As a homeowner, you need to be on the lookout for potential problems with your home's furnace. If you ignore them, you could end up without heat this winter. Here are 3 furnace problems that are worth investigating.
1. Banging
Does the furnace make a very loud bang right before it turns on? This is an issue that could have several causes. The main issue is a burner or igniter that needs to be cleaned. Over time, dust and dirt will burn up in the igniter and cause the part to not function as intended. Gas is let into the furnace so that it can ignite and start producing heat, but the debris can prevent the ignition from happening right away. The gas eventually builds up before finally igniting, creating a loud bang in the process. This is due to the excessive amount of gas igniting all at once, which is not safe.
The other possible reason for banging could be due to ductwork that is expanding. While this is not a huge concern in terms of safety, it is an annoyance that may need to be investigated if the burner or igniter is in good condition.
2. Scraping
A scraping sound is never good to hear since it is caused by metal components that are rubbing together when they shouldn't. Common reasons for scraping include a blower wheel that is rubbing against another part, a moving part that has become loose or warped over time, or even a broken belt. Having moving parts that are not moving correctly will cause the furnace to run inefficiently, and eventually cause the furnace to break prematurely.
Since it is hard to diagnose moving parts while they are in motion, contact a local HVAC technician to investigate the problem for you. They'll likely discover parts that need to be repaired or replaced to prevent the odd movement in the furnace.
3. Poor Air Flow or Heat
Your furnace may have an airflow problem, either due to a lack of hot air or much less air coming out of the ductwork. These problems could be related to the air filter, blower motor, or the heating element. Start by investigating the air filter to see if it is clogged. If it is long overdue to be changed, all the debris in the filter could be restricting airflow. The blower motor and heating elements are harder to diagnose, so you'll need professional help to inspect them.
If you notice these issues, consider hiring local furnace repair services.
Share29 May 2020
Every summer, I agonized over energy bills that would shoot into the stratosphere as a result of my efforts to keep cool in the heat. Every time I turned the temperature down, my bills increased. This summer, I decided to take some of the control over my energy bill back. I installed reflective film on my windows that reduced the amount of light and heat coming into the house. I started serving more cold meals or asking my husband to barbecue outside, so that my air conditioner didn't have to compete with the hot stove, and I started doing laundry at night to reduce appliance heat in the house at peak times. I also had ceiling fans installed. So far, the difference in my bill has been tremendous. This blog is a way for me to explore other ways to reduce energy drain during the summer months.