During the cooler months of the year, it is important that your furnace is working and is producing the heat that can keep your home warm. If you discover that your furnace is not working properly, you should know the reason why. Take a few minutes and learn about the most common types of issues with furnaces and their causes.

But First, How Does a Furnace Work?

Furnaces are designed to draw in cold air and clean it of contaminants and small debris using an air filter. A gas burner is then used to warm the clean air to the desired temperature indicated by the thermostat. The clean and warmed air is then distributed through the home.

The Blower Does Not Turn Off

A furnace blower that runs continuously can result in higher energy costs, even if it is not warming your home. The blower could be set to run constantly because the thermostat has been set to fan, or if there is no fan setting on the thermostat, the control switch for the fan could be faulty. A simple adjustment of the thermostat can resolve the first situation. However, it may be necessary to have the furnace fan limit control switch replaced for other types of thermostats.

Furnace Turns On and Off Too Often

A furnace that turns off too soon or that is overactive can be plagued by a variety of issues. It can also drive up your energy bill and cause damage to the furnace. This makes it necessary to address the problem as soon as you can. Possible causes can include anything from a dirty air filter that should be replaced with a malfunctioning thermostat.

IF YOUR FURNACE TURNS ON AND OFF TOO FREQUENTLY, IT COULD BE CAUSED BY A DIRTY AIR FILTER.

The Furnace is Noisy

A furnace that makes too much noise can take some of the joy out of being warm during the winter. It is also a sign that it is time for a maintenance check. The different sounds a furnace makes can indicate different problems. For example:

• A loud scraping sound, as if the metal is rubbing against metal can mean that there is something amiss with the furnace’s blower wheel; it could be loose from its motor shaft or broken.
• A high-pitched whining or squealing noise could mean that the blower belt should be replaced, the blower motor is malfunctioning, or the shaft bearing should be oiled.
• A loud pop or bang when the furnace is first turned on can mean that the burners may be dirty or the air ducts are contracting or expanding because of a clogged air filter or improperly sized ducts.

The Electronic Ignition is Not Working Properly

Most of the newly manufactured furnaces use an electric ignition instead of standing pilots to ignite a gas burner. A faulty ignition can be the result of:

• Using an igniter with an inappropriate voltage
• An igniter that has burned out due to an overpowered current
• An old igniter that has to be replaced

Many things can go wrong with your furnace. This is why it is important that you make sure any furnace repairs you need are completed by professionals, like Farnen & Dermer. Contact Farnen & Dermer today for all of your heating needs.