A furnace is a major investment; you want it to work when needed. That’s where a great contractor comes in. We’ll discuss the most common furnace problems, how you can repair a furnace yourself, and when to call for furnace repair. Some common issues could be, the furnace not turning on, the Goodman heater not working, or maybe you need furnace repair. Don’t waste time messing around with DIY fixes. Call a professional who can guide you through the process of getting your system back up and running again.
The furnace is not turning on
If you’re having trouble getting your furnace to turn on, it could be for a number of reasons. First, check the circuit breaker and make sure it hasn’t tripped. If that’s not the problem, try resetting or replacing your thermostat. If neither of those steps works, then look at the gas valve.
Sometimes they get stuck in an open position and need to be closed manually by hand (or with pliers). If this doesn’t work either, check for any obstructions blocking airflow through the burner assembly or air filter. Finally, if all else fails and none of these things are causing your furnace not to turn on properly: call in an expert.
Low airflow
If the furnace is not producing enough airflow, it will not heat your home properly and may cause other problems. A reputable contractor can help identify the source of the problem and fix it for you.
The most common cause of low airflow is a blockage in the venting system. Check for any obstructions such as bird nests or squirrel nests. Look through all of your vents from outside (if possible) or inside if necessary.
Overheating of the system
You may have noticed that your furnace is running more than usual. Or that it’s not turning off when it should. This can be a sign of an overheating problem. It is one of the most common issues with furnaces and HVAC systems.
If your furnace isn’t working properly, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem yourself:
Check all vents in your home for blockage or debris (like leaves).
Make sure that nothing has fallen into any openings around vents or pipes leading up to them.
Look at any filters on your system. If they’re dirty or clogged with dust bunnies, it could cause airflow problems throughout the entire system! One good way to avoid this issue altogether? Have someone come out regularly, say every year. And have those filters cleaned.
Gas leaks or odors
If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound coming from your furnace, it’s time to call a professional. Gas leaks are serious and can cause fires. If you think that you might have a gas leak, turn off all electrical devices in your home. You must leave immediately. Don’t go back inside until after a qualified technician has fixed the problem!
If you’re still unsure about how long it will take for him or her to arrive on-site, make sure to ask for an estimate before signing any contract with them. You should always get an idea of how long repairs will take when hiring someone for any type of job.
Regular wear and tear
If you don’t clean your furnace regularly, it will cost more to repair later. The best time to clean a furnace is before the first use of the season. A good rule of thumb is to have your furnace cleaned by a professional at least once per year. Or after each heating season ends (whichever comes first).
The best way to clean a furnace is by using an air filter vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment on both sides. Use some kind of lubricants like WD-40 or vegetable oil if necessary. This allows for easy removal of dust and dirt from all areas without damaging any components inside it like motors or sensors.
Old filters
If you find that your furnace filter is dirty, it should be replaced. Filters should be replaced at least once a year, more often if there are pets or children in the house.
Do not forget to clean your filters regularly. If you have a large hole or tear in your filter, it must be replaced immediately. This can cause damage to parts of your furnace.
Faulty starting
This is a common problem, especially in the winter. The furnace may run for a few minutes before shutting off and then restarting again. This can be caused by insufficient airflow through your system. This can happen if there’s debris in the ducts or if you have too much insulation around them.
You might also have problems with insufficient airflow due to an incorrect installation. If your ductwork was not installed correctly or because of blockages within it. That prevents warm air from circulating throughout your home properly.
Broken blower components
The most common furnace component to break is the blower. The blower motor, fan blade, and capacitor all have a high failure rate. If your furnace is making strange noises or not working at all, you might need to ask the professional to check which part needs replacing.
If you’re unsure whether or not your furnace needs repairs, call an HVAC contractor for an inspection and diagnosis.
Tripped circuit breaker
Reset the circuit breaker. If your furnace trips the circuit breaker, you should reset it. Turn off the main switch to your home and then flip it back on again.
Check your wiring for problems. If you have an older house with knob-and-tube wiring (as opposed to modern plastic-sheathed cable), this could be causing issues with your furnace or air conditioner. You’ll need to hire a professional electrician to check for loose connections. As well as other problems before continuing with repairs on either appliance.
Prevent future trips by upgrading your electrical system as necessary. It’s safer for everyone involved.
Malfunctioning heat exchanger
If your furnace is malfunctioning, it could be due to a number of different issues. One of the most common problems that plague furnaces are a malfunctioning heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is an important part of your furnace as it transfers heat from your home’s air into the ductwork and then into rooms throughout your house. If this part breaks down or becomes damaged, it can cause serious problems with your heating system–and even result in complete failure.
Heat exchangers are made up of metal or plastic tubing that connects to other parts of the furnace such as blowers and fans (which circulate air throughout your home). Heat exchangers are typically located near where the air comes into contact with fuel combustion chambers. However, sometimes they’re installed in between these two areas instead (this layout makes sense if there isn’t enough room for both at once).
Faulty thermostat
To check your thermostat, first, turn off the power to it and then unplug it from the wall. Once you’ve done that, remove the cover from your furnace (if there is one) or open up the panel where your thermostat is located.
Now take out your old, faulty unit and replace it with a new one of similar wattage. Only do this if you are an experienced contractor. Hire a professional if you’re not. If you have no idea how much power your system needs but want to replace an old unit anyway, just make sure that whatever replacement product you buy has at least as many watts as its predecessor. There’s a good chance that things won’t work properly when they’ve turned back on again because they won’t have enough power going through them!
Once everything is hooked up correctly again and working properly after being installed correctly onto its base plate (which comes with most modern thermostats), check all connections before closing up shop again by running through some tests.
First, turn off all fans inside their rooms so only heaters are running for about 30 minutes while monitoring temperatures closely within those spaces. They should rise steadily until reaching a steady state around 70 degrees Fahrenheit according then begin decreasing slowly over time until reaching room temperature levels.
Bad limit switch
The limit switch is a safety device that prevents the furnace from overheating. It’s also known as a heat sensor and can be made of mechanical, magnetic, or electrical parts.
Limit switches are very common in furnaces because they’re used to regulate temperature and protect users from burns or fires caused by excessive heat. The most common type of limit switch is called a micro switch. These take advantage of magnetic properties to operate when there’s enough heat present in the room for them to activate (or deactivate).
Dirty ductwork
A dirty air filter can reduce the efficiency of your furnace by up to 30%. This means that if you have a dirty filter, it could be costing you more than $300 per year in energy costs.
If your ductwork is dirty, it can lead to a variety of problems including poor air quality and decreased airflow. This can lead to increased energy consumption from overuse as well as decreased comfort levels for those living in the home.
The furnace is not heating at all or enough
If your furnace isn’t heating at all or enough, there are several things you can check.
First, make sure the thermostat is set to “on.” If it’s not and you’ve been using the furnace for some time, the pilot light may have gone out–a common problem when people forget about their furnaces during winter months.
If this is the case, turn off your power supply and wait two minutes before turning it back on again so that any residual gas doesn’t ignite in an explosion of hot air around your house.
Let the professionals try to fix this for you as this could lead to accidents and explosions.
Frequent cycling
Cycling is a term for your furnace’s inability to maintain a steady temperature. It may cycle on and off, or it might just seem like the temperature is constantly changing.
When you have cycling issues, there are a few things that could be causing them:
Dirty air filter
The first thing to check is your air filter. If it’s clogged with dust and other particles, this can cause poor airflow through your system which leads to fluctuating temperatures in your home. Change out your filters regularly (every 3 months) so that they don’t get too dirty!
Faulty thermostat
If you suspect that something with the thermostat itself is causing cycling issues with your furnace, then you should consider replacing it with one that has manual override buttons.
Blower continuously runs
If your furnace blower is not turning off, it could be stuck on high. You will need to hire a professional contractor to come out and fix it for you.
If your blower is stuck on low or not working at all, then this may be an indication that there’s something wrong with your furnace’s control board. You should call in a professional contractor immediately so they can diagnose the problem and make any necessary repairs as soon as possible before further damage occurs.
High utility bills
If you’re experiencing high utility bills, there are a few things to consider.
Check for leaky ducts
A small leak in your heating system can cause major damage over time and lead to higher energy bills. If you suspect that there’s a leak somewhere in the ductwork, hire an HVAC professional or ask them to check it out during their next visit.
Check for inefficient filters
Dirty or clogged filters can impair airflow through your furnace–making it work harder than necessary while reducing its lifespan at the same time! If this sounds familiar, schedule an appointment with an HVAC contractor as soon as possible so they can clean out all those dust bunnies before they start causing other problems down the road (like more expensive repairs).
Look for dirty furnaces
Dust buildup inside furnaces causes friction between moving parts which leads to increased wear-and-tear on both motors/blower fans and heat exchangers over time–ultimately resulting in higher monthly bills when everything starts breaking down faster than usual! Make sure yours gets cleaned regularly so everyone stays happy.
DION’S COMPLETE Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
If you want to find a great HVAC contractor, look for someone who has the right tools and equipment. They should also have a good reputation in the community and be able to explain what is wrong with your furnace. Finally, they should be able to give you an estimate of how much it will cost to fix your furnace.
We hope that this article has helped you better understand some common furnace problems and how to find a reputable contractor to help you. For any of your furnace needs, don’t hesitate to contact DION’S COMPLETE Plumbing, Heating & Cooling at (734) 352-9736.