5 of the Most Common Furnace Problems
It’s a major stressor any time your furnace acts up, threatening to leave your family in the cold. Consider these five common problems you may face with your furnace.
1. Neglected Air Filter
A neglected air filter is the most common issue with a furnace and can cause a range of symptoms from elevated utility bills to reduced home comfort. Plan to check your filter every 30 days so that you can change before it causes any of these. Common 1- and 2-inch filters will need changing every 30 to 90 days.
2. Malfunctioning Ignition System
Every furnace fuel-burning has some kind of igniter. In many modern furnaces, this is what’s called a hot surface igniter. These are prone to needing a replacement before the end of your unit’s service life.
3. Faulty Blower Motor
When your blower motor has a problem, it could fail to start or just not spin as quickly as it should. Blower motors have bearings that may seize up over time or they could have an off-balance spindle, straining the motor.
4. Bad Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is responsible for ensuring there is enough heat to ignite the fuel in the burn chamber. This sensor can wear out or get covered with soot. This can cause the sensor to not register heat, preventing the system from running.
5. Faulty Upper Limit Switch
The upper limit switch keeps the furnace from overheating, which can cause the heat exchanger to crack. A cracked heat exchanger is one of the leading causes of carbon monoxide in homes. If there’s an issue with the switch, it may read too much heat too quickly, causing the system to shut down prematurely.
People around Hayden have trusted Border Sheet Metal & Heating to keep their homes comfortable and safe year-round since 1942. Our award-winning team provides air conditioning and heating repair, maintenance and installation together with indoor air quality and ductwork services. Call to schedule your furnace repair with one of our NATE-certified technicians today.
