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To keep your home in Springfield, MO warm during the cold winters, your furnace needs to be in the best shape possible. As you use your furnace each year, though, it can accumulate wear and tear and then suffer from issues that hamper its performance. It helps to know some of the most common problems your furnace can experience so that you know when to reach out to FTS Heating & Cooling for heating repair service.
Short Cycling
The typical heating cycle is around 15-20 minutes. Short cycling is when your heater runs for only a few minutes after starting up. It will end its cycle prematurely and shut down before reaching the temperature setting on the thermostat. One effect of this is that your place won’t ever feel as warm as you wished it was. Also, all this cycling could add stress to the system and cause it to experience problems or even break down at some point.
One cause of short cycling is improper thermostat calibration or a malfunction with it. The issue can also result from dirty ductwork or a clogged air filter. Our technicians will know what to look for if you’re having this cycling issue with your furnace.
Strange Noises
As your heating unit runs, you most likely will hear a soft humming. Beyond this, you should not hear any other sounds from the furnace. When you do, it’s a sign of a problem.
A rattling noise usually indicates that there’s a part that broke off and keeps getting moved around within the unit as it runs. More serious is a loud booming sound. With this, the furnace probably has an issue with the ignition process. Another thing to listen for is what sounds like whistling. If you’re hearing this, it could be that there’s an air leak within the ductwork.
Weird Odors
If you’ve had your furnace sitting idle for a few months, you might smell a burning odor when you first switch it on. This is just the system burning off any excess dust it accumulated during those months of disuse. Besides this, it’s not typical for the system to give off any other odors.
If yours is a gas-powered heater, the most serious smell it could emit is that of rotten eggs. It’s not the actual equipment giving off this odor. This smell results from the local utility company adding mercaptan as an indicator in case there are gas leaks. So, if you do start noticing this rotten egg smell, turn the system off and evacuate, then get in touch with FTS Heating & Cooling to address the leak. This is an emergency, but know that we offer same-day service, so we might be able to come out as soon as you call us.
Cold Air
You expect your furnace to emit warm air consistently, so it can come as quite a surprise if it puts out lukewarm or cool air. The system might have a problem with the ignition startup. It might also have a damaged heating element. The cause could also be as simple as a dirty air filter or an incorrect thermostat setting. Before getting in touch with us, check the filter and/or thermostat to see if you can’t resolve the issue yourself.
Hot and Cold Spots
If the furnace isn’t properly heating all areas of your home evenly, there are a few things that could cause this. You may have a leak within the ductwork that’s causing hot air to escape before it reaches specific parts of your property. As with the problem of cold air coming from the unit, the air filter may just be too dirty. Also, check and make sure you aren’t blocking the vents with furniture or other things.
Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
The furnace’s pilot light should always stay on and remain a blue color. If the light keeps going out for whatever reason, this will affect the system’s performance. Some things that can cause the pilot light to extinguish include a faulty thermocouple, a fluctuation in the gas supply, or drafts that keep putting out the flame.
Your Professional HVAC Team in Springfield
At FTS Heating & Cooling, we offer top-notch heating repairs that can help address whatever issue or issues you’re having with your heater. We also have a maintenance plan that can help you keep your furnace tuned up and ready to go. Should you need your system replaced, we can also help with a new installation. Call us today to set up service.
