A faulty furnace can be absolutely unbearable during the cold weather season. But furnace systems can be a part of your house that is out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, that can lead to a lack of maintenance that should be keeping your furnace running smoothly for the entirety of its service life and maybe even beyond. In this article, we will show you how your gas furnace works, what common issues may be causing it to act up, how you can go about DIY furnace repair, and when you need to hire a professional HVAC repair service.
A gas furnace works by mixing fuel and oxygen, burning it to create heat, and then distributing the warm air through your home through a system of ducts by way of a blower fan. The process starts with the thermostat sensing the temperature and sending a signal to the furnace’s control board. The control board then opens the gas valve and ignites the burner flames through combustion. The draft fan pulls in air from your home through a supply duct, where it is then heated within the furnace, and then sent back through the return duct to heat the rooms in the house until they reach the desired temperature.
Signs of furnace issues include strange noises, frequent on/off cycling, uneven temperatures, and high energy bills. Common culprits that can disrupt your home heating system’s performance include faulty thermostats, a tripped circuit breaker, a malfunctioning pilot light or ignition system, or a dirty air filter. A faulty furnace blower motor, heat exchanger, or combustion chamber can also cause issues with your furnace heating system. Troubleshooting common furnace problems can help you identify the root cause of the issue and determine the best course of furnace repair action.
If you’ve tried troubleshooting steps and your furnace still isn’t getting through a successful heating cycle, it’s time to call a professional furnace repair service. Knowing the common problems and causes can help you communicate effectively with the technician before the furnace repair begins. If you have tried to perform DIY heater repair on the furnace issue yourself with no successful results, the following could be one of the reasons your system is not getting through a proper heating cycle:
Regular furnace maintenance, like cleaning dirty burners and changing a clogged filter, can prevent early furnace replacement, extending the lifespan of your gas furnace (10-15 years). Maintenance tune-ups can help lower energy bills and reduce the frequency of furnace repairs since they allow for early detection and addressing of developing issues. Heater maintenance tasks include cleaning the blower motor assembly, inspecting the heat exchanger, and checking the combustion chamber. Consider hiring a professional HVAC technician to perform regular maintenance tasks and ensure your system operates safely and efficiently.
A regular furnace service before the heating season can maximize efficiency and provide longer-lasting home heating. However, there are times when a simple furnace maintenance call can help locate an issue that would otherwise require a large investment to fix. The decision to get a furnace repair or furnace replacement is up to you, and often, it’s a matter of comparing the cost of the furnace repair service, taking into account the age of the equipment, versus the cost of a new furnace.
Upgrading your furnace can provide numerous benefits, including improved energy efficiency, increased comfort, and enhanced safety. New furnaces often come with advanced features, such as variable-speed blower motors and high-efficiency heat exchangers. Consider upgrading your furnace if your current system is old, exhibits poor energy efficiency, requires frequent furnace repair, or no longer meets your heating needs.
Proper installation is crucial to ensure your furnace operates efficiently and safely. A poorly installed furnace replacement can lead to reduced performance, increased heating bills, expensive and constant furnace repair, and even safety hazards. Hiring a professional furnace service who has experience with gas furnaces, electric furnace models, and heat pumps can greatly reduce the risk of any installation issues.
John Owens Services has been offering professional furnace repair services since 1986. Our trustworthy HVAC team offers experienced heating repair in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, and the surrounding areas. We provide reliable emergency furnace repair for homeowners that increases energy efficiency so that your home’s heating system continues producing heat at an adequate level for years to come. We can perform HVAC repair on any faulty flame sensor, troublesome pilot light or ignition system, and leaky air ducts. Aside from furnace repair, we offer routine maintenance to maintain your furnace’s efficiency and identify any key warning signs that your heating system has a problem. We also work with heat pumps, hydronic furnaces, and many other types of emergency furnace repair!
Worried about furnace repair cost? You can schedule one of our furnace repair professionals to come out and perform a quick furnace inspection before providing you with a free estimate for the furnace cost so you have an idea of the actual cost of the furnace repair service before moving forward.
A successful heating system upgrade requires careful planning, proper installation, and regular maintenance. By understanding your furnace system, choosing the right furnace repair service, and upgrading your furnace when necessary, you can ensure your home remains warm and comfortable all year round and avoid the troubles of a broken furnace and the strain of complicated furnace repair. Strange noises, uneven indoor temperature, or a short heating cycle are all signs that you might need furnace service. Prioritize regular HVAC system maintenance from your local HVAC dealer before the heating season begins to prevent common furnace issues and ensure your system operates safely and efficiently, with no need for emergency services.
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.