10 Common Furnace Problems
When the cooler temperatures of winter roll around, it can be frustrating to hear your furnace turn on but not have much heat come through your vents on a cold morning. There are many reasons why your furnace might be struggling to adapt to more extreme temperatures as the seasons come and go. If you are having furnace troubles, there are a few common furnace problems that might be plaguing your appliance.
Here are ten of the most common furnace problems, some of which are easy to fix no matter what time of year it is.
10 Common Gas Furnace Problems
1. Lack of maintenance
A lack of maintenance on your furnace can cause the normal functioning of your equipment to decrease over time. Regularly maintaining your furnace can allow you to catch small problems before they affect the functioning of your furnace.
2. Dirty air filters
It’s amazing how fast the air filters on a heating and air conditioning unit can become clogged. HVAC experts recommend cleaning your air filters once a month, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. You should always check, clean, or replace your air filters before you plan to use them more frequently. This can include before you turn on your air conditioner in the summer to stay cool, or before the temperatures dip in the winter and you turn your heating on more consistently.
Dirty air filters can reduce airflow to the rest of your HVAC unit, causing the system to overwork itself in order to keep up with the demand. Over time this can cause other parts of the system, such as pumps, to fail.
3. Usual wear and tear
There is a certain amount of general wear and tear that your furnace will go through in it runs through normal operations. This wear and tear can include airflow issues, clogged filters, heat control issues, or overheating. As your furnace ages, you will need to keep an eye out for bigger problems that may require your furnace to be repaired more extensively or replaced.
4. Ignition or pilot control problems
Gas furnaces can have electric ignitions or pilot lights. If anything were to go wrong with either the electric ignition or the pilot light, the furnace won’t heat your space. If your pilot light goes out on a regular basis, look for drafts or air currents that may be affecting it. Additional issues with the pilot light could be caused by thermocouple problems or clogs elsewhere in the furnace.
5. Malfunctioning thermostat
Sometimes the thermostat isn’t communicating with the furnace for a variety of reasons. If your furnace doesn’t seem to be working, see if the batteries need to be changed. This can often solve the existing thermostat issues. A faulty thermostat could also be caused by a broken or malfunctioning fan in the system. Always check to make sure your thermostat is on the right settings before you attempt to change anything else.
6. Furnace isn’t heating
If your furnace isn’t heating at all, there may be a few problems. Before diagnosing your furnace as irreparable, check on a few things. Make sure your thermostat is set to the function you want to use; if this doesn’t solve the problem, make sure the furnace is connected to a power source. Finally, check to make sure the electric ignition or the pilot light is functioning properly. If none of these are the case, you may want to consult with an HVAC expert.
7. Furnace isn’t heating enough
Sometimes it seems like your furnace is providing a small amount of heat, but not as much as it should. Lackluster furnace performance could be caused by a clogged filter, which can be fixed by cleaning or replacing the filter regularly. Additionally, the furnace may be too small for the space you are trying to heat, which could make it seem like it isn’t working well.
8. Frequent cycling
Another common furnace problem is that the furnace continuously cycles between Off and On modes. This could be because of a clogged air filter, improper airflow through the HVAC unit, or because of a bad thermostat setting.
9. Continuous blower running
If the blower on your furnace continues to run, there may be an issue with the limit switch. This is a more difficult problem to diagnose and repair, and is best handled by an HVAC repair professional.
10. Noisy furnace
A noisy furnace could be indicative of broken parts of your furnace. A furnace should run smoothly and efficiently, and noise can be a major indicator that something is wrong. Abnormal noises coming from your furnace could indicate mechanical problems, a reduction in airflow to your furnace, or a clogged furnace burner.
Most Common Furnace Repairs
Just as there are common furnace problems, there are also common furnace repairs that aren’t difficult to make. Although you should always be sure to get your furnace regularly maintained by a professional, throughout the year you can also change the air filters, replace the batteries in your thermostat, check your furnace’s power supply, and more.
If you are going to install a new furnace, make sure it is the right furnace for the space you have. A larger space may need a different furnace in order to be properly heated and cooled throughout the year. When installing your furnace, check for drafts that could influence the pilot light.
Major furnace repairs and regular maintenance are best handled by professional HVAC experts. If you aren’t sure what is wrong with your furnace and have gone through some of the common issues and repairs, it’s best to leave the rest to the experts. They will be best able to diagnose your particular furnace problem, conduct repairs, or advise you about new furnace options in your area.
For more information about common furnace problems, and other details about HVAC systems, give us a call at 303-327-9208 or fill our form to contact us.
