The one thing that you absolutely do not want to happen during the frigid winter months if have your furnace start acting up. Although furnaces are quite resilient, they can be subject to a few common issues. Here are just a few common problems that tend to plague furnaces and how to go about resolving those issues.
Pilot Light Issues
Essentially, your furnace's pilot light is the primary source of gas for the entirety of the unit. If you have a gas furnace and it is not working properly, one of the first things to check is to see if your pilot light is properly working. The pilot light is located underneath the furnace. You will be able to notice it: it is a small, blue flame. If it's not on, then there could be a number of issues causing the problem. The easiest issue to check is to make sure that your gas valve is open. To check, make sure all gas is cut to the furnace, then turn a small valve that should be located towards the bottom of your furnace to the left. Turn the gas back on and attempt to light your pilot light.
Furnace Switching Off And On
Your furnace will switch off and on automatically while it is in use. When your house is adequately heated, it will switch off, when the temperature begins to drop, it will kick on and bring the temperature back up to an adequate level. This is an energy saving measure. However, you may find that your furnace is kicking off and on without actually heating your home. Most of the time, the source of this problem is one of three issues: a dry motor, a dirty filter, or a clogged blower. Lubricating or oiling the motor, changing the filter, or unclogging your blower can resolve these issues, respectively, and chances are, your furnace will go back to working as efficiently as it did before this problem arose.
Furnace Not Producing Heat
This is, of course, an easy issue to spot. There are a number of problems that might be causing this problem. Tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses, faulty thermostat or closed control valves might all be the cause of your furnace not producing any heat whatsoever.
This brief guide should have given you some idea of some common issues with furnaces. If you continue to have issues with your furnace, it is recommended that you call on the services of a local and trusted professional like Ricks Repair Service.
