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3 Common Issues Your Furnace May Present to You
Without a properly functioning furnace, the winter in Somerset, KY, is going to be long and miserable. Fortunately, though, most furnaces tend to operate fairly reliably, even after years of service. Furnaces can run into issues, though. If you know the most common problems that furnaces encounter, you will be able to quickly identify them so that Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing can get to your home to begin repairs. Plus, you’ll be able to better protect your furnace so that the problems don’t occur in the first place.
Problem 1: The Furnace Doesn’t Turn on
There are two main types of furnaces: gas and electric. Both types of furnaces draw large amounts of electricity during their operation, although electric furnaces draw more because they depend on electricity to create the heat in addition to circulating the air. With either type of furnace, though, the risk exists that they could trip a breaker while they’re operating.
If your furnace trips a breaker, no electricity will flow to your furnace, meaning that when the thermostat sends a signal to tell it to turn on, nothing will happen. The easiest way to check for this problem is to head to your breaker box and see if anything looks out of place. If you notice that one or more breakers are tripped, that’s the cause of your heating woes.
In some cases, a tripped breaker is caused by a random fluke. Therefore, you can reset the affected breakers and try to turn on your furnace. However, if the breakers trip again, it means that there’s something causing your furnace to overload the circuit. To keep yourself safe from electrocution, it’s best to have a technician from Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing come and take a look at your furnace.
Problem 2: Dirty Burner
A burner is a component that is only in gas furnaces. This device is what produces the flames that heat the air before it is sent throughout your home. Given the somewhat uncontrolled nature of combustion, though, burners can sometimes run into problems that require attention from Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing.
Most of the time, your furnace’s burner will simply become dirty due to soot from combustion. As small pieces of soot fall into the tiny burner holes, they can become clogged, which can lead to incomplete combustion. An easy way to diagnose this condition is to look at the burner and observe the color of the flame. Anything other than an all-blue flame is an indication of a burner that needs to be cleaned. Dirty burners can lead to inefficient system operation and could potentially cause harmful gases to be released into your home.
You may also encounter a cracked burner. Given the stresses of constant temperature changes, the metal in a burner can eventually wear out. If this happens, there is a risk of a gas leak, meaning that you need to have this problem addressed quickly.
Problem 3: Short Heating Cycles
If you notice that your furnace seems to shut off before your home has reached your desired temperature, it’s a good idea to do a little detective work to find the cause of this problem.
One condition that could cause short cycles is a dirty air filter. If an air filter is too dirty, it won’t allow enough air to pass through to keep the system from overheating. Furnaces should be kept from overheating as they can present a fire hazard. By replacing your air filter, you may be able to solve the problem and complete an important household chore.
Another reason for short heating cycles could be dirty ducts. If your home has dirty ducts, then the heat from your furnace will tend to be concentrated in only certain rooms that the air can get to. This means that these rooms will heat up rapidly while the rest of your home remains cold. Fortunately, duct cleaning is a fairly straightforward process that can provide instant savings on your utility bill.
We Provide Solutions to Furnace Problems
At Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing, we understand that you don’t have a lot of time to figure out HVAC problems on your own. That’s why we offer solutions to time-consuming problems, such as HVAC repair, maintenance and installation, as well as plumbing repair. As a company that’s screened and approved by HomeAdvisor and rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, you can have confidence in our ability to deliver on our promises. Our five-star customer reviews speak further to our commitment to total satisfaction. If you’re having a problem with your furnace, give us a call at Jeffries Heating & Air + Plumbing in Somerset today. We look forward to serving your home’s indoor climate comfort needs.
