Furnace Troubleshooting: Common Problems & Easy Solutions
During the winter, you probably think about your Grandbury furnace more than you do any other time of year. But even if you give your furnace attention, you could end up with problems. Before you call a heating service for help, learn more about the most common issues with furnaces and how you may be able to fix them. When all else fails, rely on a professional for help.
Poor Maintenance
You can tie almost every furnace issue to poor maintenance. That’s not to say that people who maintain their furnaces don’t have any problems. However, people who fail to maintain their furnaces often need frequent repairs. You can easily prevent the most common furnace issues by relying on a professional for biannual maintenance.
During a routine maintenance call, a professional checks your system for a variety of issues. They perform tasks that keep your system running smoothly on the coldest days of the year. Although there are a few maintenance tasks you can do on your own, there’s no substitute for professional maintenance.
Dirty Filter
If you have a dirty filter, air can’t get through to your furnace. The system needs to work harder to move air throughout the heater, which causes undue wear and tear. In some cases, a clogged filter affects the limit switch and the fan.
You can prevent this from posing a threat by changing out your filters once every three or four months. If you have pets in your home or are a smoker, your filters may be particularly dirty. You should check your filters periodically for dirt and replace them as needed.
Wear And Tear
Over time, your furnace wears down. The months of heavy use take a toll on all of the components of the system. Fortunately, routine maintenance is one way to limit wear and tear.
You can also reduce the wear and tear on your system by using a smart thermostat. If you run your heater when you’re not home, you’re causing unnecessary stress on your system. You can program your thermostat to be at a lower temperature when you’re away and a more comfortable temperature when you’re home.
Ignition Trouble
If you have an electric furnace, the ignition switch could break. And on a gas system, the pilot light could fail to ignite. Either scenario results in a furnace that won’t heat.
Sometimes, a thermocouple is to blame. A technician can check the ignition source to determine what’s causing the issue.
Broken Thermostat
Your furnace relies on a thermostat to work. If your thermostat doesn’t properly read the temperature, it won’t kick on when it should. Or, if the thermostat doesn’t have batteries, it won’t ever tell the system to kick one.
Before you call an HVAC technician, check your thermostat. Does it need batteries? Is it positioned in a place that’s warmer or colder than the rest of your home? If the thermostat seems broken or needs to be moved, call a professional.
No Heat At All
A furnace that doesn’t kick on at all could keep you cold all winter long. Typically, a furnace doesn’t work at all when the thermostat is broken, there is no power source, or the pilot light won’t work.
Sadly, there is no easy fix for this. You need to call an expert and have them assess the situation. In the dead of winter, this problem warrants an emergency heating and air conditioning service. You shouldn’t have to sit in the cold for days at a time.
Not Enough Heat Production
Even if your furnace works, it might not put out enough heat. This could be caused by a dirty filter or by a system that’s too small for the space. If you recently installed a new furnace or you made a new addition to your home, you might need a bigger system.
You can avoid this by working with an HVAC technician to pick a furnace of the appropriate size. They should consider your needs and help you pick a furnace that’s powerful enough to heat your home. If you added on to your home, you might need another heating source.
Cycling On And Off
Is your system constantly cycling on and off? If so, the constant running and stopping are taking a toll on your furnace. You could have poor airflow, a clogged filter, or a faulty thermostat.
To determine the cause of this, check your filters. Then, think about your ducts. If you haven’t cleaned your ducts in years, it might be time to schedule a professional duct cleaning. You can have a professional come out and examine your ducts, as well as look into other causes of the cycling.
Blower Always On
Your blower fan might always seem to run, and this also poses a problem. You could have the fan set to on, which is an easy fix. Simply switch the fan setting to automatic. Then, the blower will only run when the heater runs.
If this isn’t the issue, you could have a problem with the limit switch. This demands professional attention, as it may need to be replaced.
Noisy Furnace
When you begin to notice strange sounds coming from your furnace, try to determine the cause. Strange sounds usually indicate a problem in the furnace. Whether you hear a rumbling, squeaking, or rattling, you should call an HVAC technician.
There are several causes of a noisy furnace. If a component is loose or broken, it could result in a screeching, rattling, or banging. Your technician can inspect the furnace for causes of the noise and fix the system as needed.
Call Our Heating Service
You could spend days trying to troubleshoot your furnace in Grandbury. However, you don’t need to try to handle the situation alone. After you notice a problem with your thermostat, call a heating service for help. Rather than wasting your time in the cold, you can have a professional fix the issue right away. Call us at Daffan Cooling and Heating for a quick repair. Our team is standing by, ready to handle any of your heating issues.
