Did your furnace stop working, or is it acting up? When something goes wrong with your furnace, the first thing that will likely come to your mind is finding and hiring the best furnace repair technician in Lafayette, LA. But there are times when getting rid of the furnace instead of fixing it is better for your comfort and pocket.
Common Furnace Problems
Here are some of the furnace problems that you may encounter:
Malfunctioning Thermostat
Check your thermostat if your furnace is not heating your home to your set temperature. A thermostat can malfunction due to various reasons. It is probably too dirty, too old, not properly installed, or installed in the wrong part of your house. Frayed wires, loose connections, and aged wires can also cause the thermostat to not work properly.
Clogged Filter
Furnace air filters accumulate dirt and dust over time. If not cleaned or replaced, the clogged filter can cause several other problems like lower system efficiency, high utility bills, and poor indoor air quality. The worst possible consequence is a damaged heat exchanger or complete system shutdown.
Faulty Ignition or Pilot
If the furnace doesn’t run, the ignition or pilot may be damaged. This component is what ignites the fire within the furnace so it can heat your home. It won’t work if it’s worn out (you may see chipped or warped areas), there are electrical problems, etc. Homeowners may have a hard time determining the cause of the problem, so it’s better to leave the furnace repair job in Lafayette, LA to professionals.
Oddly Colored Pilot Light
The pilot light should be blue. A change in its color is an indication that something other than gas is burning in there. It’s a problem that poses a safety risk because the combustion may produce harmful gasses. Therefore, if your pilot light’s color isn’t blue, it calls for a furnace repair in Lafayette, LA.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
A heat exchanger’s job is to make sure the harmful carbon monoxide produced during the heating process won’t mix with the hot, clean air. If it cracks, the CO2 may leak. Unfortunately, a gas furnace’s heat exchanger is inside the system’s casing, so problems with the component cannot be easily noticed. Nevertheless, it will show signs. The furnace may emit an odd smell, and you’ll know carbon monoxide has leaked.
Furnace Not Blowing Air
A furnace can stop blowing air for various reasons. It may be a problem with the thermostat, the circuit breaker, the blower fan, or the filter. Since there are many causes, it’s best to contact a professional furnace repair technician in Lafayette, LA to get proper diagnosis and dependable fix.
Frequent Cycling
Does the furnace turn on and off way too often? You should have it checked. Cycling may be caused by a dirty filter, an oversized furnace, or a bad thermostat setting.
Noisy Furnace
When you hear a noise coming from your furnace, it might be an important clue to what’s happening with the equipment. Some sounds like a click are normal noises. But others are not.
Noises that indicate a problem with the furnace include banging, shrieking, scraping, whistling, rumbling and rattling, and humming to mention a few. In this case, it’s best to hire a furnace repair technician in Lafayette, LA to know and fix the root cause of the problem.
Water Leak
There’s no water in a furnace, so how come you find puddles of water underneath or near the equipment? You know that a furnace heats your home by burning fuel, right? The condensation is what creates the water. Normally, the water is driven away from your property through the condensate line. But if it’s clogged, the water will have nowhere to go. The water will pool around the bottom of your unit.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Is your furnace not working but the thermostat is perfectly fine? The problem may be with your circuit breaker. A circuit breaker minimizes the risk of fire by cutting off the flow of electricity when it detects a fault condition.
When it cuts off the flow of electricity, apparently, your heating system won’t work. Most of the time, this problem can be fixed even without professional help. All you need to do is set the circuit breaker switch back to ON.
A furnace may develop many other problems. Some can be easily fixed, while the others are pretty costly.
How Much Does Furnace Repair Cost?
The primary factor that affects the furnace repair cost in Lafayette, LA is the component that’s damaged. Different system parts cost different to fix. Usually, the most expensive problem to address is the heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger cannot be salvaged, so you have to replace it, and it may cost up to thousands of dollars.
Sometimes, depending on your furnace make and model, you may need to replace the entire system instead of just the component. But if your problem is only with the flame sensor, you probably would only have to spend around a hundred dollars on average.
At Acadiana Comfort Systems, we offer a quote to give you an idea about the cost of your repair needs. So feel free to fill out our form on this website to get a quote. But it’s best to talk to our team so we know exactly what problem you’re having and provide a more accurate quote.
When To Get A Furnace Replacement?
Rather than spend money on a furnace repair, you might want to consider spending on an entirely new system. There are instances when it’s best to get rid of the old one instead of fixing what’s broken.
Here are some signs that point towards replacement:
The heat exchanger is cracked
As mentioned above, a cracked heat exchanger cannot be salvaged. It needs to be replaced to make sure the furnace operates safely. However, the replacement can be pretty costly. So sometimes, replacing the entire unit instead of replacing the heat exchanger alone is better for your budget.
The furnace is old
A furnace that has reached a decade of service life is likely to experience more issues sooner or later. It’s always a good idea to prepare for a new one so in case the current old unit fails, you won’t freeze in the winter.
Frequent repairs are needed.
How many times do you hire a furnace repair technician in Lafayette, LA? If you think you’ve been visiting your repair technician quite often for the past year, it’s time to consider a replacement. Attempting to keep a malfunctioning furnace means potentially having no source of warmth on cold days and more system-related expenses.
Skyrocketing Utility Bills
Old and inefficient furnaces tend to consume more fuel to heat your home, which results in high utility bills. If you have been experiencing a steep increase in your monthly utility bills, it is time to consider furnace replacement. As a bonus, you can switch to a more energy-efficient furnace. Heating systems nowadays are highly efficient. Some even have an efficiency of up to 98%!
How Much Does Furnace Replacement Cost?
Apparently, replacement is more costly upfront than repair. But it can be more cost-effective in the long run.
The furnace replacement cost in Lafayette, LA is largely dependent on the type of system you choose. Prices start around $1500 but can go up to thousands for big homes with multiple rooms and high ceilings. The brand also comes into play. Some brands are more costly than others.
In addition, there are the bells and whistles. The more features the furnace has, the more expensive it gets. For example, some furnaces have an air filtration system. Others are Bluetooth-equipped to provide information about the unit’s performance via your smartphone app.
If you want to find the best unit for your budget and requirements, you can always reach out to Acadiana Comfort System’s expert for assistance. We will be more than delighted to be at your service.
Need Help Making A Decision? We Can Help!
While we already laid out the circumstances when a replacement is a better option than repair, some of you might still find it hard to make a decision – especially when money is a concern.
So if you don’t know which course of action is best for your comfort and your budget, don’t hesitate to contact Acadiana Comfort Systems. Our knowledgeable and experienced heating technicians will assess your unit and determine the best possible solution.
If we can salvage your unit, we’ll do it. We won’t recommend a replacement unless you really need it. And remember: when it comes to furnace repair, always remember that prevention is better than cure. Have your system inspected and cleaned regularly to avoid developing costly problems in the future.
If you already have a problem with your furnace, don’t hesitate to contact our professional technician for help. Our techs will be able to properly diagnose the issue and provide a reliable solution at an affordable price.
For more information and a quote, please contact our team at (337) 896-7543. We offer a wide array of heating services including furnace repair in Lafayette, LA, furnace installation, and furnace tune-up.
