The furnace or heater requires proper maintenance to function properly. Dirt or debris can accumulate inside this unit and generate technical issues. However, you can avoid that by cleaning it monthly or weekly based on the requirement.
Don’t have adequate time to maintain the furnace? We suggest hiring an expert for preventative maintenance to avoid major breakdowns. Moreover, several issues can develop in the heater due to overuse. But, detecting these technical glitches might be challenging for you. Thus, contact an expert to determine the source of the issue.
Besides, you should never try to repair this heating unit with D-I-Y hacks, which could cause more damage to the device. Instead, hire an expert whenever you experience any issue in the furnace for an instant fix.
Now, let’s find out which heater or furnace issues requires immediate professional attention:
Major Heating or Furnace Repair Problems:
Winter is around the corner, and you need to check the furnace’s condition before that. The heating system can’t work properly if the furnace is damaged. Have you used the furnace for more than 10 years? Consider replacing the existing furnace with a new one. It will help you to run the heating system without technical glitches.
Here are the most common causes of heater and furnace repair :
- Dirty Furnace Filter
The heater will face a hindrance in circulating sufficient air due to clogged or dirty filters. If this issue is left unaddressed, it could damage the fan motor’s light switch. As a result, you have to spend more money on HVAC repair.
Besides, clogged furnace filters increase the chance of fire hazards. Thus, clean the furnace filters on time to avoid furnace or hater-related issues.
If the furnace filters are clean, but the room is still not warm enough, then the heater that is trying to heat the room might be small. Consider installing a new heater or furnace in the home or office to overcome this problem.
- Malfunctioning Thermostat
The thermostat helps the furnace to heat the house. It’s an essential HVAC unit which allows you to set the room temperature. The furnace will stop working if something goes wrong with the thermostat.
Most homeowners tend to replace the furnace/heater when it fails to heat the house. However, you should first check the thermostat before repairing any HVAC part.
Certain signs indicate that the HVAC system has a faulty thermostat. Is the device generating a loud noise while circulating warm air? Hire an expert and replace the thermostat immediately. Otherwise, the HVAC system will face difficulties in powering on.
Here are the thermostat failure signs that require professional attention:
- High-temperature readings
- Increased energy consumption
- Leaking coolant
- Shirt cycling
- Ignition or Pilot Control issues
The HVAC system won’t be able to generate heat if the pilot control or ignition ceases to work. The device might also reduce the airflow if these units are broken or malfunctioning. Thus, try to repair the pilot control or ignition to restore the HVAC device’s functionality.
However, you should never try to fix these units without an expert’s help. Look for an experienced technician and repair these units in minutes.
- Strange Noises from the Furnace or Heater
The heater includes a fan and a blower, and these units generate noises while running. However, you may often hear banging or rumbling noises from this unit.
Do you know why this HVAC issue occurs? These loud noises indicate the blower or fan is damaged and needs replacement.
Moreover, the device may generate loud noises when the heater has accumulated debris. Loose or detached units can also trigger this problem in the system. Thus, detecting the source of the issue can be daunting. So, it will be better to leave the matter to the AC repair experts.
- Insufficient Heating Level
No matter how long the furnace runs, sometimes it may feel like the space isn’t getting warm enough. It usually occurs when the outside temperature is extremely low (-2ºC).
However, check the filters if the temperature is more than 2ºC and the furnace is still not heating the room. Clogged filters can often cause this heating issue, and you need to clean the furnace filters to increase the heating efficiency.
How to Prevent the Majority of Heater or Furnace Repair Issues?
Routine maintenance prevents up to 85% of the repairs a furnace may need during its lifespan. Thus, you should hire an expert to keep this HVAC unit in top-notch condition.
Homeowners can get these benefits by maintaining the heater properly:
- Reduce the furnace’s energy consumption
- Extend the furnace/heater’s lifespan
- Protect the HVAC system from unwanted damages
- Save the costly furnace or heater repair expenses
However, you don’t always need a professional to maintain the furnace/heater. You can ensure this unit is working properly by performing these maintenance tasks:
Replace the Furnace Filters
The filter on the furnace helps to keep it running smoothly. It improves indoor air quality by removing dust and other airborne debris. However, these filters can get clogged with dirt or dust over time. You must change these filters to keep the house free from bacteria and viruses.
Are you thinking about how often you should change these filters? It depends on the type of filter the furnace has. Check the product package to know when is the right time to replace these filters. Contact an expert if you don’t find the required information.
Clean the Ducts
The heating system has several ducts to blow hot air inside the room. It’s important to keep these ducts clean, so the furnace can work properly. Most homeowners hire a technician to clean the ducts.
However, you can do that without any external help by following these steps:
- Turn off the HVAC unit and disconnect the power cords
- Open the vent cover and check if there is dirt or dust inside it.
- Remove the dust/dirt particles from the vents using a vacuum cleaner.
- Check and remove the dust buildup from the return air registers.
- Remove and clean the air filters.
- Clean the furnace’s blower fan and motor
- Remove the air duct covers and use a brush to clean them.
- Clean out the ducts using a vacuum cleaner or hose pipe
- Install the ducts, air filters and the vent cover after cleaning them.
Maintain the Heat Exchanger
The heart exchanger is responsible for moving the heat from inside the furnace to the house. You also need to maintain this unit to avoid furnace repairs, because if tubes develop cracks, it can restrict the system from working. So, you must clean the heat exchanger properly to prevent unwanted downtimes.
Check the Furnance’s Switches and Breakers
The furnace won’t turn on if it has faulty switches or breakers. It’s a good idea to check whether the switches or breakers are working properly.
You must also check whether the front panel covering the furnace’s blower motor is connected properly. Replace the furnace units if you find any sign of damage.
Avoid the Repairs with an Annual Heater or Furnace Tune-up!
Schedule an annual furnace inspection, which is the best way to avoid repairs. During the check-up, professionals will check all the HVAC units, including the furnace. Moreover, they will replace the furnace or heater if there is any wear and tear.
These experts also ensure the furnace will run without glitches after the repair. So, search for an HVAC maintenance company and keep the heater or furnace in its best condition.
