While 2020 has been a year like no other, you can count on some things always being the same. For instance, now that it’s August, fall is just around the corner, and it’ll be time to think about getting your furnace ready for the heating season. So what are some of the top heater issues to be concerned about? Read on and start thinking now about maintenance that can help prevent your heating system from conking out in the middle of winter.
Some Top Heater Issues
- The furnace doesn’t heat. A failure to heat may be the most common of the top heater issues, resulting from a number of causes, including a dirty filter that is restricting airflow. Change the filter and see if it helps. If not, it might be the thermostat; a faulty ignition sensor; something wrong with the gas line; the electric switch that turns on an electric furnace or heat pump not working; a clogged furnace burner; or a faulty gas valve.
- The furnace cycles continuously or too often. The main reason this happens is that your HVAC system is improperly sized. An HVAC unit will run continuously if it does not have the capacity to heat or cool the home; it will short cycle; that is, it will turn on and off repeatedly if it’s sized too large and will never achieve thermostat set points. This is one of the top heater issues homeowners deal with, and this can only be solved by installing a correctly sized unit.
- You have a cracked heat exchanger. This can often be prevented with regular maintenance; once it happens, you may need to replace the furnace, as carbon monoxide (CO) can leak out.
- There is a flickering or yellow pilot light. Pilot light flames should burn blue. Yellow flame can be a sign of excess CO in the furnace.
- You have worn ball bearings. Hear a scraping sound? Worn ball bearings are among the most serious of the top heater issues. Turn off the furnace and call for help.
Schedule fall maintenance with Ace Hardware Home Services of Dayton before it’s time to turn your heating system on so you can avoid the top heater issues.
