Like other appliances in your home, your furnace gradually wears out over time.
But you don’t have to be surprised when it shuts down on the coldest day of the year. Your furnace has warning signs it isn’t running at optimal performance. Do you know the most common furnace problems that occur?
Dirty Filters
The most common is a dirty air filter. Dirty air filters make your furnace work harder than it should. By regularly changing out your air filter, your equipment will run better and last longer over time.
Pilot Light Problems
Depending on how old your furnace is, it may still have pilot light problems. Drafts or clogs in the system could result in the pilot light not lighting properly, which in turn means your furnace won’t operate and keep you warm.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
Sometimes a problem heating your home might not be with your furnace at all. It might stem from a problem with your thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t recording the proper temperature, it might not be sharing the information with the furnace, thus leaving your home not conditioned the way you desire.
Frequent Cycling
Does your furnace seem to run all the time, yet you’re never comfortable in the rooms you frequent most? Frequent cycling can be from a number of problems, including a dirty filter, a faulty thermostat, or improper airflow within your heating system.
Furnace Noises
Any time you hear squeaks, rattles, bangs, or other noises as your furnace cycles on and off, it’s an indicator of mechanical problems within your system. Fixing the problem early can mean minor repairs rather than waiting for full-blown problems to arise in the future.
Wear and Tear
Every time your furnace operates, it wears down your system just a little more. Like other home appliances, your furnace won’t last forever. But if you maintain it properly, you’ll get the longest life possible.
When was the last time you scheduled a regular maintenance visit to ensure your heating equipment was working properly?