As we head into fall and winter, your furnace will be crucial and keeping your home warm and your family comfortable. It’s a good idea to stay ahead of any problems by identifying the signs of common furnace problems so you can address them sooner rather than later if they impact your system.
Just give our team a call to schedule a furnace repair in Yakima, WA. Even if you’re not exactly sure what’s wrong, our team can troubleshoot and offer a solution. If nothing else, you’ll have peace of mind that your furnace is working great for the cooler months ahead.
Ignition Problems
This concern applies to gas furnaces in particular. If you hear a booming sound when your furnace first turns on for a heating cycle, that’s a red flag that your furnace is struggling with the ignition process. Ideally, the correct amount of gas is released into the chamber, and ignition happens at precisely the right moment to heat your home safely.
A booming sound can indicate that either too much gas is being released or that ignition is happening later than it should. The result is a small explosion that booms inside the heat exchanger. Allowing this problem to continue can leave you with a cracked heat exchanger that puts your family at an even greater risk. Since heat exchanger cracks cannot be repaired, the heat exchanger will need to be replaced, or depending on the age of the furnace, a system replacement may be more cost-effetcive.
Thermostat Issues
Sometimes furnace problems aren’t really furnace problems at all. Instead, your thermostat may be malfunctioning for one reason or another. If your furnace isn’t turning on or doesn’t heat your home like you expect, check your thermostat. Common thermostat problems include:
- Miscalibration
- Low battery charge
- Dust buildup inside the thermostat
Our team can assess your thermostat needs and fix whatever is wrong. In some cases, an older thermostat may need to be upgraded to a newer model. If you do need a new thermostat, you’ll reap a variety of benefits from making the switch to a smart thermostat such as boosting energy savings and making it easier to adjust your temperature settings from anywhere.
Lack of Airflow
When your furnace is on and running for a heating cycle you should be able to feel strong, hot air coming out of all the vents around your home. If you have airflow problems, there could be a few causes:
- Ductwork – This is a common issue if you lack airflow in a single area of your home. The ductwork in that zone may be damaged, allowing heat to escape before reaching your home.
- Air filter – If your air filter is dirty, it may be blocking airflow into the system. Without enough air coming in, your furnace won’t be able to blow heat out into your house. This can cause the system to shut down early so it doesn’t overheat.
- Blower motor – As your furnace ages, the blower motor can wear out. Our team can check it to see if we can clean out and relubricate the bearings to help it operate better. If that doesn’t work we can replace individual components to get it working adequately again so heat doesn’t stay trapped in your furnace.
Contact ThermAll Heating & Cooling, Inc: We are “Your Home Comfort Hero!” Schedule service today for your furnace service ahead of the winter season.