Many homeowners don’t realize how important furnace maintenance is until one day their source of heat during cold winter days suddenly starts acting up. Depending on how lucky you are or rather how often you’ve had your furnace inspected by a professional, the malfunction might require a simple fix you can tackle on your own or require extensive and expensive repairs.
The furnace is made up of many components, and anyone breaking down may affect the others. That’s why it’s important to tackle any issues as soon as you notice them. In this article, we’ll list a couple of the most common furnace issues.
Inadequate Heating
If your furnace starts up but does not blow hot air for a while, chances are you are dealing with a clogged or dirty air filter. The air filter is used to prevent dust and dirt from coming into your home. But when that same dust and dirt pile up on the filter for too long, they are known to clog the filter and obstruct air flow. This, in turn, might cause the furnace to shut off. Fortunately, the solution is as simple as replacing the old filter. In order to prevent this from happening, you should make a habit out of cleaning or replace the air filter regularly. You can also hire a professional furnace cleaning company to take care of this for you.
Furnace Does Not Heat At All
Thermostat issues are another common cause of furnace issues. If the thermostat was not set properly, the furnace may not be able to blow hot air. Make sure the settings on the thermostat are correct, and that it indicates heat not off or air. Thermostats are also known to break, so make sure yours isn’t in need of a replacement.
Another likely cause is a tripped circuit breaker. Most furnaces run on their own circuit, so if your furnace won’t start up make sure the fuse isn’t blown.
If neither of these options seems to resolve the issue, you should move on to the ignition system.
Ignition Not Working
Nowadays, most furnaces operate on an electronic ignition system, while older models use a pilot light. If the pilot light does not start, check the fuel supply or the gas. If the pilot light lights up briefly, it could be dirty and need maintenance. You can do this on your own, but you have to be extra careful. Make sure to cut the power to the furnace off before clearing any debris from the area where the pilot light originates.
With electronic systems, the solution is a bit more complicated as these are more sophisticated systems. It’s also worth mentioning that ignition switches have a lifespan of three to five years, so you should try replacing it to solve the problem.
Furnace Powers On and Off Repeatedly
If your furnace powers on and off repeatedly, it might be short cycling. The problem could again lay in a broken thermostat or it could get inaccurate temperature readings if it’s too close to the heat source. If none of these seems to solve the issue, consider calling in a professional HVAC technician.
