San Antonio’s Five Most Common Furnace Problems
What are the five most common heating problems in San Antonio?
Your air conditioning and heating system is bound to develop problems over the course of its life. Regular maintenance is definitely one of the most important factors of a comfortable and energy efficient homes. Regular maintenance performed on your furnace helps reduce the need for eventual furnace repairs,However, even top-of-the-line furnaces break down Here are five of the most common heating problems you might experience in San Antonio.
1. Worn Out Parts
Parts of any size wear out over time! One of the most common heating problems comes from lack of maintenance. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest to solve. Homeowners should have their furnaces serviced by an experienced professional just before temperatures start climbing and right before the season changes in the fall. This will at least catch small problems that might turn into larger ones in the middle of winter. Aside from being completely inoperable, a furnace that hasn’t been regularly tended to will work less efficiently and substantially raise your heating costs. If your unit needs service, give us call!
2. Faulty Furnace Pilot Light
Furnaces with pilot light or ignition problems will often blow cold air or only intermittently blow arm air. While many furnace models allow homeowners to check the pilot light themselves, it is never advisable to relight the pilot light yourself. Rather, homeowners suspecting their heating problems are attributable to an unlit pilot light or malfunctioning ignition should immediately contact a professional who can not only relight the pilot light or fix the ignition, but also educate the homeowner as to what led to needing furnace repair in the first place. These heating problems can be especially worrying, especially if the furnace is still operational. Often, operational but malfunctioning furnaces will continuously blow cold air, leading to higher energy bills and an extremely uncomfortable wintertime household.
3. Old Filters
One hallmark of a furnace lacking regular maintenance is problems with the unit’s filters. However, this problem is one of the most preventable. Filters can affect a furnace’s performance when they become clogged from the dirt and dust in the air around the unit. Dirt and dust restrict air flow, and this can lead to clogged filters which will overheat the heat exchanger. A dirty filter also causes soot buildup on the heat exchanger, which can lead to reduced efficiency and, more problematically, a shorter life for your furnace. Filters can be easily maintained by cleaning them and changing them at least monthly to ensure your unit is operating at peak efficiency and will not contribute to heating problems and necessitate furnace repair.
4. Poor Air Flow
Mechanical problems ranging from broken belts to worn bearings can lead to often very serious heating problems. These problems are most often felt with a lack of air flow throughout the home. Air flow is crucial for proper performance of your home’s system and can be hindered by any number of seemingly minuscule problems. According to Energy Star, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. Leaky ducts can be signified by cold spots in your home, dust emanating from your furnace unit, and, of course, higher utility bills due to an inefficient system. Proper air flow is essential to the comfort of your home and efficiency of your furnace. As most homeowners cannot diagnose the root causes of these heating problems, it is always best contact an experienced furnace repair representative who can not only perform furnace repair but also inform the homeowner about better practices for maintaining the furnace, stopping heating problems, and can offer more tips about faulty furnaces.
5. Faulty Thermostat
A furnace’s thermostat operates as the control device that determines when and how much heat the furnace will produce. In other words, it is one of the most important devices in a home heating system and operates as a kind of nerve center for the whole system. Any potential thermostat issue should be tended to an experienced professional who, ideally, knows about your unit and has serviced it in the past.
Furnaces are very complicated and essential pieces of the home which, when operating efficiently, can be a boon to both your home’s comfort and your energy bill savings. Furnace maintenance and furnace repair are major concerns for your home heating system. If you’re noticing heating problems as the calendar turns toward the colder months, don’t hesitate to contact your preferred furnace repair expert. As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to fall, understand that a functioning, efficient home heating system is your first line of defense from the cold. Furnace maintenance and furnace repair can greatly enhance your peace of mind and keep you confident that your house will be a comfortable and safe home when you go to turn your thermostat up.