5 Common Furnace Issues Faced by Homeowners
The furnace is one of the most important appliances in you home. Without it, your family would not stand a chance against the cold winters of Ottawa. This important piece of equipment does not always run as smoothly as you would like though, especially since it is only used half of the year. Even though there are many different HVAC systems to choose from, they all have some standard issues in common that most homeowners experience from time to time.
Can’t turn the furnace on
This problem is not usually found until winter hits and people try to turn the heat on in their homes. If you have a furnace with an electric ignition or a gas operated furnace with a pilot light, this is not a problem to troubleshoot by yourself. If your furnace won’t turn on, only a qualified HVAC specialist can see if the problem is deeper than it looks.
Furnace is no longer working
If your furnace suddenly stopped working or something has happened to one of the components that relies on electricity, before calling a professional, there are a couple of things to check yourself. Take a look at the fuse box and make sure it didn’t blow a fuse. Also check if the furnace is plugged in properly. Sometimes if the outlet is loose, or there has been activity around the furnace, the plug can come out of the socket. If both of these fail to help, you can always try turning it of and on again.
Not enough heat
The most common solution to this problem is a dirty air filter. Remember to regularly change the air filters in your HVAC system, for more reasons than one. Not only will it save you money on your energy bill, but clean air filters will keep you and your loved ones healthier.
If the issue is not the air filter, another, more costly solution would be that the furnace is simply not big enough for your home. Unfortunately the only way to remedy this is to replace your current furnace with a bigger one, or a have a second furnace installed
Furnace is too loud
HVAC systems are not always quiet, and some come with noises that new homeowners learn to live with, such as furnaces that start up with a bang. However, not all noises are normal. When you start hearing different sounds coming from your furnace than you are used to, call a professional before a minor problem becomes a major one.
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance
The key to keeping both your furnace, and your bank account happy is maintenance. Don’t give your furnace a chance to break down on you. Call a good HVAC specialist in your area to come and maintain your furnace once a year to ensure it always runs at its best.