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Emergency Furnace Repair in Milton, DE
Winters in Milton can be daunting, as the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay bring in constant gusts of cold air that keep temperatures relatively low. To stay comfortable during the winter, you rely on warmth from your furnace.
If you haven’t had a heating contractor check your furnace in a while, it may be time to do so. There’s nothing worse than a furnace breakdown that leaves you and your family shivering in the dead of winter. Though it may be the last thing on your mind until a problem arises, the earlier you seek professional furnace repair, the better.
Top Flight Heating & Air is the leading provider of furnace repair in Milton, DE. We have amassed a whopping 200+ local 5-star reviews, cementing our place as the top choice for homeowners in need of reliable heating solutions.
We work hard to ensure that your HVAC system is prepared to keep you warm throughout the winter. Our expert technicians offer reliable furnace repair to maximize your comfort and minimize distractions.
As the #1 team for furnace repair in Milton, DE, we’re confident that our furnace services will exceed your expectations.
It’s never too early to prepare for the winter by having your furnace serviced. Call Top Flight Heating & Air at 302-329-8003 for reliable furnace repair now!
Signs That You Need Furnace Repair
If you’re unsure whether or not your heater needs repairs, several signs can tell you. For those with a central air conditioning system, your heater likely continues to run in the summer. If you don’t have a central AC unit and you’ve turned off your heater, it’s helpful to turn it back on and do a quick check for the following indicators.
Your Heater Doesn’t Turn On
First and foremost, your heater should be able to turn on. If it doesn’t, there may be issues with the electrical parts or the wiring. Whatever the problem is, it likely requires professional heater repair.
Related article: What To Do If Your Furnace Won’t Turn On
Common Furnace Problems
Often, a furnace that needs repair will struggle to heat your home evenly. When this happens, you’ll feel warm and cold pockets throughout your home, often in separate rooms. One culprit of uneven heating is leaky ductwork within your furnace, which our experts can fix.
Odd Sounds and Smells
Furnaces usually make noise when they start up. However, if you hear hissing, rattling, or whining, your furnace is likely struggling to operate correctly. Strange smells coming from your heater usually indicate a more significant issue, such as mold and mildew buildup. If your smell sulfur or rotten eggs, you may have a gas leak. Immediately evacuate your home and call your utility company and 911.
Your Heater Constantly Turns On and Off
If, when you turn your heater on, it keeps switching off and on, it could be an issue with the wiring or thermostat. Call for heater servicing to identify and resolve the issue.
Weak or Cold Airflow
If the air your heater produces is too weak or cold to warm your house effectively, the heater requires repair. Inadequate airflow often points to an issue with one or more of your heater’s components, such as the blower motor.
Unusually High Energy Bills
A spike in your energy bills typically means that your HVAC system needs repair. When your heater isn’t functioning correctly, it begins to work harder to try to warm your house. That extra labor uses more energy than usual and shows up on your bills.
Other Common Furnace Issues
As HVAC experts, our team of technicians at Top Flight Heating & Air has seen just about every kind of furnace issue. We also know how to fix these problems so that you stay comfortable year-round.
Call us right away for quick and reliable service if you see any of the following furnace issues:
- The pilot light won’t turn on
- The furnace burners don’t stay lit
- Your furnace and thermostat don’t seem to be cooperating, causing your furnace to turn on or shut off at random
- There’s dirt and debris within your flue pipe or exhaust vent
Preventative Furnace Maintenance
There’s no reason to put off furnace repair. Waiting until the winter to fix your heating issues increases the likelihood of a breakdown. Preventative furnace maintenance is a cheaper and more efficient solution to ensuring your comfort during the cold season and preventing all of the aforementioned issues.
With regularly scheduled tune-ups from a reliable HVAC company like Top Flight Heating & Air, your heating system will be less likely to experience severe damage. Our heater maintenance will save you from needing costly repairs and being uncertain about your heat and air quality.
During service visits, our technicians will check and tune up all of your furnace’s components, wiring, and electrical parts to ensure they’re operating at peak performance. We’ll test that your airflow is strong and at the right temperature. Our experts will also do an air quality test to ensure the air you breathe is safe.
Emergency Furnace Repair
In the case of a breakdown or any other heating emergency, you need a reliable furnace repair company to fix the problem as soon as possible. Here at Top Flight Heating & Air, we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We service every type of furnace, including:
- Gas furnaces
- Oil furnaces
- Electric furnaces
- Propane furnaces
Understanding Different Furnace Models
Understanding the differences between the various types of furnaces can help you choose the right heating solution for your needs. Regardless of the type, remember that regular maintenance and timely furnace repair are key to ensuring your system operates efficiently and has a long lifespan.
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces are among the most common types of heating systems in colder climates. They use gas to heat a series of burners, which in turn warms the air. Gas furnaces are known for their efficiency and tend to provide the warmest air in the shortest amount of time.
Electric Furnaces
Unlike gas furnaces, electric furnace units don’t rely on gas to function. Instead, they use electricity to warm a series of heating elements, which then warm the air. While electric models are typically more energy-efficient than their gas-powered counterparts, they can lead to higher utility bills in areas where electricity costs are high.
Oil Furnaces
An older type of heating system, oil furnaces use oil to heat the air. While they’re not as efficient as gas or electric units and require a regular oil supply, they can be a practical option in areas where natural gas or electricity is not readily available. In the modern era, equipment for oil-powered units is becoming harder to find, so we don’t typically recommend selecting this power source for your new furnace.
Heat Pumps
While technically not furnaces, heat pump systems are worth mentioning as they’re a popular heating (and cooling) option in milder climates. These modern, efficient units transfer heat from the outside air into your home during the winter and work in reverse during the summer, providing both heating and air conditioning functions. If you’re interested in this type of dual heating and cooling system, contact us today for a quote!
Dual Fuel Furnaces
Also known as hybrid heating systems, these combine a heat pump with a gas furnace. The system intelligently switches between the two, using the heat pump for moderate temperatures (and air conditioning) and the furnace for colder conditions.
Key Furnace Parts
Understanding your furnace can be beneficial when it comes to scheduling regular maintenance and identifying potential problems. Here’s a more in-depth exploration of these parts and their functions:
Heat Exchanger
Considered the heart of your furnace, the heat exchanger comprises coils or tubes that heat up when the burner flames are ignited. It transfers the heat to the circulating air, driving the heating cycle in your home.
Furnace Blower Motor
Once the air is heated within the heat exchanger, the blower motor springs into action. It circulates the warm air through your home’s ductwork, ensuring a consistent temperature throughout your living spaces.
Furnace Blower
The furnace blower, often confused with the blower motor, is a critical part of the blower system. This fan kicks in when the air reaches a pre-set temperature, effectively distributing the heated air throughout your home.
Gas Valve
The gas valve controls the gas supply into the furnace, so it may go without saying that electric units, geothermal systems, and other more modern HVAC units do not have a gas valve. A working gas valve is a critical component for any gas furnace, since it regulates the amount of gas that reaches the burners. When functioning optimally, your furnace’s gas valve ensures both efficient operation and safety.
Furnace Burners
Furnace burners generate heat in a gas furnace. When the thermostat calls for heat, the burners ignite the gas supply, creating the flames that heat the heat exchanger.
Circuit Board(s)
Many modern furnaces feature circuit boards, although not every unit has one. The furnace’s circuit board is the “brain” of the system. The circuit board connects and coordinates the unit’s functions, ensuring smooth and efficient operation. It also connects to the circuit breaker panel in your home, ensuring that the designated circuit breaker for the unit can handle its power.
Flame Sensor
Your furnace’s flame sensor monitors the gas burner. If the flame sensor does not detect a flame, it tells the system to shut off the fuel supply, preventing gas from filling up your home. Since the flame sensor ensures you remain safe from gas leaks, don’t hesitate to make a service call if something seems wrong.
Filter
The furnace filter is a crucial part of maintaining good indoor air quality. It removes dust, allergens, and other particles from the air before it is heated and circulated throughout your home. Frequent replacement of the filter also protects the inner components of your heating unit.
High Limit Switch
This component monitors furnace temperature. If the system becomes too hot, the high limit switch trips, shutting off the furnace to prevent overheating. Limit switch issues can lead to power cycling or gas leaks, so make sure professionals check your limit switches regularly.
Thermostat
The thermostat is your furnace’s control system. It allows you to set your desired temperature and controls the furnace’s heating cycle.
Furnace Door Safety Switch
This is a safety mechanism designed to shut off the furnace’s power when the access door or panel is removed. However, just like all furnace parts, safety switch components can fail, so it’s vital to never skip out on annual maintenance.
Draft Inducer Motor
A draft inducer motor is a key component of your furnace that helps ensure proper ventilation. Its primary function is to draw combustion gasses from the furnace and expel them outside through the flue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common furnace repairs often involve the ignition system, such as issues with the pilot light or ignition control in gas furnaces. Other frequent repairs include fixing a faulty thermostat, replacing a broken blower motor, clearing a blocked air filter, or addressing issues with the furnace’s flame sensor. Scheduling annual maintenance before the beginning of the heating season can help prevent many of these issues.
While we can often provide an approximate “guesstimate” before visiting your property, the actual cost of furnace repair in Milton, DE, can vary depending on several factors, including the nature of the issue, the extent of the damage, the type of furnace you have, any existing furnace warranty coverage, and the parts required for repair. Contact us now for a free furnace repair cost estimate.
We understand that an unexpected furnace repair cost can be a financial strain. We believe everyone should enjoy a warm, comfortable home, so we offer multiple financing options. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
Your unit’s filter is essential for maintaining good indoor air quality and extending your heater’s lifespan. Air filters prevent dirt, debris, and harmful air particles from flowing through your heating system and into the air you breathe. Your filter also keeps your furnace clean and allows it to function at a higher capacity for longer.
It’s best to replace your filter at least every three months to preserve indoor air quality and ensure the unit can operate safely. You should find a recommended air filter thickness and size in the owner’s manual that came with your HVAC system. If you want to extend this lifespan slightly, you can use a vacuum cleaner hose to carefully remove dust buildup.
While electric furnaces are generally more reliable and have a longer lifespan than gas furnaces, they are not immune to problems. Common issues with electric units include faulty heating elements, thermostat malfunctions, and blower motor failures.
Your furnace and air conditioning systems are designed to be safe, but accidents can happen. In order to prevent unexpected fires, it is crucial to be vigilant between furnace tune-up appointments. Regularly clean dirty burners and store flammable substances far away from your furnace to avoid ignition risks.
If your heating system seems to be working and your utility rates haven’t risen, yet you still are seeing high energy bills, there are several possibilities. This issue may be due to a freezing winter. If this is the case, there’s not much you can do, as your heating system has to work harder to keep you warm.
If the weather isn’t as cold as usual, there may be an issue with your outdoor unit. When your outdoor unit malfunctions, it can cost you a fortune in energy bills. Give us a call, and an HVAC technician will assess the problem.
Absolutely! Our team has the necessary HVAC equipment and expertise to inspect, repair, or replace the burner assembly, ensuring your furnace operates efficiently and safely.
If you smell gas while inside your home, you and your family should immediately evacuate a safe distance away. Gas leaks are hazardous and could result in a lethal explosion. Once you’re safe outside, contact your gas utility and the fire department.
Attempting furnace repairs yourself may seem like a way to cut down on furnace repair costs, but it often leads to more harm than good. While there are some DIY-friendly tasks, such as replacing the furnace filter and checking for damage, we do not recommend attempting furnace repair in Milton, DE, yourself.
Hiring a furnace expert ensures that the heat exchanger, blower motor, and other vital parts of your heating system are handled with care, preventing further damage. Always call for professional furnace repair when you notice a heating issue.
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