In this comprehensive guide, we will talk about the most common furnace repair issues, how to know if you need a repair, and when you need to replace your furnace. We also have helpful links to owner’s manuals if you have misplaced yours! So let’s get started.

Ultimate Guide To Furnace Repair Ottawa: Most Common Issues

To better prepare you, here is a listing of the most common furnace repair issues that you may encounter.

1. Your furnace doesn’t give off enough heat:

If your furnace is too small, it may not provide enough heat

If your furnace isn’t giving off enough heat, it could simply be due to a clogged filter, or it could be due to a bigger problem. For example, your furnace could actually be the wrong size for your home. A furnace that is too small will run constantly yet won’t keep your house warm enough. It will cost you a fortune to run and it will probably wear out quickly.

On the other hand, if your furnace is too big for your home, it will frequently cycle and let your home cool off between cycle. This can increase the humidity in your home. If you suspect your furnace is the wrong size for your home, contact a professional.

2. Your furnace doesn’t come on:

If your furnace doesn’t come on, it might be something as simple as a tripped breaker or a blown fuse. It could also mean that your thermostat is defective or it’s set incorrectly. If these simpler issues are not the case, it could be something much larger, such as a faulty heat exchanger.

To diagnose a more complex problem like a faulty heat exchanger, you should call for maintenance from a local company.

3. Your filter is dirty:

A dirty filter will make your furnace less efficient – Source: AMRE Supply

A dirty filter will make your furnace run less efficiently and it won’t heat your home as well. It will also lower your air quality and decrease the lifespan of your furnace. You should replace your air filter every 3 months if your fan is set to “auto” and every 30 to 45 days if it is set to “continuous.”

4. Your furnace wasn’t installed properly:

A furnace is a complicated device and needs to be installed by a trained professional who knows what they are doing. A furnace that isn’t installed correctly could require repairs in a few short months. Don’t take chances on your furnace installation, especially if it is a gas furnace. You don’t want to risk a gas leak down the road. If you suspect that your furnace wasn’t installed properly, you should contact an HVAC technician you trust to take a look at it.

5. Your thermostat breaks:

Like any other mechanical part, your thermostat can break too. When this happens, it won’t be able to properly control the heating cycles and will need to be replaced. A trained professional will be able to replace your thermostat for you.

Another common furnace repair Ottawa is a broken thermostat

6. Your flame sensor is dirty:

A flame sensor is a small metal rod that prevents your furnace from exhausting gas when there is no flame. It’s a safety feature that will shut off your furnace if it doesn’t detect a flame. If this rod gets dirty, it may not sense that there is a flame present. As a result, your furnace will turn on but then turn off right away before it can heat your home. Because your flame sensor is a safety feature, you should make sure you get it repaired as soon as possible.

7. Your fan motor is broken or faulty:

If your fan motor is broken or faulty then it won’t circulate the warm air around your home and won’t keep your rooms at the right temperature. An HVAC repair technician can let you know if your motor can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced.

8. Your pilot light has gone out:

If you have an older furnace, it might have a pilot light that needs to be burning all the time. If it goes out, then your furnace will not function properly. Most furnaces will have lighting instructions posted on them for re-lighting your pilot light. If not, you can follow the general instructions given here.

Furnace Repair Ottawa: Maintenance Best Practices

Regular maintenance will extend the lifespan of your furnace – Image Source: Bryant Home Comfort

Keeping your furnace well maintained will go a long way to extend its life and keep it running efficiently. It will also mean that you should require fewer and less frequent repairs.

1. Change your air filter regularly

The number one thing you can do to keep your furnace in top working condition is to change your air filter on a regular basis. It is recommended to do this every one to three months.

If you have your filter set for “auto,” then you should change its filter quarterly. If you have your fan set to run continuously, you should change your filter every 30 to 45 days.

2. Vacuum the blower and fan blades regularly

Another great way to keep your furnace running well is to regularly vacuum the blower and fan blades to get rid of any excess dust; you should do this at least once a year. You can also take a look at your vents every few years to see if they are collecting dirt and debris. If so, you can clean them out as well. You may want to hire a duct cleaning company to do this.

Learn how to change your filter and vacuum out your furnace

3. Get your furnace inspected annually

Another very important thing that you need to do to keep your furnace in good repair is to schedule an annual inspection. This is usually done in the late summer or early fall before the cold winter weather hits to make sure that everything is working well.

During this inspection, your HVAC technician should:

• Check and replace your air filter if it is necessary
• Clean your furnace, including your fan blades, coil, and blower
• Take a look at your thermostat to make sure it is set properly and if not to calibrate it.
• Make sure that your furnace switch is functioning
• Lubricate all of your furnace’s moving parts
• Check for any blockages in your access vents and condensate drain
• Test your fuel pressure, oil or gas lines, pilot or ignitor and airflow.
• Look for any cracks, damage, or other issues due to wear and tear

Schedule an annual furnace inspection

4. Change your thermostat batteries

Every year you should change your thermostat’s batteries. This is important as they can corrode and damage your thermostat if they are left in there too long.

When You Need a Furnace Repair Ottawa

Your Furnace Won’t Come on

This one is probably the most obvious sign that you need a furnace repair. If your furnace has totally stopped running and isn’t coming on at all, it’s time to call for a furnace repair specialist.

You Furnace Is Making Strange Noises

You should be very familiar with the sound that your furnace makes as the air is being forced through your ductwork, as well as the sound when your unit starts up a cycle. However, If you start to hear unusual and unfamiliar sounds that you haven’t heard before coming from your furnace, it’s time to take notice.

Listen to some common furnace noises and find out their causes

Call a professional to take a look at it if you hear any of the following before it becomes a serious issue:

• Grinding
• Screeching
• Banging

Your Furnace Starts Up, Runs Briefly, and Stops Abruptly

If your furnace is coming on, running for a short time and then stopping briefly, this is known as short-cycling. Short-cycling is a big problem in that it will negatively affect how efficient and effective your furnace is. If your furnace is constantly short-cycling it can eventually lead to costly repairs or even a total breakdown.

You Notice a Burning Smell When You Turn on Your Furnace

If you are turning your furnace on for the first time of the season, then you will often smell something burning. This is usually just the dust and debris that has collected and built up on a burner over the summer months burning off. If the smell goes away fairly quickly and if you don’t notice it again, then your furnace is probably fine.

If you notice a burning smell each time your furnace comes on and it doesn’t go away, you definitely want to get it checked out. The burning smell could be a result of your unit overheating. If your furnace is electrical, you could also smell something burning as a result of an electrical issue. Either way, if you have a burning smell and it isn’t going away, you should call for a repair as this situation could be very dangerous.

Your Furnace Blower Is Blowing Cold Air

If only cold air is coming out of your vents call for furnace repair Ottawa

In addition, if your blower on your furnace is constantly turning on and off or if it is blowing cold air, then there is something definitely wrong. Make sure you call for a furnace repair if this is happening.

When You Need to Replace Your Furnace

Your Furnace Is 15 to 20 Years Old

The lifespan of most furnaces is somewhere between 15 and 20 years. Regular maintenance will help your furnace to last longer. However, over time, your furnace will start to wear down and eventually need to be replaced.

Your Furnace Needs Frequent and Costly Repairs

If your furnace requires frequent repairs, it could mean that it is time to replace it. Furnaces need the most repairs during the last two years of their life. There comes a point when you will need to decide whether or not it is worth the money to keep sinking into repairs.

Here’s a helpful rule of thumb. Take a look at the number and cost of the repairs you’ve had to make in the last two years. If you have had to do more than two repairs or if the repairs have cost you more than 50% of the price of a new furnace, then it’s probably time to buy a new one.

Your Heating Bills Are Increasing

Increased heating bills is a sign you might need a furnace replacement

If you notice a steady increase in your heating costs over the past few years, and the price of energy hasn’t increased that much, then it may mean that you need a furnace replacement.

If your furnace is wasting energy and not working as efficiently as it should, then the extra money you are putting into your utility bills could go towards the purchase of a new, more efficient one.

Energy Star recommends replacing your old inefficient furnace with one that has a high AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency)
To learn more about AFUE ratings, click here.

Furnace Repair Ottawa: Manuals

If you’ve misplaced or lost your furnace repair manual, here are links to online versions of the most common brands in Canada. Unless you are a trained HVAC professional you shouldn’t attempt to repair any mechanical problems with your furnace. You may void your warranty or accidentally cause a much larger problem!

Rheem 
Ruud
Tempstar
Trane
York 

Need a Furnace Repair Ottawa by a Reliable Company? Contact Draft Control

If you require reliable furnace repair in the east Ottawa region, contact Draft Control. Draft Control understands how important it is to get your furnace repair as quickly as possible, especially during the extreme winter temperatures in the Ottawa area.

That’s why when you call Draft Control, we will come to your home as soon as possible. Our experienced technicians will quickly diagnose your problem and get you up and running again as soon as possible.

We fix every make and model, including Bryant, Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Ruud, Coleman, York, Goodman, and more. No matter what type of unit you have, we will get it repaired fast and at a price you can afford.

We are ready to serve you 24 hours a day, every day. No matter when your furnace breaks down, you can contact Draft Control to come and fix it.