A homeowner that has ever had troubles with their furnace knows the importance of routine maintenance. Scheduling an annual maintenance inspection with a professional is the best way to keep a furnace fully functional. There are numerous things that can go wrong with a furnace; we will touch base on five of the most common problems.
One of the main issues a furnace has is the lack of maintenance, which essentially leads to a host of other problems. Neglecting a furnace can lead to breakdowns, increased energy consumption and higher utility bills, health problems, and unfortunately, the risk of gas leaks and house fires. These scenarios can be avoided by providing routine maintenance.
Two other common problems are a faulty pilot or ignition control issues. When an expert HVAC technician diagnoses these problems in time they can be repaired before they cause gas leaks and other problems. If noticing an unstable flame that is yellow or orange, shut the furnace off and contact an HVAC contractor. Furnace flames should always burn steady and be blue in color; flickering yellow flames indicate a gas to oxygen ratio problem.
Air flow problems are also rather common with residential heating systems. Many air flow issues can be related to broken fan motors, bearings, and belts. If any of these problems are present, a furnace can easily overheat and it will be hard to control the temperature of the home. Dirty or clogged filters also are common causes of furnace malfunctions.
A dirty filter reduces free air flow and causes a furnace to be less efficient and to struggle to operate. Dirty filters also can cause health issues such as respiratory problems if they have mold and other toxic particles in them. Another problem that HVAC contractors see a lot are Thermostat malfunctions. Calibrating the thermostat or replacing it generally solves most thermostat problems.
While these five problems can often be easily fixed, it is important to remember that routine maintenance can prevent most of them. Avoiding furnace maintenance is not worth the risks that eventually follow. Schedule a maintenance inspection today with a local HVAC company and avoid the hassle of furnace malfunctions.