Furnace problems are no fun, no matter when they crop their ugly heads up.
And yet, no matter when a furnace problem arises in your home — no matter the time of day or day of the year — our NATE-certified home heating technicians here at Springfield Heating & Cooling are always available to help, ever-ready to come out to your home and get your comfort making machine back on track.
Having said that, there are a host of reasons why a furnace might run into problems, and a host of steps you can take to prevent the problem in the first place.
The following is our list of the most common causes of furnace problems and tips to help you prevent them.
Thermostat problems
If your heat is out, the first thing you should check is your thermostat. Thermostats, which sometimes need calibrated, can become faulty or defective over time. Or, the problem can be something as simple as the power source for the device, or batteries. Although this isn’t a problem with the furnace itself per se, it sure feels like furnace problems if your home doesn’t have the heat. In any case, if you have an older thermostat, upgrading to a smart thermostat or wi-fi thermostat is a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in a very short period of time.
Neglected system maintenance
We cannot stress furnace maintenance enough. And yet we’re called out to homes all too-often because of furnace problems that preventative maintenance would have easily resolved in the fall. If you want to make sure your furnace performs efficiently and lasts a long time, the cost of maintenance is well worth it, especially if you consider the big picture and compare that cost to the cost of a breakdown or furnace failure and high heating bills. As noted above, seasonal maintenance enables our HVAC technicians to thoroughly evaluate the system, give it a tune-up and pinpoint potential problems before they develop into disasters during the winter.
Air filter is old or needs replaced
Air filters are meant to collect dirt, dust and airborne impurities.This wears them out over time and fills them up sometimes quickly. Furnace filters need to be checked often throughout the winter. When one is clogged, it causes your furnace to have to work extra hard to heat your home, harder than before to achieve the same desired temperature. This added strain is harmful and unnecessary. Because of this, you should keep an eye on your air filters throughout the home heating season and replace them frequently.
Pilot light or ignition problems
The pilot light/igniter is an essential component of any home heating system. It’s responsible for the flames, for the lighting of the actual fuel that heats your home. If this component does not work, the fuel won’t ignite and it’ll be all bad. You’ll realize as much as you’ll be left cold. Understanding this, there is a way to check if your pilot light is operational. In any case, it’s good practice to have it checked out at least annually as part of maintenance because the flame should be blue and not yellow and it should not be flickering. Dealing with gas and the potential for carbon monoxide and any number of other things that could go wrong, it’s better to play it safe than to be sorry.
Fuel supply issues, electrical problems
The majority of home heating systems are fueled by natural gas or powered by electricity. The most common reason for furnace breakdown due to electrical issues is poor wiring. Poor wiring can cause a furnace to short out and blow a breaker. To make sure your home heating equipment is wired properly, you can ask a technician to have a look when you have maintenance performed. And if you suspect problems with a natural gas furnace, the matter should be taken seriously. Natural gas is toxic and can be dangerous. You should call us, or someone, right away. With respect to any of these sorts of problems, we look for them when we do maintenance. Be sure to have your furnace tuned-up annually to avoid any potential issues.
The blower motor failure
Because the blower motor is essentially what keeps the air circulating in your home, if this component fails it doesn’t matter how efficient your furnace is, the hot air will not get distributed to where you need it in your home. A blower motor can fail from overheating, bad wiring or other issues. Have your ducts cleaned and your furnace tuned-up to keep the blower working effectively. And, as noted above, keep your air filters from clogging
Don’t delay getting your furnace fixed today!
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, or any issues we haven’t discussed, call Springfield Heating & Cooling today at 937-350-1881, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
