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COMFORT BLOG

Sep 17, 2021 9:00:00 AM by Lauren Mangano

4 Common Furnace Problems (& What to Do About Them)

One of the best feelings on a bitter winter day is feeling the warmth from your heater fill the home. Unfortunately, a furnace, like any other appliance, may experience issues throughout its lifespan. Between all the moving parts, there are several different problems that can occur and affect your home's heat. 
 
Here are four common heating/furnace problems that could cause you discomfort (and how to solve them).
 
Fixing a gas furnace

1. Lack of Maintenance

Neglecting to get your system checked out before the cold weather arrives can result in both an increase in energy bills and unexpected breakdowns of your system. Routine maintenance checks are necessary to keep your heating system running efficiently.
 
Luckily, this problem has an easy fix! Simply schedule a heater tune-up with your local HVAC company. You won't regret scheduling preventative maintenance, as the technician will be able to diagnose any issues before they get worse. In the event something is wrong, you'll have saved yourself a possible breakdown and costly repair in the middle of winter. If nothing is wrong, the check-up will ensure your system is running at peak efficiency to keep you comfortable and save you money.Schedule My Heater Tune Up

2. Thermostat Issues 

If you notice that the heat in your house doesn’t seem to be making a difference no matter what you set the temperature to, then the thermostat is likely to blame. On the simpler side, it could just be a thermostat setting error. If your thermostat’s fan setting is set to ON, then your furnace blower will constantly be operating even when it is not putting warm air into your home. That means the fan will keep blowing in air even when the heat isn't on, causing you to feel cold air. To fix this, simply set the fan to AUTO, or make sure it's set to OFF when the heat is off.
Thermostat issue with furnace
If this doesn't solve the problem, there could be a thermostat calibration or wiring issue. In this case, a technician will have to come out and make the necessary repairs.
 

3. Airflow 

Your furnace might be producing heat, but it may not be delivering that heat throughout the home very well. Several different things, such as your system's fan motors, bearings, and belts, can cause issues with airflow. The wear-and-tear on these parts can cause poor heating in your home and can even cause your furnace to overheat. An overheated furnace will, funnily enough, cause you to feel cold air. A service technician will need to diagnose and fix any issues with the internal furnace components.
 
Your furnace may also be overheating and causing poor airflow due to a dirty or clogged air filter as well. The dirty air filter blocks the airflow, causing the furnace to work harder to heat your home until it overheats. Simply clean or change the filter every so often to avoid this problem.

Clean vs dirty furnace filter4. Ignition Problems

Furnace pilot light
If you have an older gas furnace, then a small blue flame called a pilot light is used to ignite the burners. The biggest issue with pilot lights is that they will get extinguished from time to time, causing you to lose your heat. The light could go out for many reasons, including dirt buildup or a nearby draft. If your pilot light goes out, find the instructions on the furnace or in the manual to relight it. You can also clean the pilot light and make sure the furnace's gas valve switch is on.
If you have a more modern furnace, then electronic ignition will be used to ignite the burners. Furnaces with electronic ignition typically have a device called a hot surface lighter, which receives the electrical current whenever your thermostat is set to heat. The ignition heats up to a temperature that's hot enough to ignite the burners and then shuts off once they're lit. 
 
Your modern electronic ignition may also use an intermittent pilot light rather than a hot surface lighter. Like a conventional pilot light, this one uses a small flame (lit by an electronic spark) to light the burners. However, this flame is only lit when your furnace is ready for a heating cycle (meaning you'll save money on gas).
 
In any case, a malfunction of the ignition could cause your heater to stop blowing warm air. There could be a failure with the electronic spark, dirty ignition probe, crack in the ignition probe, and more. If you suspect there's a problem within your furnace's ignition system, a professional will have to diagnose the issue and make the repairs.Request Heating Service
If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort within your home, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.
 
 

This entry was posted in Heating, Preventative Maintenance, Furnace, Gas Furnace

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