Furnace Repair and Common Furnace Problems
Every furnace experiences wear and tear over time. Between warming your home all winter and dealing with months of no use, your furnace can experience a lot of stress. This means you can expect to need furnace repairs at some point.
Furnace repairs don’t have to be stressful, however. They also don’t have to arise suddenly and without warning. If you know what to look for, you can notice small issues before they become big problems.
It’s essential to have a reliable furnace that can keep your home comfortable throughout the cold winter months. In this blog, we’ll discuss how furnaces work, what types of issues may arise, and how you can ensure that your system stays in tiptop shape.
How Does the Furnace Work?
A furnace is a vital part of warming your home, converting energy into warm air to keep a comfortable temperature. These systems utilize a variety of parts to create and distribute heat, including:
- Thermostat signals: The furnace turns on when the thermostat notices the temperature is below a certain level.
- Ignition: Electric elements or gas burners ignite, creating the heat needed for warming the air.
- Heat exchanger: Cold air from inside the house flows over the heat exchanger, absorbing heat from it along the way.
- Blower fan: The blower fan pushes the warmed air through the air ducts, spreading it evenly across rooms throughout the home.
- Exhaust system: The exhaust system safely sends byproducts of combustion, such as carbon monoxide, outside the home.
Furnaces work hard to create and spread heat throughout a property, and each part of the system needs to work well for the property to warm. If there’s any issue along the way, a professional technician will need to fix it.
Common Furnace Problems & How to Fix Them
Furnace issues can happen suddenly and require professional assistance. It’s important to have your furnace serviced by a pro when a problem arises so the issue can be fixed quickly and correctly. You may need help with your furnace if:
- The furnace won’t turn on: Thermostat problems, tripped circuit breakers, or pilot light issues are common reasons for a furnace’s failure to run. If you check the thermostat settings, reset the breakers, or relight the pilot but still have no heat, call a technician for assistance.
- The unit produces insufficient heat: Blocked vents, dirty air filters, and blower motor troubles can reduce heating efficiency. Clearing the vents, replacing filters, and scheduling regular heating maintenance could all help alleviate the problem.
- The system makes strange noises: Loose parts, ductwork troubles, or a failing motor can all cause a furnace to bang, grind, or clang. Tightening loose parts, if possible, can help. But often, it’s best to hire a pro to find the exact cause.
- The furnace is short-cycling: A furnace may short-cycle (turn on and off repeatedly) due to a malfunctioning thermostat, system overheating, or clogged air filters. If you can resolve these issues, short-cycling should stop.
- There are pilot light or ignition problems: A furnace may fail to ignite due to faulty thermocouples, dirty sensors, or gas supply problems. These can be hard issues to fix on your own — look to a technician for assistance.
No matter what’s occurring within your furnace, an expert HVAC technician from Sal’s Heating & Cooling can help.
No Heat? Call Sal’s for Expert Heating & Furnace Repair
Our team offers comprehensive heating and furnace repair services. We’re available 24/7 for your biggest heating emergencies. Our team can inspect your system and perform the repairs you need. Count on us for upfront pricing, special discounts, and financing options for system replacements.
Work with Sal’s Heating & Cooling to ensure heat this winter. Contact us now to schedule heating repairs in Ohio and Kentucky.
