An excellent gas furnace repairing guide assists you in determining what is wrong with the furnace based upon its signs. That's what we do here with clear, uncomplicated information.
Troubleshooting Common Gas Heating System Issues
Every year, countless Calgary house owners ask, "What's wrong with my gas furnace?" If you're in that scenario, this guide will arm you with info prior to you call a heating system business. Understanding is protection against being taken advantage of-- though most repair specialists have sound principles.
Keep in mind: This guide covers the most typical issues, especially those most property owners can easily check with no tools or standard tools such as screwdrivers and a multimeter.
1. The Heater Will Not Start
If absolutely nothing happens when the thermostat is set above the home's existing temperature, the most likely causes are these:
- The furnace switch (situated on or near the heater, looks like a typical light switch) is turned off and merely requires to be turned on, though the heating system might have a brief delay before beginning
- The breaker is off, and if the circuit continues to journey after it is turned back on, there is likely a circuitry short in the furnace
- The thermostat isn't set to "heat," which is simple to examine and correct
- The thermostat isn't working, and this is in some cases brought on by a wire coming loose, so inspect the circuitry connections
- The thermostat needs fresh batteries, if battery-powered, or it is bad and need to be changed, an issue that can be identified utilizing an electrical multimeter that shows if a circuit is total
- The filter is dirty and should be replaced or cleaned, a concern that is especially real on more recent heating systems that are geared up to shut down if the filter isn't permitting sufficient air circulation, a condition that can trigger serious mechanical failure
- The furnace's main circuit board/control board is bad, a concern that can be identified by a HEATING AND COOLING specialist is nothing else solves the problem
2. Furnace Blowing Cold Air
If the heater will not produce heat, you can inspect to see if it is getting power by moving the fan switch from the "Car" position to the "On" position. If the fan begins, then the heater is getting power. The most likely problems then are:
- The gas is switched off, so check the gas dick near the heater to ensure it is parallel to the gas line
- The gas control valve isn't opening and must be changed
- The ignitor is failing and must be changed
- The draft motor isn't operating or the fresh-air intake is blocked, perhaps by snow or debris, and requires to be cleared
3. The Draft Motor Runs, Furnace Won't Start
The draft motor is also called the inducer motor. It pulls hot combustion gases through the heater and out the exhaust stack. If it starts and after that the furnace closes down, the cause might be:
- The motor or the board that manages it has failed and must be replaced
- A blocked air intake or blocked exhaust chimney (snow, debris and bird's nests are common causes) must be cleared
- Among the problems discussed above with gas, gas valve and ignitor should be attended to
4. The Draft Motor Will Not Start
The problem, in this case, is either that the motor is bad or the capacitor that supports it is bad. This video will assist you in repairing draft motor problems and what is triggering them.
5. The Flame Starts, but the Heater Shuts Down
If the burner begins making heat but quickly turns off without warming your home, the flame sensing unit isn't working. If the sensing unit has corrosion on it, sanding it may work, though replacing it is a longer-lasting fix.
6. The Blower Will Not Turn Off
If the blower motor runs all the time, there are three typical problems:
- The fan switch on the thermostat is set to "on" rather than "vehicle".
- Relays in the control panel are stuck in the closed position, so the blower is getting a continuous supply of electrical energy, and the control board need to be changed.
- The thermostat likewise has contacts that control power to the heater, and they can be worn, so the thermostat should be changed.
7. Why Does the Heating System Keep Shutting Down?
If your heating system burner lights but the furnace quickly shuts down, there are a couple of common problems that might trigger this:.
- The heater filter is filthy and need to be cleaned or replaced.
- The flame sensor isn't working and ought to be replaced.
- The thermostat is stopping working.
- While these are common, there are a number of other potential causes finest diagnosed by a heater professional. This video gives thorough protection to the issue of heating system short-cycling.
8. The Heating System Runs however Can't Keep your house Warm.
If your furnace is appropriately sized for your house, then it needs to keep your house warm even in severe cold. If it runs continuously but isn't providing enough heat, the likely causes are:.
- A dirty filter that must be cleaned (just if the washable type) or replaced.
- The filter is the wrong type for your furnace and restricts airflow, so ought to be replaced.
- The filter is installed backwards, a concern that can be examined by searching for the arrows on the filter frame that reveal appropriate setup instructions with the efficient heating and cooling flow of air.
- Duct are dripping, sometimes producing telltale whistling sounds, and it is time to have them sealed as suggested by Energy Star.
9. The Heating System Makes Loud Noises.
A noisy heating system is most often the outcome of:.
- The heater being a single-stage design that operates on high capability all the time, so it's going to be loud.
- A bad bearing in the draft motor or the blower motor that should be changed.
- A leak in the heating system cabinet, sheet metal plenum or ductwork near the furnace that should be tightened.
- A filthy filter, which can likewise cause whistling.
10. The Heater Leaks when AC is Running.
Water condenses on the evaporator coil in your heating system, and if it leaks onto the floor, the concern is probably a blocked drain pan or drain line.
11. The Air Coming from the Heater Smells Bad.
Foul odors from the heating system are usually triggered by:.
- An extremely unclean filter that need to be cleaned, if washable, or replaced.
- A dead rodent or bird someplace in the system, typically a job for a professional furnace specialist.
12. The CO Monitor Going Off.
A carbon monoxide gas alarm must be taken seriously. Turn the furnace off at the thermostat. Don't go into the space where hvac company calgary the heating system is located. Open doors and windows, and go outside. Call 911 from a cell phone outside your home.
How to Pick a Gas Furnace Repair Specialist.
Some homeowners select the least expensive repair service in Calgary, and the results are usually bad. Low-cost services are either just beginning, so do not have experience or they have a bad credibility, so must provide cheap prices to get tasks.
On the other hand, some services are overpriced. The very best method to find quality furnace repair work at a reasonable price is to get price quotes from numerous of the leading heating system repair companies in Calgary. Meet with each, find out about their history and the experience of the service technicians that will do the work. Choose a knowledgeable heater repair work contractor with reasonable rates.