When I started up my furnace in late November, it didn’t sound just right.
The heater made an alarming screeching noise and then the ductwork actually rattled within the walls. The air coming from the vents was full of dust and smelled like burnt hair. I hoped that these issues were simply caused by the equipment sitting idle since last April. I expected the system to work out the problems but the opposite happened. The performance of the furnace simply grew worse as the season progressed. Unfortunately, we also experienced an unusually brutal winter. The temperature frequently dropped well below zero, and the furnace was constantly cycling. It had some trouble keeping up with demands. Certain rooms in the house were downright chilly no matter how high I set the thermostat. Plus, my energy bills were outrageous. I knew it would be a good idea to call for professional service. However, the holidays were so hectic that I simply didn’t get around to it. My kids had tons of activities they were involved in and I had a huge project to finish at work. My father suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for a while and our water heater ruptured and flooded the basement. I totally ignored and neglected the furnace until it eventually malfunctioned. It quit on Christmas day, when the outside temperature was ten degrees. I got stuck paying extra for emergency furnace repairs. The technician who handled the job told me that the repair could have been avoided with proactive maintenance performed during the fall. I will make sure to schedule service prior to the start of winter from now on.
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