Is your home ready for winter? Part of your preparation is making sure your furnace is properly maintained and able to deliver your heating requirements. Weeks before the cold season is the best time to perform all the necessary steps to guarantee a comfortable, hassle-free winter in your abode.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted heating company in Blaine MN. We provide unparalleled heating, cooling, and ventilation services. We help homeowners like you keep their families safe and comfy all year long.
In this blog, we will share a few reasons why your furnace fails to maintain consistently warm temperatures throughout your home.
Your filter needs replacing.
Clogged filters are a primary source of heating problems. The accumulated dust and debris in your filters restrict airflow, which adds pressure to your furnace. When this happens, your furnace needs to work harder to compensate for the lack of airflow. As a result, your heating system uses more energy to heat your home. Keeping your furnace filters clean keeps the system in great shape, giving you comfort and peace of mind.
Your furnace has a dirty flame sensor.
Maybe you’re wondering, “what’s a flame sensor for?” This is how it works. After the furnace opens the gas valve to allow gas into the combustion chamber, the control board will make sure proper ignition of the gas is delivered. The flame sensor is the part that performs this task. If it does not detect a flame within a few seconds after opening the gas valve, the ignition cycle is stopped. If the burners do ignite but go out after a few seconds, your flame sensor is likely dirty and needs to be cleaned. A dirty flame sensor usually causes ignition failures, but for the most part, allows the system to function. You may find cleaning a dirty flame sensor a little too complicated, and if that’s the case, consider contacting a qualified professional to do it for you.
You have issues with the electrical panel.
Even if you have a gas-fired unit, your furnace still needs electricity to work. Simple issues such as a tripped breaker inside your electrical panel can cause many issues, including your furnace failing to release warm air. It can also lead to a pilot light malfunction. A tripped circuit breaker can cause your furnace to not turn on at all. These issues are just some of the reasons why your heating system fails to perform its job.
Check the furnace and surrounding walls for another switch or circuit breaker and ensure that it is turned on. If any of these switches and breakers are turned off, turn them on and allow your system to run. If your circuit breakers keep on tripping, then this could indicate a problem with your home’s electrical system. It’s best to call a professional electrician or your trusted HVAC technician to fix the problem.
Your furnace has a bad pressure switch.
Before a gas-fired unit can run an ignition sequence, it must make sure that the vent motor is working properly. This is a job made possible by a pressure switch, which proves that the vent motor is working and that the venting system is clear. Certain furnaces come with multiple pressure switches.
Some of the reasons for a pressure switch to fail to include a damaged vent motor, restricted vents, blocked piping, or clogged drain lines. That said, a faulty pressure switch may also stay closed or open. This problem is probably best entrusted to someone who understands how furnaces work, so call your preferred technician to fix it for you. A NATE-certified heating professional knows what to do and has the right tools to safely navigate the repair process and restore the heat in your home effortlessly.
Conclusion
These are just four of the possible causes of a furnace that fails to heat your home. To find out more about this problem, be sure to call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. Our seasoned Columbia Heights furnace repair specialists are standing by to answer any questions you may have and are ready to help get your heating system working properly again. Give us a call today!