Your furnace will be the most important appliance in your home during the cold months in Ohio. You need it to perform optimally and efficiently because it will likely run continuously throughout the season. As the furnace is a mechanical system, wear and tear and occasional breakdowns can occur. Fortunately, you can prevent a complete system shutdown by being vigilant of early warning signs and responding promptly. Here’s a guide on how to identify and address common furnace issues before they escalate.
Common Furnace Problems
It’s important to note that you should always call a licensed HVAC professional for a final inspection and reliable solutions whenever your furnace misbehaves. Avoid complex repairs yourself, as improper handling can worsen the issue or compromise safety. That said, here are some common furnace problems you can recognize early, and in some cases, troubleshoot safely:
Furnace Not Turning On
If your furnace refuses to turn on after months of inactivity, the first thing to check is the thermostat. Sometimes, the thermostat is in the wrong mode, or the temperature setting is too low. To resolve this, set the thermostat to heat mode and increase the temperature by a few degrees to see if the system responds.
If you have a battery-powered thermostat, replace the batteries. Weak or dying batteries can cause the thermostat to lose connection with the furnace or display inaccurate readings. For programmable or smart thermostats, check for software glitches or connectivity issues. Restart the device if needed and verify that it’s properly synced with your heating system.
If the furnace still won’t turn on, it may have a power problem. Even gas-powered furnaces use electricity to operate critical components like the igniter, blower motor, and control board. It won’t run if these parts aren’t receiving power. To resolve this issue, locate the furnace’s power switch, typically mounted on or near the unit, and make sure it’s in the “ON” position. If that doesn’t work, check the circuit breaker panel for any tripped breakers and reset them, if needed.
If the furnace powers back on after resetting the breaker, contact a licensed technician to determine why the breaker tripped in the first place. There may be an underlying electrical fault or component failure that could resurface or worsen over time.
If your system is still unresponsive, call for a professional diagnosis and repair. It may have a faulty igniter or a triggered safety mechanism that is preventing startup.
Insufficient Heating
If your furnace turns on but doesn’t provide enough heat, the issue could stem from restricted airflow, incorrect thermostat settings, or failing components. Restricted airflow prevents heat from circulating efficiently throughout your home. It also limits the volume of air the furnace processes per cycle, causing the system to run continuously without ever reaching the desired temperature.
To troubleshoot airflow issues, inspect the air pathways. Ensure the filter is clean, properly installed, and appropriate for your furnace model. Replace it if it’s dirty or clogged with the type recommended by the manufacturer.
Next, ensure the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed by furniture, curtains, or debris. Moreover, if you can access your ductwork, inspect for visible damage, disconnected sections, or signs of leakage. If there are any abnormalities, call for professional repairs.
If the issue persists, confirm that the thermostat is set correctly and located in a neutral area. Poor thermostat placement (near windows and heat sources, or in direct sunlight) can cause it to record inaccurate temperatures, preventing the furnace from running long enough to heat your home sufficiently.
Lastly, if your furnace components are excessively worn, they may struggle to keep up with your heating demands. Aging burners, a weakened blower motor, or a compromised heat exchanger can all diminish performance. In this scenario, replacement is often the most effective and reliable solution.
Frequent Cycling
An efficient and effective furnace should cycle two to three times per hour. If yours turns on and off more frequently (short cycling), it requires professional intervention. In the meantime, work on simpler solutions such as improving airflow and setting the thermostat correctly.
As mentioned earlier, dirty filters restrict airflow, reducing the volume of air that reaches the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger doesn’t receive enough air, it can overheat. In response, the furnace’s safety mechanisms will shut the system down prematurely to prevent damage. This leads to frequent cycling and inefficient heating. Therefore, if the filters are dirty, replace them.
A faulty thermostat that’s acting erratically can also cause short cycling. If the thermostat misreads the room temperature or loses connection with the furnace, it may trigger the system to turn on and off unnecessarily. Check the thermostat’s batteries, settings, and placement.
Other possible causes of short cycling include oversized furnace, malfunctioning flame sensor, and blower motor problems. These issues require professional diagnosis and resolution. Turn off the system and call for expert help.
Unpleasant Smells
If your furnace is blowing air with an unusual odor, it could indicate either a minor or a serious issue. Some causes are harmless. For example, turning on the furnace for the first time in the season may produce a burning dust smell. This is caused by dust that has settled on the heat exchanger or burners during inactivity. This smell should dissipate on its own within a few minutes.
Problematic odors include rotten egg smell, electric or metallic smell, and musty smell. A rotten egg smell is a warning sign of a natural gas leak. Turn off the system and contact a licensed technician for emergency repair.
An electric or metallic smell is caused by overheating components. Again, if the furnace is overheating, turn off the system and call a licensed technician for repairs. Continuing to use the furnace could pose a fire risk.
Musty smell comes from mold growing on the dirty air filters, inside your ductwork, or on the evaporator coil (if you have a combined HVAC system). Schedule system tune-ups to keep your system reliable. Our maintenance plans make it easy to keep up.
Furnace Runs Noisily
An efficient furnace operates between 40 and 70 decibels, which is quiet enough to blend into the background. If your system is making banging, squealing, rattling, or grinding noises, it has a mechanical problem. Ignition problems, loose or broken parts, or the expansion and contraction of metal ductwork can cause banging and rattling noises. Squealing sounds stem from worn-out blower or motor bearings, while grinding noise is a sign of motor failure. You can’t fix these issues, so it will be necessary to call for professional assistance.
Contact Bernard Heating & Cooling For Reliable Furnace Repair
Even if you restore your system’s functionality, always call a professional technician for a thorough inspection and long-term solutions if needed. If you live in Hudson, you can trust the services of Bernard Heating & Cooling. We’re a locally owned and operated HVAC company that has been providing outstanding heating repair and other services in Summit County since 1991. Our team offers 24/7 emergency support, honest pricing, convenient scheduling, and flexible financing options for system replacements.
Contact Bernard Heating & Cooling for professional furnace repair services in Hudson.
