Top five furnace problems

Two important facts have to be taken into consideration when speaking about furnaces: furnaces are very complicated systems that consist of many elements; moreover, all these elements can fail from time to time. It is important to recognize signs of a problematic furnace so that they can be fixed early before repair expenses and increased energy bills sink in. In this article, homeowners will learn about five of the most frequent furnace issues they may experience.

Cracked Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger is another critical component of the furnace that is most often affected by the working conditions. This metal chamber is located above the flame of the furnace burners. When heated air circulates through homes, when it passes through the heat exchanger, it warms up the metal and then passes through ducts.

Due to many years of the working cycle, the material of the heat exchanger might develop cracks or holes due to exposure to high temperatures. This leads to the possibility of burning combustion gases and heating house air mixture, thereby causing a carbon monoxide leak.

Signs of a failing heat exchanger include:

• This situation may indicate that there is a problem with your house, such as a leak that uses excess energy to supply your home with warm air, leading to unusually high energy bills.
• Sometimes there are funny odors around the compound especially when the furnace is on.
• Carbon formation around furnace exhausts.

Moreover, if the inspection shows that there is a crack in the heat exchanger, the whole furnace will have to be changed. It should be noted that repairing of heat exchanger leaks is dangerous.

Faulty Ignitor

The ignitor challenges are to ignite the furnace burners every time the thermostat triggers the furnace to switch on. In the case of a bike with this type of ignitor, one may find that over the years of using it to cycle on and off, it may wear out or even break. The most apparent sign that your ignitor is wrong is if your furnace is not starting. What you will be able to hear is the blower motor running with no flame igniting at the end.

Toxic smokes are convenient and cheap to make, and the most common faulty ignitors are simple DIY jobs. Replacement costs between $30 to $60 for most furnaces and for all models of furnaces. Remember to always switch off the power supply to the furnaces before working on interior parts.

Toxic smokes are convenient and cheap to make, and the most common faulty ignitors are simple DIY jobs. Replacement costs between $30 to $60 for most furnaces and for all models of furnaces. Remember to always switch off the power supply to the furnaces before working on interior parts.

Arguably, the worst problem that can be faced with a furnace is the issue of a dirty air filter. Every system that provides central heating and cooling requires filters to catch dust, dirt, and allergens moving through the ductwork.

If left unchanged for too long, air-restricted by a clogged filter causes:

• Diminished airflow
• Reduced system efficiency
• Potential overheating

While taking only several minutes to inspect the filters and replace them monthly, this measure helps prevent numerous repairs. As a general rule, usually refer to the owner’s manual and check on the recommended size of the filter.

Flame Sensor Failure

The flame sensor is an electronic safety instrument that informs the furnace control board that burners have ignited in the proper manner. In case of its inability to identify flames, the sensor cuts off the gas supply to avoid raw fuel to build-up in the combustion chamber.

Flame sensor probes, for instance, deteriorate with time and accumulate soot and ash from the combustion process. Scrubbing the sensor with steel wool or fine sandpaper typically eliminates the problem. In case of failure to clean, the process of removing and replacing the flame sensor is relatively easy for most people to do on their own.

Blower Motor Problems

Heated or cooled air is forced through ducts with the help of the blower motor to warm the house. Motors are known to have a certain number of hours which once used up, they will burn out.

Warning signs of a dying blower motor include:

• Loud sounds at the beginning/ end of heating cycles
• Intermittent operation
• Inadequate ventilation through registers in some areas

When replacing the motor for the first time, ensure that there is any debris trapped on blower wheels or pulleys which are loose. If the motor persists in its failure, get one with the correct BTU factor, which is the same as that of the furnace. In regards to blower motor replacement, the average HVAC technician should be able to complete the job in less than an hour.

At the core of long term management is the concept of preventative maintenance, that is, regular maintenance of the asset so as to prevent the buildup of possible problems that may eventually cause the asset to become uneconomical to operate.

However, a furnace breakdown always takes place during the worst time. It gives a lot of credit to seasonal tune-up jobs when it comes to avoiding headaches during off-working hours. Consult an HVAC technician to examine high-risk areas of the apparatus, such as the heat exchanger, valves, hoses, and ignition. This means that minor part replacements will eliminate those harsh winter furnace breakdowns.

This also brings efficiency in that any problems are arrested before they compound, hence consuming a lot of resources. Dirt accumulation and restricted fresh air circulation throw away lots of energy money in due course of time. Scheduling maintenance check before the onset of heating and cooling season is ideal to have your system to run for long time.