Winter is the most stressful time of year for furnaces, which of course means that it’s also the time of year when furnace problems are most prevalent. If you’re using a furnace to keep your home warm this winter, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for any problems that may develop. The sooner you can get problems repaired, the more damage you can prevent. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some furnace problems that you should know about.
Failure to Start
If your furnace fails to start, there could be a couple of different reasons why. It’s possible that there is an electrical short somewhere in the system, preventing the activation command from properly traveling from the thermostat to the furnace. It is also possible that your pilot light is out, if you’re using a gas furnace. Without a pilot light of some kind, the natural gas cannot be ignited and the furnace can’t generate heat.
Loss of Output
If your furnace is on, but doesn’t seem to be heating as well as it should, there are multiple possible explanations. Duct leaks are common in homes across the country, contributing to output losses up to 30%. It is also possible that you have a problem with your air handler. The air handler is the part of the furnace responsible for circulating air throughout the house. The air handler can overheat when the bearings inside the motor wear down and are not replaced. If you hear a loud grinding noise coming from your furnace, that means that your air handler bearings are starting to fail. If the furnace is on and no air is being circulated at all, it is likely that the air handler has already overheated.
If your furnace needs repairs, call Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. We offer furnace repair services throughout Gainesville, FL.