Struggling With A Difficult-To-Diagnose Heating Repair Issue? Potential Problems Homeowners May Face
The comfort of a warm home is like the feeling of a warm hug, especially for families who live in climates where winter arrives early and brings heavy snow and icy conditions when it arrives. When heating system repair issues arise in these conditions, however, the comfortable feelings of warmth are soon replaced by feelings of dread as homeowners wonder whether the furnace will be functioning when they arrive home from work each evening. If you are a homeowner who is currently dealing with an unreliable heating system that you have been unable to diagnose, the following information may be helpful in solving your problem.
Electrical issues
Electrical problems can strike any type of furnace, even if they burn fuel oil, natural gas or propane to create heat. Heating systems that begin to randomly trip circuit breakers are likely to be experiencing some type of electric surge. Since a surge of too much electricity can cause damage to wiring and electrical components, as well as create the potential to ignite an electrical fire, the home's electrical panel trips the breaker as a safety measure to interrupt the flow of electricity. While electrical surges can be caused by several different furnace problems, a faulty furnace transformer should always be considered.
In some instances, a failing transformer will begin to make buzzing noises. As the problem worsens, homeowners may notice increasing vibrations as the transformer attempts to expand and contract. Homeowners who suspect that a faulty transformer can have the voltage tested by a heating repair specialist to determine whether it will need to be replaced.
Lack of heat
Furnaces that appear to be running properly yet fail to produce heat are another common furnace repair issue homeowners may face. If the problem has just occurred in a furnace that uses natural gas, fuel oil, or propane, homeowners will want to first check to see that the supply of fuel has not been interrupted, such as when a fuel line is damaged or the level of fuel in a bulk storage tank is too low to power the furnace.
If the fuel supply is uninterrupted or the furnace is powered by electricity, homeowners will want to check the filter to ensure that it has not become clogged and rendered the furnace unable to move heated air through the home. When no heat is produced even though the furnace appears to be operating, homeowners will want to ensure that the thermostat is set correctly and functioning as it should.
If no problems are found with the thermostat, homeowners may be facing a more serious repair issue, such as a faulty ignition switch or a failed fan limit switch. Both these issues can result in a furnace that appears to be functional, yet produces little or no heat.
Sudden comfort issues
Homeowners who are facing sudden or intermittent comfort issues during the heating season may be experiencing a problem with their ducts or vents. While blocking vents or ducts with furniture or stored items can cause this type of problem, more serious comfort issues are more likely to result from some type of damage to the ducts, such as when a duct is crushed or begins to leak at a seam.
Duct damage is a common reason for furnaces to cycle on and run, often for longer time frames, without warming the home to the desired temperature. When ducts are blocked or leaking due to damage, the warm air created by the furnace leaks out before it can be distributed throughout the home. While some types of duct damage may be visible to homeowners, having the heating system pressure tested by a reputable heating system repair service is a more reliable way to determine if a problem exists.
Contact a residential heating repair company to learn more.
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