house is a very serious situation. Whenever you are in doubt, turn your heater off and call a professional contractor for help.

When should I schedule furnace repairs?

Ideally, servicing should be done on an annual basis. However, if the furnace develops a problem at any other point, the wisest thing to do is to call a professional as soon as possible. You want to avoid having to pay more at a later stage because the issue will have worsened. So, make sure that you call an HVAC company to handle any problems with your unit before the problem gets worse.

What are indications that my furnace needs to be replaced?

There are certain problems that can indicate that it is time to replace the system. These include unsatisfactory heat, weird odors, sluggish ignition, and pilot light failure. Another clear indication is decreased energy efficiency. If energy efficiency is low, it means that more energy is being used, and this has a negative impact on your monthly bill.

When should I change the air filters?

A heating system normally comes fitted with an air filter. The filter plays a very important role in blocking the dirt and dust that would otherwise get into the system. This ensures that the air inside your home is always safe and clean. However, as time goes on, the filter is likely to have some of those pollutants stuck on the surface. 1” filters can be changed monthly; larger media filters every 3 to 6 months and specialty filters yearly.

How do I know if my furnace is broken?

You know your furnace is broken if it is:

a) not producing heat,

b) not producing enough heat,

c) making irregular noise,

d) giving off an abnormal odor,

e) Leaking or producing excess condensation.

If any of these things happen you will want to contact a licensed, qualified heating & cooling contractor like Ryf Heating &AC (920-582-4451)

Prior to calling for service, what should I check or know about my furnace?

If you are calling for furnace repairs, double check to make sure your system is turned on and that it is set to heating mode. You would be surprised to learn that many homeowners just forget to change their thermostat settings between seasons and there isn’t an actual problem. Other simple troubleshooting tips include making sure your system has power and making sure the battery in the thermostat is in good working condition.

What things can I do at home to help maintain my furnace? And how often?

The most important thing you can do to help maintain your furnace between inspections is to make sure you keep your filter clean. The frequency of your filter change depends on your home. For example, if you have pets, you should change your filter once a month. If the furnace cannot breathe, everything else runs harder and longer, which lowers your furnace’s life expectancy.

How can I save money on my heating bill?

Getting annual maintenance or regular tune ups is the best way to ensure your heating system is running at peak efficiency. Making sure the system is clean & the filters are changed regularly because this is an easy & inexpensive way to save money on your heating bill. If your heating system is over 10 years old or needs frequent repairs, it may be time to consider options for a new & high efficient furnace. High efficient furnaces may be a larger investment upfront; however you will see a significant reduction in your monthly heating bill.

Should you turn your heating off in the summer?

Standard gas furnaces can be turned off during the summer simply by switching heat settings to cool settings on the thermostat. Some boiler systems are known to have a summer & winter mode setting on the thermostat or temperatures control. Turning the pilot light off on your heating system to decrease energy consumption & increase utility savings is a common myth & holds no truth.

Is there any advantage to setting my thermostat fan to “On” so the fan runs constantly?

Yes, especially with the new variable speed motors. When you keep your fan on, you help keep your house clean. Running the fan helps to filter the air, which really helps during allergy season when it’s important to keep pollen out. With multi-level homes, hot air rises and if you keep the fan running, it circulates the air and keeps your home comfortable.

However, running your fan can be problematic for older systems because they are not very efficient. The fan “on” speed is same as the cooling speed, so it runs at a max the entire time. On newer systems, you can alternate the fan speed.

Should I try to keep my furnace from running too much?

It is beneficial to turn your thermostat down when you leave for longer periods of time. If you are just leaving for a short period of time and will want to heat your home when you get back, your furnace will have to work twice as hard to get the temperature back up to the desired temperature. Lowering it by just a few degrees is better than a drastic drop in temperature.

Is there anything I can do to improve the efficiency of my current furnace?

A tune-up will help improve your furnace’s efficiency. The technician will clean the blower and that will help with the efficiency.

When should I replace my furnace?

While the average life expectancy of a furnace is 15- 17 years, the best way to know when to replace your furnace comes during annual interactions with your HVAC Technician during the preventive maintenance, otherwise known as a tune-up or clean & check.

A licensed certified hvac technician will be able to listen to your heating & cooling concerns, make suggestions & offer solutions, and assist in planning ahead with you to make your investment on a proactive basis, the best experience so there are no unexpected surprises or expensive surprises.

What type of furnace is best for my home?

A Bryant High Efficient Modulating Furnace is always the best for your home in terms of efficiency & monthly savings. It is highly recommended that you receive an estimate (we recommend 1-3 estimates) from a professional, licensed Heating & Cooling Contractor. Make sure to invest in quality & name brands like Bryant Heating & Cooling systems which provide both reliability & high quality. Bryant furnaces go through extensive testing & come with amazing warranties.

What is the process for installing a new furnace?

The first part is receiving an estimate from one to three licensed, qualified heating & cooling contractor. Once you receive your estimates, decide on which company & equipment is best fit for you & your home needs.

The next step is to contact the company you’ve selected & schedule the installation. The HVAC company will then order the equipment & materials & schedule an installation crew to complete the installation.

The morning of the day of installation the Ryf Heating & AC crew will call you to inform you of the estimated time of arrival. Upon arrival the crew will introduce themselves & will inspect the location where the new equipment will be installed. They will be wearing shoe covers & laying down tarps to protect your home from outside dirt, dust & debris. They will then remove the old existing equipment & then will proceed to install the new equipment.

Once the newly installed unit is completed the installation team will cycle & test the equipment to ensure it is working properly & according to manufacturer specifications. Once completed the installation crew will show you how it works & ensure you have a full understanding of how to safely operate it as well as answer any questions you may have.