Winter is right around the corner, and with that comes time to turn on the furnace. Although most experts recommend yearly furnace maintenance in the fall before the appliance is needed, many homeowners wait to call on a professional until it’s time for repairs. The following are three common furnace problems to be aware of this heating season.
1. Faulty Ignitor
Whether your furnace uses a pilot light or an electrical ignition, this starting mechanism sometimes malfunctions, requiring repairs or replacement. If your furnace isn’t heating the home to your desired temperature or turning on at all, the ignitor might be to blame.
2. Short Cycling
Short cycling means the furnace is turning on and off too often. While your furnace should repeatedly cycle on and off to keep the space at the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat, it should generally not do so more than three to eight times within an hour. It should also not quickly turn off before reaching your set temperature. Short cycling may be caused by a number of issues, including a faulty thermostat, dirty air filters, blower motor issues, and an oversized furnace.
3. Strange Noises
If your furnace suddenly starts making loud noises that it didn’t before, you likely need some sort of repair. Knocking, clunking, or rattling could signify loose parts. Squeaking and squealing may be caused by issues with the blower belt. Banging or rumbling are often signs of trouble within the combustion chambers. Finally, scraping noises might mean a problem with the blower wheel or ball bearings. With so many possibilities, it’s essential to turn to a professional technician to perform an inspection and make any necessary repairs.
Although it may be tempting to troubleshoot and fix furnace issues yourself, you should always contact an experienced technician to ensure the problem is identified and addressed correctly. At Anderson Heating & Cooling, we’re happy to assist Oregon City residents with furnace and air conditioning repairs, installation, and maintenance as well as ductwork, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and smart thermostats. Call us today to keep your home comfortable no matter the temperature outside.
