Forced-air furnaces are a common means of keeping homes warm in the area during our long, cold winters. They usually run on a daily basis for months on end, and few homes can go without them for even a few hours. Furnaces are comparatively simple forms of heating: using burners and heat exchangers to warm the air in a centralized location, then blowing the heated air through the home via a series of ducts.
The system is efficient and inexpensive, especially when you used models with the EnergyStar label, but like any system, it runs into trouble from time to time. When it does, homeowners need to move fast to get the problem treated, let their house turn into an icebox while they wait for repairs. The sooner one can spot the signs of a serious problem, the better.
This Requires Trained Professionals
Spotting the symptoms of trouble isn’t the same as formally diagnosing the problem. It requires training and official licensing to repair a furnace, and that includes being able to determine the location and nature of any trouble spots. Homeowners should never attempt to diagnose a heating problem, much less repair it.
That doesn’t mean, however, that laymen can’t notice when things are off with their system. Furnaces have a way of broadcasting their need for repairs before an actual breakdown takes place. Anyone familiar with the normal operations of their system can usually spot when something is off. They can then shut the system down and summon a repair service.
Common Signs of a Problem
Every furnace is unique and there’s no telling what a specific problem may look like. That said, a number of common furnace repair issues display similar symptoms, which are easy for spot for anyone who knows what to look for. Such symptoms can include the following:
- Low Air Flow, which can be caused by a blockage, an air leak or a problem with the fan apparatus. It forces the furnace to work harder than it should to do its job, and leaves heated air trapped inside the furnace.
- Reduced Heat Levels. If the air coming out of the vents is cool or not as warm as expected, it could be an issue with the burners, the gas lines, or perhaps a breach. As with low air, it forces the furnace to work harder and raises your bills accordingly.
- Strange Sounds. Most homeowners become accustomed to the sounds their furnaces make when they’re running. Any change in those sounds usually means a big problem: hums, groans, rattles, bangs, etc. In most cases, the sounds will start and stop with the starting and the stopping of the system.
- Short Cycling. Short cycling is the furnace’s habit of starting and running for a short time, turning off, then starting up again a short while later. It’s very hard on the furnace’s components and usually indicates serious trouble.
For heater repair services in the Harrison, NY area, call the trained professionals at Yost & Campbell Heating, Cooling & Generators.