Today we are going to talk about furnace repairs, outlining the 6 most common furnace problems.

We have more than 14 years of experience in the HVAC industry, including years of experience installing furnaces, and we would love to share our helpful advice with you.

In addition to describing these 6 furnace problems, we’ll also let you know the best way to fix them. So let’s get started.

Here are helpful solutions to the most common furnace Repairs – Image source: Word of Advice

Furnace Repairs: 6 Most Common Furnace Problems

Don’t be left out in the cold this winter in Ottawa. You can be proactive and get your furnace repairs complete before small issues become a real problem. Here are the most common furnace problems that you might encounter and what you can do to fix them.

Problem #1: Your Filter is Dirty or Clogged

By far, the most common of all furnace repairs are due to a dirty or clogged air filter. Your furnace filter is an important part of your HVAC system as it removes harmful things like:

• Pollen
• Mold spores
• Dust mite debris
• Pet dander
• Other dirt from the air in your home

All of the above are not good to breathe in, so removing them makes your air much healthier for you and your family. Over time, however, all of these contaminants will make your filter dirty and it will eventually get clogged.

When your filter is clogged or blocked, the air cannot circulate properly and therefore, your furnace has to work harder. This can result in poor heating and additional wear and tear on your furnace, which will reduce the lifespan of your unit.

Change your furnace filter regularly to keep it from getting clogged

Solution: Thankfully, the most common problem has one of the simplest solutions. To prevent your filter from becoming dirty or clogged, you should change it regularly. Furnace filters are relatively inexpensive to buy from about $5 to $40 each, depending on the brand and quality of filter you choose.

You should change your furnace filter quarterly if you keep your fan set for “auto.” If the fan is on continuously, then you should change the filter every 30 to 45 days as it will get dirty faster.

Problem #2: Your Thermostat Isn’t Working Properly

This next one of our most common furnace repairs doesn’t have to do with the actual furnace, but with the thermostat that tells your furnace when to come on and what temperature your room is at.

If your thermostat isn’t working properly, your furnace may not come on when it should to warm up your home to the temperature that you have it set at. On the other hand, a broken thermostat may cause your furnace to produce too much heat.

For example, if your room feels like 10C but your thermostat is reading that it’s 22C, then there’s probably an issue with your thermostat!

If your thermostat is broken, then you may need to replace it

Solution: Check to make sure that your thermostat is set to “heat” and that it is set to automatic. If your settings are correct, then there may be a problem with the thermostat itself.

If your thermostat is broken, you will most likely need to have it replaced. You can try replacing your thermostat yourself if you are feeling handy by following the steps in the above video, or you can contact a professional to do it for you.

Problem #3: You Aren’t Getting Any Heat, Just Air

If your furnace is set to “heat” and your thermostat is working fine, but instead of hot air coming out of your vents you feel cool air, then there is something wrong with your furnace.

Solution: Check that your thermostat isn’t set to “fan.” The “fan” setting will simply circulate the current air around your home and will not produce heated air.

If you have an oil furnace, check to make sure that you have enough oil left in your tank. If you have a furnace with a pilot light and you see that the pilot light has gone out, then turn off your furnace and fuel-feed (i.e. gas line) and call a trained HVAC technician to repair your furnace. If you have an electric furnace, you will also need to call a professional.

If your furnace isn’t giving off any heat, call a professional

Problem #4: Your Blower Fan Isn’t Working

The blower fan takes the heated air produced by your furnace and distributes or blows it around your home. If you know that your furnace is working and producing heat, but there is no air circulating through your home, then your blower fan may be broken. You will know this is the case if your furnace has come on and you put your hand near one of your vents and no air comes out.

Solution: Repairing or replacing your furnace’s blower fan is best done by a professional furnace repairs technician.

Problem #5: Your Furnace Is Continuously Turning on and off

If you notice that your furnace is constantly coming on and off, this is known as cycling, and it means that your furnace is having a hard time regulating the temperature of your home. This could be caused by a number of things including:

• Faulty switches
• Overburdened blower fans
• Poor fuel mixes in your furnace
• The wrong size of furnace for your home

Any of the above issues are mechanical in nature and are best handled by a trained technician.

Solution: Before you call a technician, check to make sure that all of your vents are open and not blocked and replace your air filter. If your furnace continues to cycle, then it’s time to call a professional.

Before calling a technician, check to see that your vents are open and not blocked

Problem #6: Your Furnace Is Wearing Out

Like anything mechanical, the components of your furnace will eventually wear out. Your furnace is made up of many different parts that over time can break down. Regular maintenance will help your furnace and its many components last longer.

Solution: Have your furnace serviced once a year. Usually, the best time to do this is at the beginning of the cold season. Regular maintenance and furnace repairs will help your unit to last longer.

When Should You Replace Your Furnace?

If you are not sure whether or not it is time to get a new furnace, here are some warning signs:

• Your energy bills are increasing
• Your furnace is damaged
• Your furnace is more than 15 years old
• Your furnace is making strange noises
• Your furnace repair costs are too high

Check out our post “When Should You Book a Furnace Replacement?” for more details about each of these warning signs.

Furnace Repairs East Ottawa – Contact Draft Control

Winter in Ottawa is not a time when you want to be dealing with a furnace that isn’t working properly. If you need furnace repairs in the east Ottawa area including Embrun, St. Albert, Casselman, Limoges, Chesterville, Nepean and surrounding areas contact Draft Control immediately.

Draft Control’s highly trained technicians will quickly come to your home, diagnose your problem and have your furnace up and running again in no time and at an affordable rate. You can trust Draft Control for all your furnace repairs in Ottawa.