Common Furnace Repair Problems and their Solutions

It’s official, Fall has arrived, and cold weather is on the way. When the north wind blows cold, it is such a relief to come home to a cozy and warm home. Of course, each home is unique, and unfortunately, not every home keeps occupants as warm as desired. Here are the leading problems that reduce heat and comfort during the winter months.

Furnace Repair Problem: Opened Envelopes

In construction terms, all the components that separate the exterior of the building from the interior are called, collectively, the building envelope. The envelope includes siding, vapor barriers, insulation, windows, and doors. Any gaps or openings in the building envelope lead to drafts and allow heat to migrate out of the home.

Whether you choose to close these gaps yourself or hire someone to complete the task is a personal choice. Begin by

• Doing a personal inspection to determine the extent of the problem
• Light an incense stick and trace window and door frames. The smoke from the incense will demonstrate the amount of wind infiltrating through the frame.

Solution: Caulk and/or weatherstripping can close many of the gaps and reduce drafts.

Furnace Repair Problem: Leaky Ductwork

Warm air is transported throughout the home through a network of supply ducts and brought back to the furnace by cold air returns. Not only is this an efficient use of energy, but it circulates the air for proper ventilation. The air in the ducts is under pressure during each heating cycle, so even small leaks result in massive amounts of air escaping from the conditioned space inside the building envelope. Symptoms include:

• Unusually cold spaces
• Rooms with stale air or a slight odor
• A sudden rise in heating cost
• A banging or whooshing noise
• An unconditioned space, such as an attic or garage, receiving heat meant for the home

Solution: Complete a simple investigation to try to find the leak, then determine the severity of the leak, if possible. These two pieces of information will help you determine whether to fix it yourself or call a technician.

Furnace Repair Problem: Poor Maintenance

Any mechanical system requires regular maintenance and without proper care, expect the results to be poor performance and a shortened useful lifespan.

• Always the first on the list—change the air filter regularly. A clogged air filter restricts airflow and will reduce efficiency. It also puts unnecessary strain on the furnace components, leading to component failure.
• An annual preventative maintenance visit is required to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty. These visits include a thorough cleaning and testing of the key components. Catching a small problem early improves efficiency and avoids the cost of an unexpected repair bill.
• Most thermostats require fresh batteries annually and occasionally require recalibration.

Solution: All-electric furnaces and natural gas furnaces require differing levels of cleaning and care; do not neglect the maintenance of either system. Regular maintenance can add five years of usefulness, increasing its value.

Furnace Repair Problem: System Age

A brand-new furnace system, properly maintained through the years, has an average useful lifespan of 20 years. As a system ages, it loses efficiency and eventually, a large, expensive part will fail, making it more cost-effective to replace the entire system than replace the expensive part. Factors that determine the lifespan include:

• The quality of the product
• The quality of the installation
• The integrity of the building envelope
• Proper maintenance, and
• Heating and cooling comfort—normal comfort compared to extreme temperatures

Determining the year your system was installed will help determine a schedule for eventual replacement.

Solution: While HVAC system replacement is a capital expense, divide the replacement cost by 20 to estimate the cost of the system per year, then add 40% of your total energy bill, and the fee for annual maintenance. This is a realistic estimate of what heating and cooling costs for your home.

If you have furnace repair problems, R.M. Mullinix has the Solution

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our Furnace Repair services, schedule an appointment, or visit our AC Installation information page.