As you know, many people want to stay cool during summer and keep warm throughout winter. That said, the need to control the temperature makes it imperative to have a working heating system in your house.
You may not be using the furnace all year long, but you need to keep it in good shape for many years to come, especially if you’re living in the northern hemisphere or at a higher elevation where you need to stay warm.
When it comes to repairing a furnace, there’s the dilemma of doing it yourself or hiring a contractor. It is understandable since some of the problems may need a professional hand to solve. But it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to fix it yourself.
Most Common Issues
The first step in solving a problem is by recognizing that they exist. Many things can happen to your furnace. It can be an installation issue or a maintenance one. You can have many problems at once or a single issue but big enough that it’s hampering your daily life.
More often than not, the issues rise from the beginning. Therefore, you need to know how to pick the right furnace (read more). Following are several common issues that you may also experience. Remember to know your limit and not biting more than what you can chew.
1. The Issue of Energy Sources
Among the options, gas is the most popular energy resource for a heater. Therefore, you may notice a lot of gas reports. Anyway, you need to know that each state has different energy efficiency regulations.
The most common issue with gas is distribution. In some states, the gas pipelines don’t reach the housing area and force the residents to seek another energy source. The residents will have to look for alternative sources such as oil or electricity.
However, those who are lucky enough to have pipelines accessible still report cases of irregular flow. They have checked their furnace and found no problems, yet their houses are not getting warm.
When it happens, it can be a case of having the wrong furnace size. Some people choose a smaller furnace to accommodate their houses. They think that a smaller device can help them keep the cost low and still do the job well. There are other methods to keep your gas bill low without sacrificing your comfort.
Another possibility is that there is a disruption in the gas pipeline. You can call a local furnace repair agency to seek a temporary solution while waiting for the gas company to solve the problem for the whole area. Keep in mind that having an electric one will save you from this issue.
Even though an electric furnace sounds like magic, it can cost a lot to install and keep. Before deciding on a specific heating system, you need to learn about the region’s general climate and your personal finance. See the house as a place you will live in for many years to come. So you need to make sure that your stay will be a pleasant one.
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2. Thermostat Issue
Many homeowners put a thermostat to controls the house temperature. It is a simple way to have full control of the furnace. When it gets too cold, you just need to flick the switch on your thermostat to heat the whole house.
If you have a central heating system for your house, the thermostat is the key to make the house comfortable. Therefore, it can be very troublesome when the thermostat breaks out of the blue.
Anyway, there are many cases of thermostat malfunction. The causes vary from short circuits to other internal issues. Make sure that the device works properly or causes you discomfort.
If the device works fine, but you still can’t adjust the temperature or have a problem with the house heating system. You need to check on the heating system as a whole. The issues may lie elsewhere in the house. But at any rate, you need to get to the bottom of it right away.
3. Noisy Furnace
After a while, a furnace can be noisy out of the blue. Most people are complaining about the noise from their furnace that they can hear through the ventilation.
Several things can cause the noises. The most common cause is the problem with the furnace filter. Most often is that the filter gets too dirty or already broken to start. If it’s just a case of being too dirty, you can look for methods to clean the filter.
However, you may need to replace the filter because it’s broken or missing some parts. This is often happening in an old house that doesn’t have proper maintenance for a long time.
If that’s the case, you may need to replace the whole heating system altogether. And remember that it means spending some considerable amount at once. Maintaining a heating system can be tricky when the pipeline is already old.
Things to Keep in Mind
The severity of the issue differs for everyone. What you think is a problem may be normal to others. You must understand the situation early on to make educated decisions later. Sometimes, you just need to clean some parts. Some other time, you need to take drastic measures and change a lot of things.
There’s a chance that your furnace has been having problems for many years. Unless you build the house from the start and supervise everything, you are bound to have some issues later on.
In that case, you need to have a thorough check on the heating system before you move into a new house. Call a professional to give the house a thorough look and mark any possible issues in the future.
Anyway, it is up to you whether you want to call a handyman or take the matter into your hand. Make sure that you’re aware of all risks possible. It is best not to attempt anything that you barely understand. If it gets too challenging, then maybe it’s better to leave it to the professionals.
