Every home needs a reliable furnace. The last thing you want is your system to break down on a chilly winter night. As a homeowner, you should familiarize yourself with common HVAC problems and  feel comfortable working with a heating service to keep your system well-maintained. Use this list to be proactive about identifying and avoiding  heating problems.

A Guide to Furnace Issues

1. Dirty Filters

All the air in your system is pushed through the filter, which captures allergens and debris and improves your indoor air quality. These filters need to be replaced every four to six weeks. If they aren’t, they get clogged with dust and limit airflow. This forces your system to work harder, which could damage the limit switch and put undue wear on other parts. This inefficiency causes reduced heat output and can make your energy bill skyrocket.

2. Contaminated Burners

Dust builds up on the burners during the warmer seasons. When turned on in the winter, the fire cannot completely burn away all that gunk. The resulting buildup prevents the burners from reaching the necessary temperature and, in some cases, from firing at all.

Check your burners by inspecting their flames. If one is clogged or dirty, it will burn yellow and sporadically, while a clean one will burn blue and steady. Routine cleaning by a heating service technician will keep your burners clean year-round.

3. Worn Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are an essential part of the furnace’s blower, allowing its components to move at high speeds with ease. Because they take the brunt of the blower’s friction, they need to be lubricated regularly. If they aren’t properly maintained or your system is older, they can wear out and need to be replaced. This is often accompanied by a loud, scraping sound. Turn the furnace off immediately and do not use it again until you’ve had a chance to schedule a heating contractor for repairs. Continuing to use the system with worn bearings may cause a lot of damage to your blower. 

For help keeping your heating system in excellent shape, contact the experts at All American Air Conditioning. This reliable HVAC contractor has been serving the Lake Havasu City and Parker, AZ, communities since 1971. All of their technicians are NATE certified and attend regular training to provide the highest level of reliable heating service. See their full list of services online and call (928) 855-4549 to schedule an appointment.