6 Common Furnace Problems That You Need to Know

Winters can be a challenging time, what with the constant chilly temperature and a gloomy atmosphere outside. With so much effort going into getting any work done during such extreme weather, it is important to make sure nothing goes wrong with the heating system in our homes. You could have a perfectly working residential heating system in your home one day and the next it might turn into a freezing factory. But worry not, for there are often many warning signs of something like this happening. It’s just a matter of knowing when to identify them and fix the problems. To make your life easier, here are a few furnace problems you should be aware of to make sure you don’t fall prey to them and can have them fixed right away.

1. Clogged filter

One of the most common furnace problems is a clogged filter. The air filter getting clogged can cause massive furnace blockage. The vents won’t get enough air to deliver and convert into heat, so naturally there will be zero air supply in your home. This is usually fixable by cleaning the air filter or replacing it, best done by a professional. If there is dust covering the filters, it will clog the vents and no air supply will be able to go through. If you can clean the filters on your own without damaging them, the furnace might start working properly. However, it is recommended to contact a professional in case the problem isn’t fixed after a couple of attempts.

2. Problematic thermostat

If your thermostat has not been set up properly, chances are your furnace won’t function the right way either. This kind of a problem is usually seen with thermostats that are programmable. In case you forget to program it according to the weather, it causes issues with the working of the furnace. This heating repair problem is easily fixable on your own and does not require professional assistance. You can fix it by verifying the temperature setting and programming it right according to the season.

3. Air in place of heat

If any of your equipment is broken within the furnace, has to be looked at by a professional in most cases. To ensure that nothing major has gone wrong, it is important to consult someone who knows a furnace inside out. In most cases when something goes wrong with the furnace, it is usually that the fan is giving out air instead of heat. There is usually some sort of problem with the fan in such cases. If the fan needs cleaning or has stopped functioning, it will give out air without filtering it into heat.

4. Broken fan

A blower fan that doesn’t function properly will hinder the working of the furnace. This is most likely a common problem that furnaces face. If the fan stops functioning like it’s supposed to, chances are that is the only reason behind your furnace having lost out on working properly. Issues of this sort which are mechanical in nature should only be handled by professionals. In order to get the best results out of repairing it, you’re advised to consult a professional.

5. Unclean burner

Either your burner needs to be adjusted or it needs cleaning if your furnace has stopped working. Often it so happens that the burner doesn’t light up while the ignition is still in working order. This ends up in either the furnace providing no heat at all or very mediocre quality of heat. To make sure whether your burner is clean or needs adjustment, you have to look inside the mechanism.

6. Problematic blower

If you are facing or have faced any of the aforementioned issues with your furnace, it’s recommended that you take professional advice in order to maintain the furnace and ensure that similar problems don’t occur again. One can always take as many precautions as possible. However, furnaces often run into problems if you haven’t picked the right one.