Heating systems in California can experience various issues, including faulty thermostats and dirty air filters, which can lead to increased energy bills and reduced heating system efficiency. Regular furnace maintenance is essential to prevent common heating problems and ensure your home’s heating system runs efficiently throughout the heating season. A well-maintained heating system provides warm air, reduces the risk of carbon monoxide leaks, and minimizes the need for costly furnace repairs.
This article will go over the most common problems you could face with your heating system, as well as how you can prevent them with a combination of DIY furnace maintenance and professional heater repair services.
The first thing to go over is all of the fundamentals of your heating system so that you know the ins and outs of your heating unit and how it operates before trying to diagnose the issue you are having. There will be different components if you have a heat pump or radiant system, but this article will cover a central heating system layout or a forced air system, either natural gas or electrically powered, which are the most common systems for heating.
This is what monitors the temperature in your home and sends the signal to the ignition system to maintain the desired temperature.
This is the valve that opens to allow gas to get to the burner once it gets a signal from the thermostat to turn on.
This is the electrical system that houses all of the electrical components of the furnace, including controls for the burner, blower motor, and inducer fan based on the signals received from the thermostat.
This is what activates the release of gas into a combustion chamber that is then ignited, starting the entire heating process.
Either a pilot light or an electric igniter ignites the gas in the burner.
There are three different types of fuel for most furnaces: natural gas, liquid propane, and heating oil. This is what is used to ignite the flame.
The flame sensor is what detects the presence of a flame in the combustion chamber, shutting the furnace down if it does not detect a flame in order to prevent an accumulation of gas.
The heat exchanger is what absorbs the heat from the combustion, sending it into the air that will circulate through your home. It also prevents dangerous combustion gases from getting into the air.
The blower motor is the fan that pushes the heated air from the furnace into the air ducts. It is also what pulls in cool air to be heated.
This fan vents the exhaust gases away from the burner and out of the furnace through the exhaust system.
The air filter catches the various dirt, dust, allergens, and other particles in the air before they can circulate along with the warm air through your home. The furnace filter should be changed every couple of months to prevent problems with the heating system.
If the system won’t turn off even on auto mode, it is possible the thermostat is not wired correctly or perhaps broken. You can check to be sure the wiring within the thermostat is plugged in correctly and then reset it to the manufacturer’s settings. There also may be an issue with the blower that will have to be handled by a specialist.
If the furnace is not turning on at all, it could mean there is an issue with the thermostat connections or with the ignition system. You should check to see if the power switch to the furnace is on as well or if the pilot light has been blown out. You can turn the switch back on or relight the pilot light following the manufacturer’s instructions. A cracked surface ignitor element could be the culprit, which you can carefully replace on your own. Other problems, such as a faulty pilot light, dirty ignition, malfunctioning flame sensor, or a faulty or incorrectly installed igniter, will have to be handled by an HVAC professional. Another culprit could be a damaged limit switch, designed to shut the HVAC system down if the internal temperature is too high. This will also require the work of an HVAC technician to examine and replace. If electrical components aren’t responding, you could check to see if the circuit breaker is on or off.
If there are parts of your house not getting the same amount of heat as others, this could be because of a dirty air filter or ductwork issues. A clogged air filter can easily be replaced by yourself, but issues with the ducts that go beyond a simple cleaning will need to be looked at by a certified heating company.
If your heating system is not blowing hot air and instead there is cold air coming from the vents, this could be because of thermostat, air filter, pilot light, fuel, or air duct problems. Always check to make sure the thermostat is on auto instead of fan mode to start. The fan will not blow heated air into your home. Next, check to make sure the air filter is not clogged with debris, blocking the majority of heated air from getting through. Make sure the gas valve is open and allowing gas to flow to the pilot light. You will need to call a professional if you suspect a gas problem. Lastly, if your heating system is not blowing hot air, you can walk along your ductwork and see if you can detect any blowing air to determine if there is an air leak.
Weak airflow can be a sign of a clogged air filter or dirty or leaking ducts. Regularly replacing the air filter once every couple of months or more can solve this, as well as performing regular duct cleaning a couple of times a year. Grime and debris can build up in the ducts and cause blockages as well as issues such as mold and mildew growth. There could also be an issue with the blower motor. Dirt and grime can build up here as well, or the motor can wear out over time. It is possible that cleaning out the blower compartment and the fan blades could improve the airflow, but if there is more serious damage to the blower components, a professional will need to handle it.
Problems with the thermostat will affect the entire system since this is where it receives all of its initial signals. If you find you are having thermostat troubles, it could be because it is improperly placed. Thermostats should be installed in an area where they can always get a clear reading of the room’s temperature. It also needs to be levelly mounted when it is installed. A simple troubleshooting tactic for a digital thermostat would be to change out the batteries. If the controls aren’t working at all, you could also check for a tripped circuit breaker.
It is also possible there are some internal wiring issues where they are either loose or corroded. Some of these problems can be remedied by slight adjustments, but deeper wiring issues should be handled by an electrician.
Short cycling is when your HVAC system is frequently turning on and off after an extremely short period of time. A dirty air filter may be the reason for this yet again since the buildup of debris could cause the system to overheat and trip the internal limit switch. A faulty flame sensor not properly reading the flame and shutting the heating system down could also be behind this. Another thing that can happen is a blocked flue pipe that can also cause your heating system to turn off in an effort to prevent CO₂ from getting into the heated air. The flue pipe is what is responsible for moving the dangerous fumes out of the house. Flue pipes should be cleaned regularly, and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed at every level of your home and routinely checked.
High heating and energy bills mean there could be an unnecessary expenditure of energy in your heating system. This can be because heated air is leaking into your attic or crawlspace from holes or cracks in the ducts or leaking outside of your home through cracks in windows or doors and walls. Insulation and duct sealing can help with these issues. If you are closing or blocking any vents in your home, this will cause the unit to expend more energy trying to get the entire house to reach the desired temperature and can be a cause for higher energy bills.
If you’re hearing loud noises while your furnace is operating, you could have a loose panel, unlubricated motor bearings, or fan belt problems. You can tighten loose panels, lubricate the bearings, or repair the fan belt if you have the proper tools and know your way around the furnace.
If there is a musty or burning smell when you run your heater, it could mean the air filter or ducts are overly filled with debris. This can especially be common if you are using your furnace for the first time after a long period of non-use. The smell of rotten eggs means there could be a gas leak, which requires you to call a specialist right away to resolve the issue.
If the fan in your furnace is not moving air properly or isn’t working, it could mean that you have the incorrect settings on the thermostat or a clogged air filter that is stopping the fan from going. It could also be that a circuit breaker is not on. You can try troubleshooting these issues, but if it does not resolve, you’ll have to call in an HVAC contractor.
Indoor air quality is critical, and a well-maintained heating system can help reduce the risk of airborne pollutants and allergens. A dirty air filter can circulate dust, pollen, and other allergens, exacerbating respiratory issues and reducing indoor air quality. It can also be the source of multiple different furnace issues as described above. When you don’t clean your ducts at all, it can also lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can damage your home as well as further contaminate the air you breathe.
A gas furnace has many dangers since a malfunction in the unit could lead to a gas leak. Carbon monoxide detectors are essential for detecting potential carbon monoxide leaks, which can be deadly.
Regular furnace maintenance can help prevent safety concerns, such as gas leaks and carbon monoxide leaks, and ensure the heating system operates efficiently. HVAC technicians can help identify and address air quality and safety concerns, including mold growth and duct leaks.
A faulty thermostat can lead to heating issues, including uneven heating, cold spots, and increased energy costs. Thermostat-related problems can be resolved by checking the thermostat settings, ensuring the thermostat is properly calibrated, and replacing the thermostat if necessary. HVAC technicians can help diagnose and fix thermostat-related issues, including faulty wiring and malfunctioning sensors.
A programmable thermostat can help reduce energy bills and improve the heating system’s efficiency. These thermostats allow the homeowner to set temperatures for the house based on the day of the week or time of day, meaning you can save energy by adjusting the temperature from when you are out of the house or asleep to when you know you will be spending most of the day around the house.
Common heating problems can be resolved with regular furnace maintenance, proper troubleshooting, and timely heater repairs from trusted contractors, such as John Owens Services, Inc. Our HVAC technicians can help diagnose and fix issues with heating systems, including forced air furnaces and heat pumps. We always prioritize heating repair and maintenance over furnace replacement when it comes to your heating and cooling needs. If your home’s heating system is acting up and you can’t find the source of the issue, we can be there right away to have your furnace inspected until we find the issue and repair it immediately. A lot of our heating repairs can be completed on the same visit with our fully stocked vehicles, getting your heating system back to producing heat as soon as possible. We can also provide highly efficient HVAC installation for any furnace or air conditioner that will serve your household the best.
Sometimes, troubleshooting a heating/cooling system is as easy as turning the power switch back on. There are aspects of furnace maintenance you can perform yourself, such as replacing a furnace filter or checking the pilot light, but complicated heating repairs should always be handled by professionals. It is also recommended to get annual furnace maintenance from a licensed technician to make sure that your heating system continues to perform smoothly.
With our heating and cooling services, your HVAC equipment can always be in good hands with an HVAC contractor like John Owens!
Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.
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