Furnace Repair is a necessary part of keeping your home warm during winter. A well-running system provides comfortable air and can save you money on energy costs. Unfortunately, heating systems are not without problems and breakdowns can happen despite proper maintenance. When a furnace isn’t working correctly, it can cause serious damage and be very expensive to repair. It is therefore important to be aware of common furnace problems and be prepared to call a professional technician if needed.

A Burning Odor

The smell of burning is a telltale sign that something is wrong with your heater. If you detect a foul smell, turn off your gas valve and open every window in your home before calling for help. A bad odor indicates that there is a problem with the burner or electrical components of your furnace. A burning smell also implies that there is a dangerous gas leak. Gas leaks are not to be ignored as they can be very dangerous. If you are unable to shut off your gas valve, contact the utility company and the fire department immediately.

A Blower That Keeps Running

The blower in your furnace is designed to cycle on and off according to the thermostat setting. If the blower is constantly running, it may mean that the thermostat is set to ON or your set-point is too high. The blower might also be dirty or your ducts may not be properly insulated and sealed. If the blower is continually running, check your circuit breaker to make sure it has not tripped. If the breaker isn’t blown, you might need to clean the burner assembly or install a new limit switch.

A Noisy Furnace

If your furnace Furnace Repair is making a clunking, thumping or squealing noise, it’s a good idea to call a technician for repair before winter arrives. A squealing sound can indicate that the blower belt is loose, while a thumping sound could be a sign of overheating. A squealing sound might also indicate that the blower bearings need lubrication.

A Power Outage

If the lights in your house flicker on and off or the blower won’t run, you probably need a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. If these are the only signs of a problem, you can usually get the unit back up and running by turning it off at the power outlet then on again. If this doesn’t work, you might need a rewired electrical circuit to power the furnace.

If your fuses or breakers are constantly blown, it is likely that you are overloading a shared electrical circuit with your furnace and other heavy appliances. If this is the case, a professional should take a look to determine if you need to upgrade your home’s circuitry.