Are you worried about your furnace’s performance? Is it not heating as evenly as it once did or making new noises that you haven’t heard before? At Honest Abe’s Heating and Cooling, we want to help you stay safe and prepared. When the temperatures drop, your furnace has to be ready to keep up. And if it can’t, you need to call us.
In this blog, we’ll cover the top signs your heating system may need a repair, when to schedule maintenance, and how to prepare your furnace for the colder months ahead.
When to Schedule a Furnace Repair
When a furnace is working the way it should, you hardly notice it. You’ll hear the soft hum of the blower motor kicking on, feel a steady stream of warm air moving through the vents, and the thermostat will keep the temperature right where you set it. The furnace filter should collect dust gradually—not clog up within weeks—and the system should cycle on and off at a steady rhythm.
If any of that changes, it’s a sign something is wrong. When your furnace stops performing the way you’re used to, it’s time to get a furnace repair scheduled before winter sets in and you don’t have a reliable heat source. Here are some top signs that you need to schedule a furnace repair service:
Inconsistent Heating
If one room feels toasty but another is still chilly, that’s a red flag. Uneven heating could be tied to leaky ducts, clogged filters, or even issues with the blower motor. When your furnace operates unevenly, it has to work harder, leading to higher energy bills and more wear on your system.
Strange Noises
Pops, bangs, rattles, or loud humming aren’t part of normal furnace operation. These unusual noises can point to problems like loose parts, a struggling blower motor, or even issues with the heat exchanger. Left alone, those noises can turn into costly repairs—or worse, pose safety risks.
Short Cycling
If your furnace turns on and off repeatedly without running long enough to heat the house, that’s called short cycling. It can be caused by a dirty air filter, a faulty programmable or smart thermostat, or bigger issues like a failing gas valve. Short cycling wastes fuel, reduces energy efficiency, and leaves you with a home that never quite warms up.
Higher Energy Bills
Sometimes the first sign of trouble shows up on your utility bill. If your heating costs climb but your usage hasn’t changed, it may mean your furnace is working harder than it should. A clogged furnace filter, leaky ducts, or worn-out HVAC equipment can all reduce energy efficiency.
Pilot Light or Ignition Problems
If you have a gas furnace and the pilot light keeps going out—or the ignition system fails to start—you’ll know something’s up. Gas valve issues, dirty burners, or worn ignition components can all keep your furnace from producing heated air when you need it most.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Dry air, excessive dust, or worsening allergies during the heating season can point to furnace trouble. A well-maintained furnace should contribute to better indoor air quality, but a dirty air filter, clogged ductwork, or cracks in the heat exchanger can cause poor airflow and push pollutants into your living space. This can result in respiratory issues for your family and create other dangerous conditions.
Here’s a helpful tip for your furnace repair preparation: when a technician comes out, clear a path to your HVAC system, secure pets, and have any notes ready about the issues you’ve noticed. It makes the visit smoother and faster!
Furnace Repair vs. Furnace Maintenance
A question we hear all the time is: “Do I need furnace repair, or just furnace maintenance?” It’s easy to mix the two up, but they solve very different problems.
- Furnace repair is what you need when something is broken or not working correctly. That might be a bad gas valve, a failing blower motor, a cracked heat exchanger, or a pilot light that won’t stay lit. Repairs are about fixing problems so the furnace can safely heat your home again.
- Furnace maintenance is the routine care that helps prevent those problems from happening in the first place. Our furnace maintenance checklist includes things like replacing or cleaning a dirty air filter, checking airflow, cleaning burners, inspecting the heat exchanger for carbon monoxide leaks, tightening electrical connections, and making sure your thermostat is calibrated. It’s about catching issues before they become costly repairs.
So, the simplest way to look at it is this: a furnace repair is for fixing something that’s already gone wrong. Furnace maintenance is for keeping your system in good shape so fewer things go wrong.
When to Schedule Furnace Maintenance
The best time to schedule an annual professional inspection is in the fall, before the temperatures drop and the heating season is in full force. That way, your system is already running at peak performance. Routine maintenance helps you save money, avoid unexpected breakdowns, improve energy efficiency, and enjoy better indoor air quality all season long.
And just like everything else these days has a loyalty program, we’ve built something similar for your home comfort and extra cost savings. With our maintenance plan, you get two tune-ups a year (one for your furnace and one for your air conditioner), discounts on repairs and new HVAC equipment, waived diagnostic fees, and priority scheduling—all for about what you’d spend on a few cups of coffee each month. It’s an easy way to make sure both your heating and air conditioning systems stay well-maintained, with fewer breakdowns and a longer life.
Honest Abe’s Is Your Local Lawrence Furnace Repair Company
When your furnace isn’t working correctly, you need help fast—and you need a team you can trust. Honest Abe’s Heating & Cooling has been repairing furnaces in Lawrence since 2019, and we work on all makes and models, from gas furnaces to electric systems. Whether it’s a faulty blower motor, a dirty flame sensor, or a heat exchanger problem, we’ve seen it before and know how to get it fixed.
Winters in Lawrence are no joke, with average lows dropping into the 20s and wind chills that make it feel even colder. A furnace that’s not working correctly isn’t just inconvenient—it can pose safety risks for your home and family. That’s why we offer emergency furnace repair appointments and same-day furnace repairs in Lawrence whenever possible.
Our highly trained technicians arrive on time, check your heating system carefully, and explain exactly what’s wrong before we start. You’ll get a clear price up front—no pressure, no surprises. We’re the HVAC contractor you can always call for reliable heating maintenance and repairs. We’ll get your home warm again quickly!
Schedule Your Furnace Repair in Lawrence With Honest Abe’s– We’re Always Here for You
At Honest Abe’s, we encourage all homeowners to schedule regular maintenance and always pay close attention to the performance of their furnace system. At the first sign of trouble, let us know and we’ll be right out.
We’ve serviced and installed more furnaces over the years than could probably fit inside the Lawrence Civic Plaza! You’ll find us in every corner of the city—from Fort Ben to Indian Lake, The Ridge, Sunnyside, and Geist’s Edge. Many of our technicians live here too, which means when you call, we can get someone to your home quickly. For a fast furnace repair in Lawrence, IN, from a team that truly cares, choose Honest Abe’s Heating and Cooling. A warm and comfortable home is waiting!