If you live in a part of the world with cold winters, or if you like to keep your house nice and toasty no matter what time of year it is, then the chances are good that you’ve owned a furnace at some point. A furnace is a crucial system in every home that provides warmth, comfort, and protection against fire and other disasters. However, just like any other piece of equipment, furnaces have issues that can arise if they’re not properly maintained. A furnace is a significant purchase, and it’s not uncommon for homeowners to have questions about proper maintenance and upkeep. You will need to be informed more on repairing a furnace, from what to do when you have a furnace that won’t start to troubleshooting why your furnace is constantly running.
How To Fix The Most Common Furnace Problems
Furnaces are an essential part of heating systems in homes. They help maintain the correct temperature needed to keep your home comfortable. If you experience problems with your furnace, it would be good to get this fixed as soon as possible. However, resolving such issues may require professionals to do the work for you. Hiring furnace repair professionals might seem like an overwhelming task, but there’s no need to worry when you know the tips and tricks to choose one. When looking for a company, you should factor in these things: their track record, experience, skills, and affiliations.
Check out the most common questions about furnaces:
- The furnace doesn’t start
The most common cause of this problem is a faulty thermostat. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, it may not be sending the signal to turn on the furnace. Make sure you’ve set the thermostat to “heat” and that the temperature setting is higher than the room temperature, according to Energy.gov. If all else fails, try replacing the batteries in your thermostat and check for any loose wires.
- Furnace runs constantly
If your furnace turns on but never turns off, it’s probably because your home is losing heat more quickly than your furnace can produce it. It could be a significant culprit if your home has single-pane windows or inadequate weatherstripping around doors and windows. If you have a gas furnace and smell gas coming from your system, contact an HVAC professional immediately; otherwise, add more insulation around the problematic areas, including windows and doors. It would help if you also made sure there weren’t any drafts in your home and checked that your ductwork was sealed correctly.
- The pilot light is out.
If your pilot light is out, it could be due to various things. The good news is that you don’t need to call in a professional right away. First, check to make sure that the gas valve is turned on. If it’s not, turn it back on and see if this resolves the problem. If it doesn’t, try cleaning out the pilot tube with a wire brush to remove any dirt or debris that has built up inside it over time. If you still cannot get your pilot light to come back on, there may be a problem with the igniter or thermocouple in the system, and you will need professional help to fix this problem.
If your furnace stops working, you may think the problem is severe. However, some of the most common furnace problems are easy to diagnose and fix on your own. Before you call for service, try these troubleshooting techniques to get your furnace up and running again.
- Get a New Filter
Furnaces have filters that remove dust from the air in your home before it goes into the unit. Dirty filters can block airflow and cause air conditioners to freeze up. The filters need to be changed regularly to avoid this problem. If you haven’t changed your filter recently, do so now.
- Check Your Thermostat
If you aren’t sure how to change your filter, contact a heating repair company sCOMPANY]. They can help with other common issues that may be keeping your furnace from working correctly. Another easy solution is checking the thermostat. Furnace repair experts recommend that homeowners review their thermostats annually to ensure they work correctly. If you have an older thermostat, replace it with a new programmable one. These automatically adjust the temperature throughout the day and save money on utility bills.
- Check power supply
Make sure the power supply to your furnace hasn’t been interrupted—sometimes, the circuit breaker can trip. Replacing it is an easy fix. Replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker if they are tripped. Replacing a defective blower motor on a furnace can be done by one person working carefully, with good results and no danger of being burned or hurt by hot parts or sharp edges inside the furnace cabinet. Use a nut driver or socket to remove the screws holding the blower motor at the top (bigger wires) and bottom (smaller wires). Remove wires from the old engine and replace them with the same colors on a new one.
Before hiring a professional, identify the problem yourself! Take the time to see if your furnace is cooling correctly and whether your heating system is operating well. There are ways to fix it. In most cases, the fix is relatively inexpensive and straightforward. Most problems don’t require a full diagnostics inspection or pricey new parts but rather a basic adjustment that an experienced homeowner can make.
