A faulty furnace can keep you from enjoying your home during the coldest months of the year. Like any other home appliance, heaters are complex machines, with lots of places for things to go wrong. Fortunately, many of the most common heater issues have simple fixes.
Use this guide to troubleshoot and repair furnace issues in your home and find out when you need to call your nearby heating contractor.
Solutions for Common Heater Issues and When to Call Your Local Heating Contractor
The Furnace Produces Too Little or No Warm Air
A heater that fails to produce warm air can make cold days uncomfortable. Although it may seem obvious, plenty of people forget to think of the most simple solutions to heater problems. Make sure to start by checking the following:
- Is the thermostat set to “heat”?
- Does the thermostat have working batteries?
- Has the filter been replaced recently?
- Is the filter excessively dirty?
- Are the vents open?
Often a quick filter switch or a battery run can make the difference.
If the heater is still not producing heat, you may need a different solution. Check to see that the furnace is on. If it isn’t, make sure it’s getting power. If your furnace has a reset button, press it.
Some older furnaces still have pilot lights. If this is the case with yours, make sure it is lit by following this guide.
You may also be having trouble with the flame sensor, an indicator that ensures that there is a flame burning whenever the gas is on. If the sensor has become too dirty, it may cause a furnace shutdown.
Follow this guide on cleaning your flame sensor. This job may require you to work with flames and electricity. If you aren’t comfortable with that, call in a professional for help.
If your furnace still isn’t running, you should contact your nearby heating contractor Jacksonville Heating & Cooling for repairs.
Heater Turns On and Off too Frequently
This issue is called short cycling and it occurs when the furnace runs in short bursts lasting less than 10 seconds. An overactive heater wastes energy and usually can’t heat a home to an acceptable temperature.
Many of the simple fixes listed above also help resolve this problem. Is the thermostat working correctly? Has the filter been changed recently? Is the flame sensor dirty or rusty? Are the heat registers open? Check these solutions first.
Other potential causes include faulty temperature-monitoring systems or a cracked heat exchanger. In both of these cases, your best bet is to call a professional.
The Blower Runs Continuously
If your blower won’t stop running, check your thermostat first. Sometimes the fan setting gets stuck in the “on” setting. If this is the case switch it back to “auto.”
If this doesn’t work, there is likely an issue with the limit switch. This is best dealt with by a professional heating contractor.
The Furnace is Too Noisy
A noisy furnace is more than just an annoyance. Loud noises coming from your heater are often symptoms of a serious issue. This may be caused by:
- A loose or broken blower wheel
- A broken motor mount
- A lack of lubricant
- A loose fan belt
Unfortunately, most of these issues require more technical expertise. If your heater is making too much noise, contact a heating contractor.
Make sure your heater is in good hands by hiring an experienced team for any repairs. Jacksonville Heating & Cooling in North Carolina’s skilled technicians have years of experience working with most appliance brands. Contact us to keep your furnace running smooth.
