Common Causes of Furnace Failure

Regular service appointments prevent costly furnace repairs and ensure the house stays comfortable.

It’s easy to ignore an HVAC system most of the year. Often, issues are only detected when the HVAC systems are needed most, on the hottest and coldest days of the year. The best way to keep an HVAC system working well year-round is to have a plumbing and heating expert maintain it regularly. Regular service appointments prevent costly furnace repairs and ensure the house stays comfortable. With winter soon approaching, homeowners should understand the most common causes of furnace failure to quickly detect and resolve these issues.

Pilot light problems

A furnace may have a pilot light, depending on its age. The pilot light is responsible for igniting the burners. If the heating system isn’t turning on, even after the thermostat has been turned up, the problem could be a faulty pilot light. Ordinarily, pilot lights should be blue. If it looks yellow, turn off the furnace and immediately call a plumbing and heating expert. A yellow pilot light could also indicate a carbon monoxide leak. Scheduling furnace service every year should prevent pilot light problems.

Clogged furnace filter

The filter in a furnace is intended to keep the air in the home cleaner. It traps pollen, dust, pet dander, and other airborne debris and keeps it out of the indoor air. But filters do much more than keep the air clean. They also help the furnace run more efficiently. If a filter is clogged, air can’t flow properly, and the furnace can malfunction. An HVAC technician can check the filter at the yearly maintenance appointment, but it may need to be replaced sooner than this. Ask the technician if the filter should be cleaned or replaced more than once yearly.

Blower motor malfunction

If a furnace is igniting and turning on, but the home isn’t heating up, there may be a blower motor problem. The blower motor, also called the fan motor, is part of the system that circulates the air through the home. The HVAC technician may need to replace this part, check the other system components, including the belts and bearings, and replace them as needed.

Keeping these common causes of furnace failure in mind allows homeowners to maintain their HVAC systems better and avoid future problems. As winter approaches, check these areas to ensure the home can be kept warm when the temperatures drop. If any issues arise, contact a professional HVAC repair company immediately.

When you need heating or refrigeration service, maintenance, or repair, call us at Affordable Comfort A/C and Heating at 602-574-1205.