Furnaces are generally resilient. However, they may occasionally experience various problems. This compromises the family’s comfort and the safety of the home.

Having the ability to troubleshoot a basic furnace is a necessary skill for any homeowner. It will always come in handy in the winter months. Here is your ultimate furnace troubleshooting guide:

Unclean air filters

Dirty air filters are one of the most frequent problems older furnaces encounter. These tools purge the air of pollutants and raise your indoor air quality.

The issue is that with time, dirt and dust can clog these filters. The clogged surfaces hinder circulation, which also impacts the air you breathe.

Examine the air filters as frequently as you can to identify problems. All HVAC professionals advise monthly check-ups. It is imperative to remove clogged filters for cleaning or replacement as needed.

Variable temperatures

You may notice that certain parts of your house seem stuffy and wet, or some sections aren’t as warm as others. Your first assumption might be that there’s a problem with your furnace.

However, ensure that the sealing around your house is in good condition before contacting a specialist. Warm air can escape your home if there are leaks in your sealing.

Pilot control or electric ignitor issues

Your inability to turn on your heating system could be electrical if it has an electric ignition. Furthermore, a malfunctioning pilot will stop a furnace from heating a house. Just remember that using manual lighting to operate electronic igniters is unacceptable. It operates on a separate mechanism, requiring lighting only when the machine is powered on.

Turn on the circuit breaker first. If the unit is tripped, fix it before continuing with the inspection. Your furnace might not ignite because of drafts or obstructions. If your attempts to troubleshoot the issue fail, call for emergency furnace repair right away.

Furnace blowing cold air

There is a problem if your furnace is blowing cold air. Clogged filters, power outages, misconfigured thermostat settings, and failed pilot lights are among the potential causes. Sometimes, the furnace is just not able to produce warm air for various reasons.

To troubleshoot:

        Make sure the furnace is the right size for your house. You’ll need to upgrade to a larger size if the unit is too tiny.

        Immediately replace the filters if they are unclean.

        Examine the connections and the circuit breaker if there is no power.

        Check to make sure the temperature is set correctly.

Call a furnace repair company if you do all of this and are still unable to identify the problem.

The furnace blower runs continuously

There are moments when furnace blowers must stop. If yours is always blowing, there may be a limit switch problem. It might be feasible to flip this switch off manually. Verify the existing configuration and make any required adjustments.

To solve this problem, you can stop the switch from operating continuously by leaving it on the automatic option. Hire a technician to fix the switch if it is broken.

Last word

It is usually preferable to hire a qualified expert to diagnose the problem and provide an efficient fix if your furnace isn’t operating as it should.