Your heating system has been keeping you and your family comfortable all winter long. Do you know what to do should it stop doing that? If your home uses a forced air furnace, as it is also known, your home is heated by warmed air that is circulated through air ducts.
How Does a Forced Air Furnace Work?
Furnaces create heat by burning fuel. When that fuel is combusted, the heat created in the burner passes through a heat exchanger. Air from the home’s ductwork system is then blown over the heat exchanger, warming the air. The furnace’s blower will then force the heated air back in the supply ductwork and distribute it throughout the home. Knowing what some of the common problems associated with forced air heating systems will allow you to figure out what is going on, whether you can fix it yourself, or if you need to call in the professionals.
Troubleshooting Common Heating Problems
Heater is blowing cold air. The first step is to check the thermostat to see if it’s set to the right temperature. The thermostat might be having one of the following issues if it’s not.
• Dirty air filter. Change the air filter to see it corrects the problem.
• Leaky ductwork. Make sure you don’t have any leaks in the attic. If you do, seal them off. Make sure your ducts are insulated correctly.
• Pilot light problems. Check to see if the pilot light is on. If you can’t get it to light, there may not be any gas getting to it. Check the gas valve and make sure it’s turned on. You will need to call professionals if the gas valve is on and you pilot light still won’t light.
• Lack of fuel. You will also need to make sure that your furnace is getting enough fuel to work correctly.
If you can’t fix the problem using any of these DIY fixes, you will need to call in the pros. Heater won’t shut off. Check to see if the thermostat is set to “auto” rather than “on.” If it is set to “auto” there might be one of two problems.
• The thermostat is not wired properly or is broken.
• The furnace blower is malfunctioning.
The first step is to ensure that the wires of the thermostat are plugged in the right way. Then you will need to reset the thermostat to its factory settings and try to run the system again. If that doesn’t work, you may need a new thermostat. If you do replace the thermostat and your heater still runs constantly, you have an issue with the blower. This is not a DIY fix. You need to call an HVAC professional right away.
Some Vents Not Blowing Hot Air in House
Parts of your home are not receiving heat. If your home isn’t heating evenly you may have one of two problems.
• The air filter may be dirty.
• There may be inadequate ductwork.
Change the air filter is you discover it’s dirty. If that doesn’t work, you will need to have the ductwork inspected for possible leaks.
Heating Services & More in Bedford Hills, Manhattan, Flushing, Queens, Brooklyn & The Bronx, New York
Preventative heating maintenance is the best way to avoid any problems with your heating system. Trust the professionals at Agape Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to keep your furnace running smoothly! Contact us today.
