It would be lovely if everything always worked perfectly. Unfortunately, problems always crop up sooner or later. And with something like a furnace, which has many components and moving parts, there are more points of possible failure. If you’re not an experienced furnace owner and are wondering what sorts of things could possibly go wrong, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll list some of the most common issues you can encounter with a furnace, what might cause them, and when you should get a technician in to take a look. We’ll also give you helpful tips for keeping your furnace in good shape so you can decrease the odds of things going wrong in the future.
Lack of Air
If there’s just the merest trickle of air coming out of your vents, or none at all, your home is definitely not going to be heated sufficiently or evenly. Chances are, the source of this problem is the blower motor. One way that these can fail is from an abundance of dust or a lack of lubrication. The friction this causes will overheat the blower motor, sometimes even fusing the wiring together so it stops working completely. If you’re not getting a steady blast of warm air from your vents, it’s time for furnace repair in Tucson.
Cold or Dusty Air
If there’s plenty of air coming from your heat vents, but it’s cold or brings with it a flurry of dust, the problem probably lies somewhere in your ductwork. Cracks from age or deterioration, damage from remodeling or pests, or even problems that occurred during installation can breach the structure of the ducts. This allows cold, dusty air from unoccupied spaces in your home to be pulled through the ductwork and out your vents. Ducts can be sealed if the damage is minimal, or replaced if it is extensive, and you can go back to enjoying properly warm airflow.
Short Cycling
Your furnace is designed to run in cycles, heating to a target temperature and then shutting off while the temperature coasts slowly downward until it is cool enough to trigger another heating cycle. These cycles are long, generally around fifteen minutes. If you hear your furnace starting and stopping several times in a fifteen-minute period, something is wrong. It may be overheating because of dust, or there may be something wrong with the limit switch, but you do not want this to continue. The startup is the part of the cycle that uses the most energy, so short-cycling is a major energy drain and will raise your utility bills.
Weird Noises
This is a broad category, but it is important to keep an ear out for unexpected furnace sounds and schedule repair when you hear any. Screeching could indicate that the belt is coming loose or cracking. Grinding or groaning might be a sign of worn down or unlubricated bearings. If you hear loud, frequent clicking, you should turn the furnace off and call for emergency repairs just in case it is a cracked heat exchanger—the part of the furnace that keeps your home safe from carbon monoxide fumes.
Problem Prevention
Many of these issues can be avoided with regular maintenance, which involves cleaning and lubricating the parts of your furnace as well as inspecting and testing components for safety and functionality. It’s ideal for maintenance to be performed in the fall, but if it’s been awhile, it’s better to do it now then wait until next year.
Contact Picture Rocks Cooling, Heating & Plumbing today to schedule an appointment with our professionals.