Dealing With Furnace Problems

What's Wrong With Your Furnace?

20 August 2021 by Eliza Chapman

There are multiple types of home heating options available, but one of the most common is forced air. This is an incredibly effective way to warm up your home fast. However, when a furnace is old and/or hasn't been maintained, it can lead to issues. If you would like to know more, keep reading to find out what might be wrong with your furnace.

There Is Dust in the System and Ducts

Furnaces have filters that help trap dirt and dust before it gets into the system. However, some dust can still sneak past, especially if you've neglected cleaning/replacing the filter. If you have pets, the filter can get clogged even faster thanks to pet hair.

Dust can get inside the furnace and make it less efficient. For example, if dust builds up on the fan blades, they become heavier, which forces them to work a little harder, putting excess strain on the system. If dust builds up on the fuel nozzle, the pilot light may not ignite.

Over time, the dust can also get into the ducts that send heated air to the various vents in your home. This causes two problems; it expels dust and irritants into your breathing air, and it forces the system to work harder.

The System Won't Create Heat

If your furnace seems to be working, but it isn't blowing hot air, there may be something wrong. In some cases, it is a user error, such as forgetting to set the thermostat to heat or setting the thermostat to fan. However, in many cases, the issue is simply an overly clogged filter, which prevents air from properly passing.

If the problem persists after you've cleaned the filter, there may be something wrong with the pilot light. When you turn on the heat, the pilot light ignites to start the heating process. If the pilot light is broken or the ignition is broken, there is no heat source to heat the air. Other reasons the system may not create heat include burner issues, flame sensor issues, gas valve issues, and much more.

It Cycles On and Off Frequently

When you turn on the thermostat, the furnace ignites and warms the house to the desired temperature. Once it reaches that temperature, the system cycles off. Naturally, this causes the heat to slowly fade, so the system automatically turns on again when needed. This keeps the house properly heated. However, if the system cycles on and off too often, there may be something wrong.

Usually, the problem may revolve around a dirty and clogged filter and system. All that dirt may simply prevent the system from working as efficiently as it should, causing it to create less heat. A defective thermostat may also be the issue.

If your system is new and/or you've had this issue since you first got it, the problem may be the size of your furnace. Different furnaces are designed for different sized houses. If your furnace is too big for your home, it can cycle on and off frequently.

It Produces Weird Odors

If your furnace is producing a weird odor, you need to identify the type of odor to determine the problem. If the smell is dusty, you likely just need to clean the system. However, if it's musty, there may be mold in the ductwork. Pests can also create a musty smell, but they may also produce urine and rotting odors.

If the smell is more like rotten eggs, however, the problem may be more dangerous and complicated. This odor may indicate a damaged heat exchanger, which can leak carbon monoxide into your home.

A forced-air heating system is one of the fastest and effective ways to heat your home. However, when something goes wrong, it can lead to annoying and dangerous complications. If you think something is wrong with your system or you want to have it serviced, contact a heating repair technician in your area today.

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