4 Most Expensive Furnace Repairs and How to Avoid Them
Winters in Denver can be hard, especially when your furnace is not heating your home correctly. If you turn on your furnace only to find that it is not working, is not heating your home correctly or it is making strange noises, you will want to call for furnace repair.
Some furnace repairs can be quite costly. Here are four of the most expensive furnace repairs and how you can avoid them.
Blower Motor and Capacitor: $500 – $1,500
Simple blower motor repairs might run $150 to $450 while complete replacement could cost $1,500 depending on the brand. This motor and fan, known as a squirrel cage fan, pushes the air through your ducts. Lack of regular cleaning leads to unbalanced or damaged blades.
How to avoid: Regular inspection, cleaning, and keep up with air filter replacements. It is important that the blower motor be inspected and cleaned every so often to ensure it is running at full power.
Draft Inducer Motor: $500 – $1,500
A simple fan wheel in the draft inducer motor is inexpensive to replace, but replacing the entire unit can cost up to $1,500, depending on the model and brand. The draft inducer motor pulls the combustion gasses through the heat exchanger and pushes those gases out the flue to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, so it’s very important to fix if broken.
How to avoid: Regular inspection and a reliable carbon monoxide monitor.
Circuit Board: $500 – $1500
Replacing a furnace circuit board can cost up to $1500 depending on the brand and age of the unit. The circuit board is responsible for operating every component in the furnace and without it your furnace will not function. High efficiency models will cost quite a bit more while single-stage models may be less than $1000.
How to avoid: Regular inspection and cleaning. Unfortunately, a circuit board is a piece of technology and simply fails sometimes, but if the furnace is not well maintained, the circuit board’s lifespan shortens.
Gas Valve: $400 – $1,000
A furnace gas valve allows natural gas or propane to flow to your unit. Furnace gas valves occasionally stop opening and closing properly with age. If this valve does not function, it could be a hazard to your health and home as gas or propane will freely flow from the furnace without combustion. Gas valves are rarely repaired because the labor cost surpasses the cost of a new part.
How to avoid: Regular inspections and cleaning. If there are particles interfering with the gas valve’s ability to close completely, gas could be leaking into your home.
It is very important to take preventative measures with a furnace because one small issue can cause many more. Many of these issues can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning.
Are you in need of a furnace inspection, cleaning, or repair in the Denver Metro Area? Grand Home Services is located in Aurora, Colorado, and provides HVAC and heating services throughout Denver. Contact us today!
8 Warning Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Repair
As the days get longer and hotter, your AC unit works hard to keep your home comfortable. From old age to having a dirty filter, a number of things can keep your unit from running efficiently. It’s important to keep an eye out for signs that your unit needs repair before one problem causes another, or worse, you need to replace the AC unit. Here are 8 common warning signs you may want to look for:
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AC unit is old
If your air conditioner is older than the average life expectancy of AC units in homes today—between 15 and 20 years—it likely needs attention. It’s not a bad idea to start shopping for a replacement just in case of an emergency, but it’s important you get an older AC unit inspected and cleaned to prolong its life. If you are in the Denver Metro Area, we can help you with this.
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Your electric bill has gone up
It’s normal for utility bills to fluctuate, but a significantly higher than normal energy bill means your air conditioner is running inefficiently. This could be due to a clogged air filter, a broken motor, or something more serious. It’s best to get your AC unit inspected before the problem worsens and you continue to run up your energy bill.
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Unit is releasing a bad odor
It is not a good sign when your AC unit gives off a bad smell. An unpleasant odor can mean there is an issue with the filter, a buildup of dirt, or even mildew. No matter the culprit, the smell means something is wrong and could be bad for your health. It’s best to contact an HVAC contractor for a quick diagnostic and a full cleaning of the system.
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Warm air
If your unit is running but the air is coming out warm or your home isn’t cooling down, there is likely an issue with your refrigerant. Your homes AC system should keep your home comfortable and is designed to cool your home to the temperature you set via the thermostat. However, a loss of refrigerant can cause your system to stop cooling effectively, making your home uncomfortable.
There is also a chance the lack of cold air is due to the AC compressor. When the AC compressor stops working, your air conditioning system essentially becomes a large central fan with no ability to cool the air that flows through it. This can be a very technical and challenging fix–requiring the assistance of an HVAC professional. -
Insufficient airflow
If your air conditioning unit is not pushing out as much air as usual, this is usually a sign the air compressor is failing. It can also mean the AC air ducts are clogged. Even if the air that is coming out of the unit is cold, your air conditioner will only work overtime to compensate which can quickly lead to an AC burnout.
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Frozen AC coil
One of the most common causes of air conditioner coils needing repair or replacement is frozen pipes as a result of a dirty or blocked air filter. When your filter becomes too dirty, your air conditioner’s air flow is decreased, causing it to work harder, and occasionally, for the refrigerant coils to freeze. We can repair or replace your fan coil unit to get your air conditioning system back up and running.
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Loud and persistent noises
Loud and persistent noises can indicate a serious problem. Pay attention to the sounds you hear and, if possible, describe them to your HVAC contractor. Squealing and whistling noises may come from belt or fan issues while banging noises can mean broken and loose internal components that can cause more problems. All these noises are signs that your furnace needs to be repaired.
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Refrigerant is leaking
When your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant or freon, this can cause your system to stop cooling your home or even freeze up. These leaks can occur throughout the unit including the valve cores, weld joints, filter canisters or system’s tubing. Finding a leak in the unit can be a complicated process, so it is best to have an expert detect and perform air conditioner refrigerant leak repair on the system.
Contact us for AC repair in Denver, Colorado
Located in Aurora, we provide air conditioner repair services throughout the Denver Metro Area. If you need AC repair, inspection, cleaning, replacement, or emergency service, contact our team today.
8 Warning Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair
When the weather gets cold, you rely on your furnace to keep your home comfortable and to prevent seasonal issues like bursting pipes. It is very common for your furnace to need repair when it is working hard for half the year, and even more common if your furnace is old or hasn’t been properly maintained.
To prevent more issues and extend the life of your furnace, it’s important to know what warning signs to look for. Here are 8 common warning signs your furnace needs repair and what they mean.
1. Your furnace is old
If your furnace is older than the average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today—between 16 and 20 years—your furnace likely needs attention. It’s not a bad idea to start shopping for a replacement just in case of an emergency, but it’s important you get an older furnace inspected and cleaned to prolong its life. If you are in the Denver Metro Area, we can help you with this.
2. Water is pooling around the furnace
If water is pooling around your furnace, it’s important to figure out why rather quickly to keep your house warm. Pooling water is usually caused by a clogged condensate drain line. This drain line removes water that is released when the evaporator in the unit converts refrigerant from a liquid to a gas. Fixing the problem is not as simple as just unclogging the drain line, so it’s best to work with a professional who has HVAC and plumbing expertise.
3. You smell gas
If you smell gas, turn off your furnace immediately. Then, look for a gas supply valve on the gas pipe near the furnace and close the valve. Make sure to call a local HVAC contractor as soon as possible to get the gas leak fixed.
4. It’s making persistent and strange noises
No furnace is silent, but loud and persistent noises can indicate a serious problem. Pay attention to the sounds you hear and, if possible, describe them to your HVAC contractor. Squealing and whistling noises may come from belt or fan issues while banging or groaning can result from broken and loose internal components. All these noises are signs that your furnace needs to be repaired.
5. Air blows weakly
From a minor problem with fans to a major problem with belts and motors, weak air flow can be caused by several things and can cause other problems if not fixed. Because the cause can be difficult to identify, it’s important to call a professional.
6. The thermostat is not working
If you have to turn your thermostat higher and higher to get heat, it’s definitely a sign your furnace needs repair. This malfunction is likely caused by an electrical issue like blown fuses, loose wiring, or tripped circuit breakers. Because it is likely an electrical issue, it can be dangerous to fix if you haven’t had any formal training. Call a trained HVAC professional you trust.
7. Your bill rises
As furnaces age, it is very common for them to lose their efficiency, especially if they have not been consistently maintained. As a result, your furnace will have to work harder and longer to provide the same amount of heat causing your gas & electric bills to go up. If you get your furnace repaired or replaced, you will likely save a lot of money in the long run.
8. The pilot light is discolored
A healthy pilot light usually appears blue. A pilot light of a different color, especially yellow, can indicate a ventilation problem like the carbon monoxide isn’t dissipating as it should. This is not only a health hazard for you and your family, but it can make your unit more combustible if not addressed.
If you notice any of the above warning signs or your furnace is not working as it should, give us a call. We offer 24/7 emergency service throughout the Denver Metro Area and have a lot of experience inspecting, repairing and installing furnaces.