One type of warning sign you may detect from your furnace are strange smells coming from the vents. We’ve listed below some of these unusual odors and what they may mean:

• Burning: A small such as burning plastic or wiring can mean something as simple as child’s toy inside the ductwork to electrical and mechanical issues, such as a motor that is overheating and will soon burn out. Definitely call for repair technicians to look into this problem.
• Musty and dusty smells: These kinds of odors you can often expect when the furnace turns on after a period of inactivity. The blower fan will send out the dust and debris that collects inside the ducts, and any dust that has gathered over the heat exchanger will burn off and create a distinctive smell. If these odors do not go away after a short time, it might mean something else is wrong that will need professionals to investigate.
• Moldy odors: If you notice a moldy smell from the vents, it often indicates that there’s mold growing in the air filter. (This is one of the reasons that you must always allow a filter to completely dry after you clean it before you replace it.) Make sure that you change and/or clean the filter on a monthly business to prevent this. The mold may also come from damage to the ductwork, which will require professionals to seal them.

Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help you with any furnace repairs and duct sealing that you may need in Elgin, IL.

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If you use a gas furnace—the most popular heating system in the U.S.—you need to take a few steps to make sure that it runs as safely as possible over the winter. Gas furnaces are not necessarily dangerous, but like any appliance that uses natural gas, it’s important to take precautions with it. Below are some tips for safe heating this season with your gas furnace:

• Schedule maintenance: If you haven’t already done so, call for a professional HVAC technician to come to your home and give your furnace a complete inspection and tune-up. This is the best way to maintain a safe furnace. The technician will look for anything that might be hazardous, such as gas line leaks or cracks in the heat exchanger, and offer recommendations for any repairs.
• Change the air filter: This is part of routine maintenance, but it’s also something you must do on your own over the winter, once a month. A clogged air filter can lead to a furnace overheating because of heat trapped inside it. (It will also make the furnace run inefficiently, elevating your bills.)
• Keep the area around the cabinet clear: Floor furnaces can pose a hazard of causing objects stored near them to melt or even catch fire. Don’t store anything combustible (such as paint thinner) around the cabinet, and give it at least a six-inch clearance on all sides.
• Never wait to call for repairs: A furnace can become dangerous if allowed to run while it has a fault of some kind. Never shrug off signs that something is wrong with the furnace and procrastinate about doing anything about it. Call a professional HVAC company to repair the unit.

Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers furnace services, including repairs and maintenance, in Elgin, IL.

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Many furnaces runs on natural gas, which is ignited and fed into the burners to generate heat. However, the gas itself can’t enter your home, since it contains trace toxins and can’t distribute its heat efficiently. Enter the heat exchanger, which is essentially a long metal tube with openings on either end. The heated gas passes through it and heats up the metal, which in turn heats up the nearby air. That air can then be blown safely into your home in order to heat it. The toxic gases pass through the heat exchanger and into a venting pipe, where they are safely removed from your home.

Heat exchangers are very hard to damage since they have no moving parts and don’t really break down the way other components do. However, time and excessive wear can take their toll, and over the years your heat exchanger may crack or suffer other damage. This is a serious condition since it can release toxic gasses into your home. A cracked heat exchanger needs to be repaired immediately.

The heat exchanger  is a vital part of your furnace. When they encounter problems, you need expert help to get it fixed. Here in Aurora, IL, furnace repairs – including heat exchanger replacement – can be performed by the professionals at Lifeline Plumbing. We’re dedicated to your complete satisfaction, and we can discuss the problem with you in depth before making repairs. Call us today to make an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!

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• Dirty burners. Dirt and grime on burner arrays means that the burners aren’t running smoothly or attaining the proper temperatures like they should. In some cases, the clog can actually stop the burner from functioning at all. That reduces the furnace’s ability to heat the home, which means it takes longer and costs more to reach the comfortable temperatures you’re used to.
• Worn parts. Similarly, wear and tear on individual parts causes them to work harder for the same results, which also costs money. For instance, a blower fan with a frayed and tattered belt won’t turn as quickly as it should, and thus won’t blow hot air into your system as quickly. That again translates to a slower heating process and more gas and electricity expended to get your home up to speed. A regular maintenance visit from a trained professional can identify worn parts and slate them for replacement.
• Leaks. Leaks can spring up within the duct system that distributes the hot air from your furnace. They can leech out warm air travelling through the system and/or let cool air in, further retarding the heating process. A trained professional can seal up the leaks, restoring efficiency to your unit.

You can spot ways your furnace could be wasting your money by noting reduced air flow, reduced heat, or simply realizing that your monthly bills are higher despite the fact that you’re not using the heater any more often than normal. A maintenance visit from the experts at Lifeline Plumbing can help. Give us a call today if you need Aurora, IL furnace service!

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Here’s how to tell if your furnace has problems, grouped into three easy-to-notice symptoms.

• Your furnace isn’t generating enough heat. A loss of heating capacity can stem from faulty burners, from a malfunctioning thermostat or from problems with the gas line, among other issues. Whatever the problem, it will take longer and work harder to heat your home (assuming it generates any heat at all), which places undue strain upon the unit.
• Your furnace isn’t blowing any air or doesn’t blow air with enough force. A loss of air flow can be caused by a faulty fan motor, by a blockage in the duct, or by trouble with the electrical system. This category can also include situations where your furnace shuts down entirely, and refuses to turn on.
• Your bills are higher than they should be. Problematic components don’t necessarily affect the heater’s performance. They just force it to work harder and expend more energy, while increasing overall strain on the unit. You can spot them if your find your bills higher than expected, despite the fact that you’re not heating your home any more often than normal.

Knowing how to tell if your furnace has problems constitutes a big step forward in getting them fixed before they cause too much trouble. The next step is contacting the right repair service. In Lombard, IL, furnace issues can be addressed by the trained experts at Lifeline Plumbing. We know how to repair ongoing issues quickly and efficiently, and we’re dedicated to your complete satisfaction every step of the way. Pick up the phone to schedule an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!

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