With cold weather almost at your doorstep, make sure your heating system is up to the task of keeping your home toasty. Since your furnace works behind the scenes to keep you comfortable, it’s easy to forget about it until it stops heating. Here are some common furnace issues and their possible causes.

Typical Furnace Issues Homeowners Encounter

1. Airflow Trouble

When your furnace fails to supply heat, you may be experiencing poor airflow. Often, this is due to a clogged or dirty filter.

This issue can increase your utility bills and may also lead to major mechanical problems like a broken compressor.

Other reasons for decreased airflow include broken belts, worn out bearings, air handler issues, and ductwork leaks.

2. Heat Exchanger Damage

The heat exchanger, made up of coils or tubes, is mainly responsible for heating the air inside the furnace. Cracks in your heat exchanger allow gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide to leak into your home, putting you and your family at risk for symptoms like headaches and fatigue. Have carbon monoxide detectors within 10 feet of your rooms, and schedule heating and cooling maintenance services once or twice a year so that specialists can inspect your furnace. 

3. Pilot Light or Ignition Sensor Issue

Older furnace systems have pilot lights, which are flames that act as ignition points when gas flows into the system. Modern systems have electronic ignitions, which serve the same purpose of lighting the burners.

If your furnace is on, but you hear clicking and don’t see a flame, the ignition control may be malfunctioning. The furnace may have a worn or incorrect igniter, or the piece may have a buildup of dirt.

Ask a professional HVAC technician to check your igniter as it is dangerous for you to troubleshoot components that may involve gases.

If you need to schedule a furnace repair or tune-up, trust the licensed HVAC technicians of David’s Heating & Cooling. The HVAC contractor offers excellent customer service to clients in and around Bolivar, MO, providing heating and cooling repair, ductwork cleaning, and HVAC system installations. Call them today at (417) 326-4822, or visit their website to schedule an appointment.