Your furnace can go out on you in the midst of winter. Sometimes the furnace will not turn on at all, or it will not heat the room sufficiently to leave you freezing.
The good news is that homeowners can resolve most furnace problems themselves, however, some do require the assistance of a qualified HVAC specialist.
Does the thermostat function and remain on?
The thermostat itself is one of the most frequent problems with furnaces. As the central nervous system of your heating and air conditioning system, your house will not be sufficiently heated if the thermostat is not sending the right signals to your furnace to turn on.
The thermostat is the first item you should examine if you detect any heating problems in your house. Verify that “heat mode” or “heating” is selected. Check the circuit breaker box and switch the breaker again if it has tripped if the thermostat is not working.
Your thermostat is going to be changed if it has more serious problems, such as reading temperatures that are significantly off. During installation or when repairing your furnace in Ohio, thermostats require a lot of wiring and programming.
Open any obstructed vents.
Another component of the air conditioning system that you should examine straight away if you are experiencing heating problems in your house is your closed supply vents. It is never a good idea to close more than two or three supply vents at once since closed vents prevent hot air from entering your house.
Additionally, confirm that nothing is obstructing the supply vents, such as clothes, furniture, dogs, etc.
If You Have No Heat at All
You may check two items if your furnace has stopped turning on at all. The circuit breaker located in the breaker box is the first item. Turn the breaker back to the active position if it is off. To have the problem inspected and fixed if the electrical circuit breaker keeps tripping, contact an HVAC specialist.
The security button on the heating system door is the second item that may keep the furnace from starting up. By removing the access panel, the safety switch stops the burner and blower from starting up.
For the furnace to run in the event that the safety switch malfunctions, it must be changed out for a working one. To swap out the safety switch, unplug the old one, plug in the new one, test it, and turn the power back on.
If the airflow through your filter is low, check it.
Most homeowners are able to do the “repair” of cleaning or replacing their furnace filter on their own. Dust and other debris might block the filter when it gets too unclean, preventing air from flowing through. The heated air in your house cannot enter the rooms due to clogging.
If the filter is a changeable unit, clean it; if it is a disposable device, replace it with a new one.
Is the Blower Always Running?
In case the blower in your furnace is constantly running, be sure to check your temperature setting. A blower with a longer lifespan is one that operates for longer periods of time.
The thermostat’s fan setting should be on “auto” for the most comfortable environment in your house. The blower will continue continually if it is set to “on” until you switch it off.
A malfunctioning limit switch is another issue that might be the source of your furnace’s continual operation. When the furnace ignites, the limit switch activates the blower, and as soon as the burner’s heat subsides, it switches off.
Because limitswitches are made to fail open, if they do, the furnace will not fire at all. A limit switch replacement is a difficult procedure. Only an HVAC repair expert should replace it to guarantee safety.
An Unclean Flame Detector
Another safety element included in all gas furnaces is the flame sensor. The flame sensor is a rod that is positioned in the burner’s direct path at the bottom of the furnace.
It stops gas from being burned dangerously. The furnace may operate wrongly or not at all if the flame sensor becomes dusty and loses its ability to detect the flame.
To make the flame sensor clean.
- Turn off the furnace’s power supply circuit at the breaker box.
- After removing the flame sensor (https://www.plantengineering.com/articles/basics-of-testing-flame-detectors-part-1/), dust and debris should be removed from it.
- Use steel wool to clean it if you see oxidation.
- Put the flame sensors back in place and restart the power.
Loud Furnaces or loud ducts
It is not problematic if your home’s ducting sometimes pops a couple of times. But if your ducting is constantly making loud noises, such as screaming and shaking, it can be an indication of a blocked burner, decreased airflow from obstructions, or an internal mechanical failure.
Noise problems might be caused by anything from faulty blower motor belts to inadequate duct insulation. They could also indicate a malfunctioning pilot light. If strange noises are coming from your furnace, make sure the filter is clean. You will need to contact an HVAC specialist to look into and fix the problem if that does not lessen the noise.
