3 Reasons Why Your Furnace is Not Working Properly

When dealing with the cold, you pretty much rely on your furnace, right? Just turn it on, set the temperature, and let it get the job done. But sometimes, your unit can act up and fail to provide heat.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your friendly heating company in Lino Lakes MN. We help homeowners like you ensure their families are comfortable and safe all year round.

In case you’re wondering why your furnace doesn’t seem to work properly, here are possible reasons.

Old Age

A well-maintained heating system can last anywhere from 12-15 years. If your unit is past its 15-year mark and starts to show a decline in performance, it likely needs a replacement much sooner than later. While the system may still be working, it no longer possesses the power to sufficiently heat your home.

Without a doubt, aging furnaces require more maintenance than newer ones. When a furnace is approaching the end of its life, it tends to break down more frequently, costing you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repair. That goes without saying the level of stress it brings to you and your family.

Old furnaces usually work harder to provide for your family’s heating needs. This extra burden on the unit results in higher energy bills and recurrent breaks. Depending on the number and types of repairs, these costs, when added up, can be almost as much as the cost of a new unit.

If you notice a constant increase in your utility bills without a parallel increase in use, consider getting a new furnace. The amount of money you save in the long run can be the same as a the price of a new, more efficient heating system.

Thermostat Settings

The thermostat may be a simple device with a straightforward task, but if it’s not working as it should, it can give you headaches. So, it’s best to check its settings.

Make sure the temperature control selector is set higher than the current room temperature, and the system switch is on the "AUTO" or "HEAT" position. The fan switch should be set to "ON" for uninterrupted airflow or "AUTO" if you want the blower motor to operate only while the furnace is running. Try to get the furnace to start by raising the thermostat to its highest temperature setting. Hopefully, it works.

If the thermostat needs new batteries, get fresh ones and replace them. For electromechanical thermostats, you may need to open it up and give it gentle dusting. Use a soft paintbrush or something similar to lightly brush off dirt and dust, including the area around the metal coils and contact plates. If your brush is too large, use soft paper instead.

Also, check the location of your thermostat and make sure it isn’t receiving any false readings from sunlight, lamps, ovens, space heaters, or any other heat-generators. If the thermostat is receiving the wrong input, it will send out the wrong output.

A Dirty Filter

A clogged filter may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised to know how many service calls we receive from homeowners complaining about faulty furnaces only to find out the filters were just filthy.

Believe it or not, a dirty filter is the most common cause of furnace issues. Dust and debris hinder airflow, and when the filter gets clogged, the heat exchanger will overheat and shut off too quickly, which results in your home not receiving heat.

Also, all the dust and debris accumulated by the filter will force the furnace to work hard and use more energy to release the same output. Not only this is a bad use of resources, but it’s also a way of putting your family at risk of inhaling polluted air.

Regular cleaning your filter protects your furnace from being damaged and ultimately, shutting down completely. You’ll be thanking yourself for simply managing your filters because it saves you a lot of trouble.

Need Help? Ask Four Seasons Air Specialists

These are just three reasons why your heating system is acting up. For more information, give us a call. We can tell you more about the causes of a malfunctioning heating unit. As your leading Centerville heating and cooling repair contractor, we’d love to be the ones to help restore the heat in your home.