When a cold front comes rolling through, your home should be a place of warmth and comfort. Unfortunately, a malfunctioning furnace can quickly turn that into a nightmare of frustration. Fortunately, most of the time, a Furnace Repair only requires some simple troubleshooting and maintenance to get things back on track. In this article, we’ll walk you through some common furnace problems and let you know which ones are easy enough for a DIYer to take on, and which require the assistance of a professional.
1. Your Furnace Keeps Shutting Off
When your furnace is shutting off, it’s likely because of environmental conditions. For example, it could mean that the thermostat needs to be reset or the gas valve is closed. It might even be that the system is simply running out of gas and you need to call a technician to come out and check it out.
2. The Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air
When the blower motor or belt is not working properly, it can cause a lot of problems for your heating system. These include blowing dust, mold and mildew in your ductwork and causing your furnace to work harder. This can also lead to cracked heat exchangers which in turn will produce carbon monoxide inside your house. If you notice this, it is a sign that you should open a window in your home’s furnace room and call for service right away.
3. Your Furnace Makes Unusual Sounds
If your furnace makes an unusual sound, it may be a sign that you need to replace the blower motor or belt. It is a good idea to do this before the cold weather arrives so you can be sure that your furnace will be ready to go when you need it most.
4. The Furnace Smells Bad
The first thing you should do if your furnace smells bad is to make sure that the gas supply is not leaking. Using a flashlight, inspect the exhaust and intake pipes for any ice build up or blockages. Also, it is a good idea to regularly vacuum and clean around your furnace to keep dust, lint and other flammable debris from building up.
5. The Furnace Is Cracking
As furnaces age, they can develop cracks in the heat exchanger. This can allow carbon monoxide to leak into your home and will require the immediate attention of a professional to remedy. If you suspect that your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, turn it off immediately and open up some windows in your home’s furnace room. If you have any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headaches, nausea, disorientation or flu-like symptoms, it is extremely important that you seek medical help immediately.
If you’ve ruled out all of the above issues, it is probably time to call a professional to perform a complete inspection of your furnace. However, we recommend that you don’t attempt to do any repairs yourself as you may void your warranty and put yourself at risk of injury or even death.