There are a few common problems that can arise with your furnace. Keeping your home warm through chilly Iowa winters requires a combination of knowing the symptoms of typical furnace repairs and regular maintenance done by skilled technicians.
Dirty Ductwork
Every now and then, dust and debris can get into your heating ducts, which limits the amount of hot air that you receive in your home. If you notice your furnace doesn’t seem to be heating the house as well as it used to, the ductwork could use a cleaning.
To prevent future issues with dirty ductwork, you should set up a regular maintenance schedule with an HVAC technician at Wyckoff. We can clean out your ductwork and the rest of your HVAC system to keep the heat running how it should.
Old Filters
Your furnace has a filter that helps keep the air and your ductwork clean. It blocks dirt, allergens, pollutants, and other contaminants in the air. This debris builds up on the filter and if not replaced, can block airflow. Your furnace filter should be replaced every month or two (for a more exact timeline of replacement, check your filter’s packaging).
If your furnace seems to be working harder than it should be or it isn’t heating the air very well, it could be time to replace the filter.
Faulty Starting Mechanism
Furnaces have a mechanism that jumpstarts the heating cycle. Depending on how old or new your furnace is, it could be a pilot light or an electronic ignition. Regardless of the type, they both can fail and may need to be replaced or repaired. In some cases, your furnace may stop functioning completely if the starting mechanism is malfunctioning.
So, when your furnace isn’t turning on when it should, give us a call at Wyckoff so we can take a look at your pilot light or electronic ignition.
Malfunctioning Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is a coil of heated tubes in your unit. Your furnace pushes air through these heated tubes to warm the air before releasing it into your home. Essentially, the heat exchanger is where all the heat comes from in your furnace.
With the amount of heat the tubes handle, they need to be well-kept with regular furnace maintenance so they don’t crack or have any other malfunctions. If the heat exchanger does need to be serviced, it can be one of the more expensive repairs for your furnace.
Bad Limit Switch
The limit switch detects the heat within the furnace and then responds to that temperature by telling the furnace to turn on and off. It can also tell you when your furnace is getting dangerously hot and will shut off the burners to prevent potential house fires, severe furnace damage, and other dangers.
The telltale sign that your limit switch is malfunctioning is that the furnace will keep running continuously when it shouldn’t be. In this case, call an HVAC technician to either repair or replace it.
The Thermostat Is In Need of Repair
Sometimes the problem with your furnace isn’t the furnace at all. Your thermostat detects the temperature in your home, and based on that, tells the furnace when to start heating. A thermostat that needs repair could pick up the wrong temperature and result in your furnace not performing when and how it should.
The thermostat may also have a problem relaying messages to the furnace, which is an electronic system issue that can happen at any time. A Wyckoff technician will be able to examine your thermostat and diagnose the problem. Then, we can repair or replace the thermostat from there!
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your furnace may trip the circuit breaker because of a power surge. If it happens infrequently and resetting the breaker fixes the problem, you’re good to go. However, continual tripping may be a concern.
The problem could be that you use a shared circuit to power your furnace and other heavy electrical appliances or ground faults within the circuitry could have also caused an influx of energy. Either way, you’ll want to take a look into electrical maintenance and repair.
Unexpected Noises
Unpleasant noises coming from your furnace are easily one of the most noticeable signs of a problem with your unit. Furnaces are full of mechanical parts that can become loose at any time. In these cases, you’ll need a specialized technician to take a look at your unit in order to identify the problem.
Gas Leaks or Odors
When you turn on your furnace for the first time in the fall there may be a slight burning smell from the layers of dust that have accumulated over the warmer months. But, this smell should go away within an hour.
Any other persistent smells from your furnace should be a source of concern. If your furnace gives off a gas or metallic smell, turn it off immediately, open the windows and doors to bring fresh air into your home, and call for a furnace repair right away.
Have Your Furnace Fixed by Wyckoff
Let Wyckoff provide you with the peace of mind you deserve this winter with regular maintenance and repairs to your furnace. We treat each home we work with like it’s our own and will make sure your family stays comfortable all season long. Call us today with any questions or concerns about your furnace.