When we talk about the need for furnace service, many homeowners mistakenly assume that the only furnace service they may ever need is a repair. However, sometimes a furnace can run into trouble because of something that would’ve possibly been prevented through another HVAC service such as duct cleaning or routine maintenance.
Although the “H” in “HVAC” stands for “heating,” the next letter stands for “Ventilation.” Ventilation refers to your home’s air ducts and ductwork. This is how the heated air is distributed throughout your home. Let’s go over 3 signs you need furnace service that might be related to the furnace itself, a lack of maintenance, or poor ductwork.
1. High Utility Bills
Utility bills that are consistently high where the amount can’t be accounted for through usage is incredibly frustrating. There are 2 situations where there’s not much that can be done about this.
If your furnace is at the tail end of its 10-15 year lifespan, it’s likely experiencing the sharp decline in efficiency that naturally occurs. Or if you’ve skipped annual maintenance more than you’ve had it done, high utility bills are the result. In fact, if you’ve always neglected maintenance, your furnace may only last for 6-8 years!
But if you’ve routinely scheduled tune-ups and your furnace is well below its expected lifespan, you shouldn’t have to put up with high utility bills. It could be that your ductwork is allowing air to escape before it reaches your home’s rooms or dusty, dirty ductwork is impeding the flow of air. Schedule an appointment with our team so we can get to the bottom of it.
2. Persistent Dusty, Musty, and Moldy Smells
Does it seem like you have to dust a lot to keep your home clean? Is there a persistent smell of mold or dust whenever your furnace is running? You may be tempted to blame it on your furnace but this issue is more likely caused by dirty ductwork.
A furnace is a forced-air system. That means it forces the conditioned air to travel through ductwork before it reaches the rooms of your home. If your ductwork has never had a professional cleaning, then the dust, dirt, mold spores, and dander that have accumulated can get picked up and carried into your home.
The result is the layer of fine dust that seems to accumulate often along with the musty, moldy, dusty smells. The best way to combat this issue is with regular duct cleaning services. We recommend this service be performed every 3-5 years.
3. Increased Allergy Symptoms
Here in the woodsy, tree-laden Pacific Northwest, we’re no strangers to allergy symptoms. You may be wondering why we’re mentioning allergies in a blog about furnace services!
But allergies are something that could be exacerbated by dirty ductwork. As mold spores, pollen, and dirt are allowed to flourish in your air ducts, the result is increased allergy symptoms for your household members. This is one more way your home would benefit from duct cleaning.
Count on the team with the most experience. Contact the team at Sunset Air today for furnace service in Puyallup, WA.
