Although there are all sorts of things that can go wrong with your heating unit, there are six common heating problems that homeowners see most often. Most heating repair problems can be avoided with a little troubleshooting and TLC. But if you aren’t sure what the issue is, it is best to call in an expert to solve your heating concerns. These are the six most common heating problems, and when possible how to solve them.
No Scheduled Heating Maintenance
Although many homeowners give very little thought to regular furnace or gas heater maintenance, they absolutely should! When you don’t regularly maintain your heating unit, there is no way to spot signs of trouble before they become highly troublesome and costly. Not having your system maintained can lead to an expensive repair call, or worse, the need to replace your system before it is time.
Problems with the Ignition Control or the Pilot Light
Heating systems typically have two types of ignition systems, either an intermittent pilot or a hot surface ignition. If the furnace ignition is to blame for your heating problem, it can cause intermittent heat or no heating at all. Sometimes it requires just relighting the pilot, and other times it warrants a repair call.
Clogged or Dirty Filters
If you aren’t regularly changing your air filters, it can be diminishing the airflow around your home. That will make your unit work harder and lead to excessive wear and tear. Dirty filters can also cause a malfunction of the limit switch, which is responsible for turning the fan on and off. Changing the air filter monthly is imperative to keep things flowing freely and extending the lifespan of your heating unit.
Lack of Airflow or Circulation
If you have aging belts, ducts, fan motors, or bearings, it might be cutting down on your furnace’s ability to circulate air properly. That will make it nearly impossible for your unit to maintain a consistent heat or to keep up with its necessary load demands.
Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork is the system that carries the heated air from your gas heater or furnace to the rest of the house. If you have a leak in your ductwork, then air can seep into unfinished spaces that don’t need to be heated. Not only will that make it harder to keep things warm, it can decrease air quality and cause a “backdraft”.
Broken or Faulty Thermostat
Whether you have a traditional or a programmable thermostat, if it is not working properly, then it is sending the wrong signal to your furnace. Common reasons that your thermostat might not be working are a missing or low battery, misread temperatures, or misused settings. If your heating is not working correctly, check your thermostat, it might be the culprit.
Many things can cause a furnace or gas heater not to work correctly, and most of them can be avoided. By having regular maintenance on your HVAC system, you can stop a small problem before it becomes both problematic and expensive. But if you are having a hard time diagnosing the source of the problem, contact Carney & Son. We can fix any heating repair problem or handle any heating maintenance issue you have.