Most Common Furnace Problems

Most people don't know that furnaces are one of the most common home appliances to break down. Furnace problems can be easy to fix with a little elbow grease, or they can require a lot of work from an HVAC professional. This is why it's important to get help from an expert. To fix or replace them, they are also very pricey to do. If your furnace is on its last legs, don't worry. We can still help you. You might have problems with your furnace, and we've put together a list of what you can do about them.

Filters that are clogged up and dirty:

Clean, unobstructed air is needed for furnaces to work properly. If your filters are dirty or clogged, they won't be able to get enough air into your home, which will lead to higher utility bills and less efficient cooling and heating.

To keep them clean, use an oil-free vacuum cleaner hose attachment to clean them every few weeks. Take care of them every few months. You can buy special kits to clean your furnace, or you can hire a company to do it for a lot less than it would cost to buy all new filters and hire someone yourself.

A crack in the heat exchanger caused it to leak.

The heat exchanger is in charge of heating your home. When it breaks, carbon monoxide poisoning can happen, and there are no smells or signs that it is happening. If you think the heat exchanger is broken, turn off your furnace right away and call a professional who can check it out. Check the vents on your furnace if you think the heat exchanger is broken.

Ball Bearings that have been worn out, as well.

A furnace has a lot of moving parts, which can cause it to break down over time. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with furnace ball bearings, so keep an eye on them. We almost always need new bearings if our fan belt breaks or comes loose from our motor. If your bearings are worn, you might hear strange noises or see more friction as the fan moves. You can buy them online and do it yourself, but it's a long process.

The Limit Switch doesn't work:

A limit switch is a safety feature that stops the furnace from turning on and off all the time. When it doesn't work, your unit may overheat or short out, which could cost you a lot of money to fix. If you think this is the case, check your circuit box to see if there are any smells coming from the area where your furnace turns on and off. If it smells like it's been burned, don't worry! You can call a repairman and ask them to look over the area before you do any work.

A thermostat that doesn't work:

There are many problems I see every day. This is one of them. As a result, your utility bills may go up or your home may not be as comfortable if your thermostat isn't working right. The timer should be set correctly if this happens to you. Make sure all the wires are securely plugged in. A professional should check your thermostat if the plugs are in and you don't know how to set it up, so don't do it yourself.

There is no air coming from the furnace:

If your furnace isn't blowing air, you might smell things that aren't right in your house, or you might feel uncomfortable in your own home. The problem could be with the blower motor or with the unit itself, which is why it's important to get help from a pro. If you think this is the case, check all of the vents to make sure they are open. If your furnace is blowing air but it isn't very cold, it could be because the heat exchanger or the blower motor is broken.

A spark igniter that has been burned out:

Your furnace may not work at all, and this could be because the spark igniter has been used up and no longer works. The igniter gives power to the burner. This is something you need to do right away. If your furnace doesn't work at all, check to see if there are any obstructions in front of or around the unit. If everything looks good, the spark igniter may have been burned out, and you should get help from a pro.

Here are some things you can do to keep your furnace in good shape and avoid problems down the road. If so, how did it go? This is a good time to have it checked out because the weather is getting colder. Allow Elkton Home Heating and Air to help you out! Call (410) 441-5077 to reach us.