What Are The Most Common Furnace Problems (That I Should Know About)?
Owning a furnace in Sacramento is always a good thing, especially during the chilly months of December and January, when temperatures can drop to a freezing cold. Many people, both young and old, can exhibit health issues when subjected to such conditions, making furnaces an ideal addition to the house. Using a furnace, you can generate enough heat in your home to help the body slowly adjust to the sub-zero temperatures outside.
It is essential to ensure that your furnace is always working properly so that you can have access to heat anytime necessary. Paying for furnace maintenance costs less than going for a complete furnace replacement every time the system glitches. To understand when your furnace needs repairs, here are a few common causes of furnace damages:
1. Your air filters can get clogged or dirty.
If you feel that your furnace is not providing the usual heat, you can check the air filters for clogging or dirt buildup. If the air filters are clogged with dirt or other particles, the furnace can’t operate as optimally as it usually does. As a result, it works harder to produce heat while making up for the reduced airflow, leading to greater energy consumption and higher power costs.
2. Your thermostat might start to malfunction.
A malfunctioning thermostat can significantly affect the overall performance of your furnace. Your furnace won’t be able to generate heat as intended if the thermostat doesn’t work. Additionally, a faulty thermostat might cause your furnace to undergo an on-and-off cycle, which can wreck your furnace’s control system if not fixed immediately.
3. Your pilot light might be acting up.
The pilot light is crucial in starting up the furnace, which means a faulty pilot light might hinder your furnace from powering up. Thermocouple problems usually cause damaged pilot lights, and you would want to have a professional look into it for repairs.
4. Your furnace might have outlived its use.
Like all appliances, a furnace has a limited life cycle. If you have been using the same furnace for several years, and it suddenly starts to cease working, there is a chance it has merely reached the end of its service life. Luckily for you, finding a new furnace is easy in Sacramento with several reputable dealers in town.
When Should You Replace Your Furnace?
It is perfectly normal for a furnace to act up from time to time, and more often than not, the issue is something minor that you can fix yourself. For instance, clogged air filters and dirty ducts can cause a furnace to perform suboptimally, but you can quickly solve that problem by replacing the filters and cleaning the furnace’s surfaces.
However, there will come a time when the furnace troubles can’t be solved without expert assistance. If this starts happening too often, it might be an indicator that your furnace might not be able to function effectively anymore.
If you try to use an unreliable furnace longer than you should, you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration. It will only cost you more in endless repair sessions, and inevitably the furnace will stop working altogether. It is best to understand when your furnace should be replaced to lessen potential damages.
As a rule of thumb, if the total repair costs for a furnace have not yet exceeded a third of the price for a new one, you can still maintain it and maximize its service. However, if your furnace has gone through extensive repairs already and it still hasn’t returned to its original performance level, installing a new furnace might be your best move.