Common Furnace Issues You Should Be Aware Of
If you’re like the majority of homeowners, you rely on a furnace to provide adequate heating for your home throughout the cold winter months. While furnaces can be a highly effective heating option, they do experience their fair share of issues over time. As a homeowner, it can be helpful to understand what some of these common issues are so that you’re prepared if you find yourself facing them anytime in the future.
Faulty Starting Mechanism
Your furnace will have a starting mechanism that’s responsible for heating up its burner. In older furnaces, this was a pilot light that remained lit around the clock. If the pilot light went out due to a breeze, it would prevent the furnace burner from lighting. In many newer furnaces, there is an electronic starting mechanism that’s responsible for starting up the burner. If this mechanism fails, your furnace won’t heat up.
Thermostat Not Working
If you’ve noticed that your thermostat screen doesn’t seem to be working, then it could be due to various issues. First, it could have dead batteries, or the circuit breaker may have been tripped. Second, the wiring going to the thermostat may simply have come loose. Third, the thermostat itself may have reached the end of its lifespan and need to undergo replacement service. Most thermostats are rated to last only 10 years.
Bad Blower Capacitor
Your furnace’s blower motor is responsible for circulating air throughout your ducting. To get started, the blower motor will rely on its capacitor. This gives a large jolt of energy that starts up the blower and allows it to start circulating air. When the capacitor fails, the blower motor simply won’t run, and air won’t move throughout your ducting.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
Your furnace has a heat exchanger that’s comprised of various heated tubes. As air is pushed through the tubes, it becomes heated. When your heat exchanger gets cracked due to normal wear and tear or another underlying issue, it can cause your furnace to dramatically reduce its efficiency. Furthermore, harmful exhaust fumes can start to back up inside your home.
Malfunctioning Limit Switch
Your furnace’s limit switch is responsible for monitoring the temperature inside your furnace and comparing it to the desired temperature on your thermostat. When the temperature reaches its desired level, the limit switch will signal for your furnace to turn off. It also works as a necessary safety mechanism to turn your furnace off whenever it reaches a dangerous level of overheating. If your limit switch malfunctions, your furnace will continually run.
Dirty or Faulty Flame Sensor
If you use a fuel-burning furnace, it will have a built-in flame sensor. This is a safety mechanism that is responsible for sensing when a flame is present in the burner. When a flame is present, it will allow the fuel to flow freely into the burner. If a flame isn’t sensed, it will turn off the flow of fuel to prevent dangerous gas leakage. When the flame sensor becomes dirty or is faulty, it can falsely read that there’s no flame and prevent your furnace from getting the fuel it needs to run.
Weird Noises
With a forced-air furnace, it’s common to hear the furnace kick on, and your ducting make a whooshing sound as air moves through it. However, if you notice any other weird noises, it’s important to have them assessed before they get worse. If you hear grinding noises coming from your furnace, it’s an indication the ball bearings inside the blower motor are failing. If you hear a high-pitched squealing noise, it will indicate that your fan belt is likely excessively worn. A rattling noise showcases a loose component inside the unit.
Dirty Air Filter
Probably the most common issue that you’ll experience with your furnace is a dirty air filter. When this filter gets too dirty, it becomes extremely hard for your furnace to pull air through it. This will lead to inefficiency in your system, a reduction in hot air, and even a complete failure of your heating system to work.
Expert Furnace Service
Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing offers expert furnace service for Somerset, KY and the surrounding communities. Our HVAC technicians can also help with all your cooling, plumbing, electrical, indoor air quality, and air duct cleaning needs. Simply contact our staff today to schedule your next service appointment.
