Your furnace is an important part of your home. You love it when it works well and you can enjoy the warm air coming in and out of the home during the cold winter months. But when it stops working, it can lead to some problems that are never a lot of fun. There are a number of different problems that can pop up with your furnace, especially when it is getting older, and recognizing these, and some of the problems that may be causing it, can help you get it fixed right away. Some of the common problems that can happen with your furnace includes:
The Furnace Blows Cold Air
One of the last things that you want to feel in the middle of winter is cold air coming from the furnace that should warm you up. There are a few potential steps that you can take to fix this problem before you call in emergency maintenance and they include:
# Dirty air filters: Dirt and debris can build into the air filters, which will restrict the amount of air that can get through and causes overheating of the unit. The furnace will reach a high limit and then shut off. This is a safety measure meant to help prevent fires, but it means that you will not be able to get the warm air that you want. Check the filters and decide if you should replace them to fix this problem.
# Faulty thermostat: it may seem like such a small component to the system, but when it stops working, it can cause problems. Barring wiring issues, where you will need an electrician to do the work, you can go and check out the thermostat itself. Look to see if it is set in the heat mode or not before you call in the professionals.
# Mechanical failure: It is possible that your furnace is experiencing a mechanical failure. This is most common if the unit is older. When this happens, it can lead to several different issues, including overheating. You will probably need a professional to stop by if you think this is the main concern.
The Furnace Isn’t Blowing Any Air
Having that cold air blow into your home on a cold day is never fun, but when the furnace isn’t blowing any air, then there is probably a different problem that you will need to get checked out. Some of the most common reasons that your furnace is not blowing any air at all includes:
# The blower motor or relay stopped working: Your blower relay is meant to relay power over to the motor. The motor will turn on the blower fan that works in the furnace, circulating the air through the ducts. If neither of these is working, then it is impossible to get air. This could be a sign of a bigger problem, so call in the professionals to come take a look.
# Broken control board: This is basically the brains of the furnace. It is going to regulate all of the other components of the unit. If it does not work well, then the whole unit will stop working. This is a complicated repair, so call someone you can trust to fix it.
The Furnace Gives Off a Bad Smell
It is possible that the furnace is going to give off a bad smell, such as something is burning. This is not a big deal, even though it doesn’t smell the best. Often this happens when the cold just starts and you turn on the furnace for the first time. You may need to give it a few days to dissipate and then see how things are. If it persists for more than a few days, then it may be a sign of electrical or exhaust issues and you will need a professional to step in and help with this one.
The Furnace is Leaking
In some cases, you may run into a problem where it appears that your furnace is leaking. The thing is, this is not the furnace. Instead, this is going to be the humidifier that is attached to your unit. If you think that the furnace is leaking, then go and check the humidifier to see if it has a leak first. However, if the humidifier is not the problem, then there may be a drainage issue and you will need to clear them out, either on your own or with the help of a professional.
The Furnace Only Heats Some Rooms in the Home
This one can be frustrating. You can tell that some rooms are heating up and getting the full benefit of the furnace, and other rooms are really cold. Poor heating in certain areas of the home, and not in others, is a typical result of poor duct design or airflow and this is often not something that you can fix on your own. You may need to look at making some modifications to the HVAC system or even replacing it to fix this problem. If you don’t want to handle all of that work and some of the expense that comes with it, using a space heater in the colder rooms or talking to an HVAC technician can make sense.
Your furnace and air conditioner will be important parts of your home. You wat to make sure they are in good working order all the time and that you will be able to rely on them, on matter what the weather is doing outside. Figuring out what is wrong with your HVAC system can be tough, so calling in the right professionals can make all the difference.
Our team at Apollo AC & Heating Repair are here to help. We have the tools and experience to take control over a broken furnace or air conditioner and will help you to take care of the problem. No matter how big or small, whether you need something repaired or it is time to look at a full replacement, we are here to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Contact a member of our team today to learn more and to schedule our professionals to stop by.
