Winter or not, you don’t want to wait for the last minutes to repair your furnace. What if it fails and you fail to raise enough funds for a new one in time? Taking such a risk can jeopardize your chances of having a warm winter season as you grapple with other less effective ways of putting cold at bay.
Sometimes, the main challenge is knowing the signs that your furnace needs repair. You might think all is well and continue using the furnace, unaware of the short life it has remaining. So, what are the signs you need to repair the furnace?
Signs That Your Furnace Needs Repair
Knowing the signs that your furnace needs repair helps you to understand the right time to repair it or opt for Plumb-Tech furnace repair services.
Here are some of the signs indicating you need to repair your furnace.
When the Furnace Fails to Start-Up
This is a serious call for alarm. When your furnace refuses or fails to start, you should check your gas flow, your pilot light, and the circuit breaker. Failure to start indicates a problem with the flow of gas; there is a destroyed pilot light or a broken circuit breaker.
When the Furnace isn’t Effective as it should be
You understand how your furnace used to work when you first bought it. If things have changed for the worst in the latter dates, it is time you checked its functioning.
Start by checking the thermostat. If it’s okay, the problem may be clogging in the filter, which you should change. Another cause could be irregular airflow in your house or leaking ductwork.
When the Furnace Makes Abnormal Noises
The loud racket you hear any time you turn on your furnace is not a good sign. It is always an indication that either your furnace’s condenser is dirty, the inducer motor is defective, or there is a delayed ignition. Sometimes, the loud ignition noise could indicate that you have a cracking heat exchanger in your furnace.
The Furnace Repair Tips
Once you know the signs to look out for, it is easier to execute the repair tips. So, what are some of the repair tips for successful repair? Let’s find out below.
1.Carry out an Inspection in the Vents and Ducts
Dirt always builds up in your furnace’s vents and ducts if they go for a long time without inspection. Therefore, anytime your furnace malfunctions, it could be the ducts that need cleaning. Cleaning the duct will prevent dirt buildup and allow only clean air into your room and reduce future furnace repairs chances.
For the vents, the inspection and cleaning process is easy and fast. All you have to do is remove the vent cover and use the vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt collected in your furnace’s vents.
2.Have a Look at Your Filters
When the furnace starts malfunctioning, you should be running to check the filters. If the filters are clogged, the furnace will overwork to force air out through the filters. When all these happen, the heating system will malfunction, which will raise power consumption.
The best way to handle the filter issue is by replacing the filter with a new one. Ensure that you’ve turned off the furnace before you start working on the filters. You can do that by turning the thermostat to the ‘off’ position. Disconnect the power for maximum safety.
3.Check Your Furnace Exhaust
Surprisingly, some furnace owners don’t even know their furnaces have exhausts! If you are aware of that, then you are a step ahead.
Your furnace is not something you should be overlooking. Debris from animals, trees, and other objects could be blocking the exhaust flue pipe, making it malfunction.
When the flue gets obstructed, your furnace will not get the exhaust gases out. If the blockage continues for a long time, the gases will get their way back into the house. You will risk starting a fire or getting poisoned carbon monoxide gas.
4.Leave the Space around Your Furnace Clean
This is a precautionary step that you need to take to help prevent future furnace repairs or possible fire accidents and damages.
You should keep anything that can cause fire away from the furnace. Avoid placing things on top of the furnace or anything that can block the duct of the furnace.
Anything that can catch fire easily should be far away from the furnace. Remember, the furnace handles much heat. And when its metal panels get hot, it could be destructive to objects around it.
5.Change the Thermocouple
A thermocouple ensures your furnace’s safety by turning off the gas if the pilot light switches off or the igniter fails (electric one). If you have tried relighting or cleaning your pilot light and it didn’t work, then there are high chances your thermocouple is faulty.
After buying a new thermocouple, replacing the faulty one is not a daunting task. Disconnect the faulty one by detaching the copper lead, then unscrew the gas line connecting the bolt and the bracket bolt putting the thermocouple tube in position.
6.Have a Look at the Blower Belts
The blower belt is an integral part of the furnace, and if it gets broken, you will have problems with the furnace in the future. With a broken blower belt, the furnace won’t heat the home when you need its services the most.
As an excellent preventive measure, you should strive to have an extra belt at home just if the one in use breaks unexpectedly on a cold night.
Final Words
Putting yourself ahead of trouble with your furnace is a gift you can give your family, especially in the cold winter season. With these tips, you won’t have a challenging time getting along with the whole repair process when your furnace develops some issues. If you find it quite tricky to handle the repairs, you can always seek professional help.
