If you’re experiencing issues with your home heating system, you’re in the right place!
Our friendly team of NATE-certified furnace technicians here at Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling are standing by, ever-ready to come out to your home and help.
Keep in mind there are a host of reasons why a furnace might run into problems, and a host of steps you can take to prevent the problem in the first place.
The following is our list of the most common causes.
Lack of regular maintenance
We cannot emphasize HVAC maintenance enough. And yet all too-often we’re called out to a customer’s home because they’re having furnace issues when maintenance would have caught the issue in the fall. If you want to make your furnace perform efficiently and make the system last a long time, the cost of maintenance isn’t much when looking at the big picture and comparing it to the cost of a breakdown or failure. When you utilize seasonal maintenance, our HVAC technicians pinpoint potential problems before they develop into disasters!
Thermostat issues
If your heat is out, check the thermostat. When is the last time you had it calibrated? Thermostats can break or become defective over time. Sometimes, it’s something as simple as the batteries. Although this isn’t a problem with the furnace itself, it sure feels like furnace failure when your home doesn’t have the heat you need for comfort. With this in mind, if your thermostat is older, a smart thermostat or wi-fi thermostat is a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in no time!
Electrical ignition, pilot light problems
The pilot light/igniter is an essential component of any home heating system. It’s responsible for the flames, for the lighting of the actual fuel that heats your home. If this component does not work, the fuel won’t ignite and it’ll be all bad. You’ll realize as much as you’ll be left cold. Understanding this, there is a way to check if your pilot light is operational. In any case, it’s good practice to have it checked out at least annually as part of maintenance because the flame should be blue and not yellow and it should not be flickering. Dealing with gas and the potential for carbon monoxide and any number of other things that could go wrong, it’s better to play it safe than to be sorry.
Furnace filter needs replaced
Air filters are meant to collect dirt, dust and airborne impurities.This wears them out over time and fills them up sometimes quickly. Furnace filters need to be checked often throughout the winter. When one is clogged, it causes your furnace to have to work extra hard to heat your home, harder than before to achieve the same desired temperature. This added strain is harmful and unnecessary. Because of this, you should keep an eye on your air filters throughout the home heating season and replace them frequently.
Fuel supply issues, electrical problems
The majority of home heating systems are fueled by natural gas or powered by electricity. The most common reason for furnace breakdown due to electrical issues is poor wiring. Poor wiring can cause a furnace to short out and blow a breaker. To make sure your home heating equipment is wired properly, you can ask a technician to have a look when you have maintenance performed. And if you suspect problems with a natural gas furnace, the matter should be taken seriously. Natural gas is toxic and can be dangerous. You should call us, or someone, right away. With respect to any of these sorts of problems, we look for them when we do maintenance. Be sure to have your furnace tuned-up annually to avoid any potential issues.
The blower motor failure
Because the blower motor is essentially what keeps the air circulating in your home, if this component fails it doesn’t matter how efficient your furnace is, the hot air will not get distributed to where you need it in your home. A blower motor can fail from overheating, bad wiring or other issues. Have your ducts cleaned and your furnace tuned-up to keep the blower working effectively. And, as noted above, keep your air filters from clogging
Don’t delay getting your furnace fixed today!
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, or any issues we haven’t discussed, call Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling today at 513-540-1716, or click here to schedule an appointment now!
