Furnace is Not Producing Enough Heat - Check and Change Your Clogged Filter
by Admin
Posted on 10-10-2024 11:15 AM
As the temperatures drop and winter sets in, a properly functioning furnace becomes essential to keep your home warm and cozy. However, furnaces are complex appliances, and like any other mechanical system, they can develop problems over time. In this article, we discuss seven common furnace problems homeowners often face and provide practical troubleshooting tips to help you address these issues promptly –
no heat or insufficient heat: one of the most common issues homeowners encounter is a furnace not producing enough heat or no heat at all.
This problem could be due to a faulty thermostat, a malfunctioning pilot light, or a clogged air filter.
Check the thermostat setting to be sure it is correctly set for “heat” or the fan is set to “on” or “auto”. If the thermostat settings are correct, a furnace that turns on and off constantly can be caused by a system that is not properly sized for the home, a thermostat that is placed too close to a heating source, or a faulty thermostat. These issues may need to be resolved by a professional service technician. Before making that call, be sure to try steps 2 and 3 as described below. Check the air filter. A dirty or clogged filter can restrict airflow, which in turn can cause the heat exchanger to overheat.
Safety Switch on Furnace Door
If the furnace’s front panel door isn’t completely closed, it will trigger a safety switch that prevents the unit from operating.
Inspect the panel door to make sure it is securely closed.
The high limit switch has a flame sensor rod positioned on its surface. The minute your furnace starts, it is the flame sensor’s job to inspect the presence of a flame. If no pilot flame is detected, the sensor will trigger safety features to shut down the system. When the flame sensor malfunctions, the furnace stops running a cycle. The problem usually lies in the maintenance of the sensor. Over time, soot, debris, and other byproducts accumulate over the sensor rod. This hampers its working, causing delays in sensing the flame and abruptly shutting the system. If the damage is not far-fetched, you can clean the flame sensor by unscrewing it from the access panel.
Keep the Area Around Your Furnace Clean and Unobstructed
The furnace area usually shares storage space. Don’t let that storage get too close to the furnace. “stuff” attracts dust and impedes airflow, which in turn affects optimal furnace operation. Above all, keep flammable materials away from the furnace. Even if the area around your furnace is relatively uncluttered, dust still collects around it, so make it a habit to vacuum and clean regularly around the furnace. And if you haven’t cleaned and you aren’t feeling as warm as you want, cleaning around the furnace is a good way to see if that improves matters. It’s even easier than cleaning your furnace filter.
When troubleshooting minimal warm air from the furnace, start by checking for clogged air filters. A clogged filter can restrict airflow, leading to insufficient warm air circulation. If the filter is dirty or clogged, it’s essential to replace it with a new one. This simple maintenance task can significantly improve the warmth produced by your furnace. Regularly replacing the air filter not only ensures proper airflow but also enhances indoor air quality. By allowing clean and unobstructed passage for heated air, you can effectively address issues related to minimal warmth emanating from the HVAC system.
The flame rollout switch is another safety device, usually located inside your furnace on the front of the burner. If your furnace is experiencing an issue such as a cracked heat exchanger, a dirty combustion chamber, or a blocked flue pipe, it can lead to a malfunction in which flames literally "roll out" of the combustion chamber. Because this is a fire hazard, the rollout switch exists to shut your system off and prevent worse damage from occurring. If your furnace won't turn on, it may have experienced flame rollout and shut down. However, it is also important to know that if the rollout switch is faulty, it may deactivate your system mistakenly due to thinking that flames are rolling out of your system when they are not.
(electronic ignitions will not have a pilot light. ) if your furnace clicks on or initiates the start cycle, but does not fire up, you likely have a faulty or dirty ignitor/sensor. This is one of the most common furnace problems. Under normal conditions, the furnace is notified by the thermostat to click on, the ignitor gets red hot and then initiates the entire process of igniting the gas and blowing the warm air. If you feel comfortable: check the error codes in your furnace user manual to make sure you do not have a more severe problem. To fix the furnace that won’t start, turn off the power to the furnace and turn off the gas.