Common Reasons Why You're Having Furnace Problems

Did you notice that the temperature in your home started to drop, only to discover that the furnace is no longer working as intended?  It helps to know some common reasons why furnaces can break down and stop producing heat.

Faulty Thermostat

The easiest place to start is the thermostat since fixing a broken thermostat is an easy fix if that is what is wrong.  Check to make sure that the thermostat is getting power and capable of communicating with the furnace.  There are a few components of the thermostat that can stop working, which include the temperature sensor and the circuit board on the inside.  If the thermostat seems unresponsive or is not reporting a temperature, consider replacing it with a new one.

However, an even easier fix may be to swap out the batteries with new ones.  If the thermostat is not powered by a direct electrical connection, then the batteries may be dead or very low and causing the furnace to not work right. 

Filter Issues

Many homeowners don't change the filter on their HVAC system, which can cause major problems with airflow and the home not getting as hot as it should.  If you can't remember the last time you changed your air filter, it has likely been too long and is one reason for your problems.  Consider swapping it out with a new filter to see if that does the trick.  

If you recently swapped the filter and noticed a drop in temperature, it could be due to a filter that is actually too good.  If you got a very dense filter that is designed to catch more particles in the air, it can actually be restricting airflow and causing the temperature in your home to drop.  Try putting in a normal filter and see if that fixes the problem.

Faulty Flame Sensor

The flame sensor is a safety mechanism that is designed to sense if a flame in the furnace is lit.  If there is no flame, gas is going to flow into your home and be quite dangerous.  The flame sensor may be too dirty and unable to detect a flame, which is causing the furnace to completely shut down as a safety mechanism.  You can have an HVAC professional come in to repair or replace the flame sensor, which will prevent the furnace from shutting down prematurely because it thinks that gas is leaking into your home. 

To learn more, contact an HVAC service.


Share