A good gas heater repairing guide assists you in identifying what is wrong with the furnace based on its signs. That's what we do here with clear, straightforward information.
Repairing Common Gas Furnace Issues
Every year, countless Calgary homeowners ask, "What's wrong with my gas furnace?" If you're in that scenario, this guide will arm you with info before you call a heating system company. Knowledge is defense versus being benefited from-- though many repair work specialists have sound ethics.
Note: This guide covers the most typical issues, especially those most property owners can quickly talk to no tools or fundamental tools such as screwdrivers and a multimeter.
1. The Heating System Will Not Start
If nothing happens when the thermostat is set above the home's current temperature level, the most likely causes are these:
- The furnace switch (located on or near the furnace, looks like a typical light switch) is turned off and just needs to be turned on, though the heater might have a brief hold-up before starting
- The breaker is off, and if the circuit continues to journey after it is turned back on, there is likely an electrical wiring brief in the furnace
- The thermostat isn't set to "heat," which is simple to examine and fix
- The thermostat isn't working, and this is often triggered by a wire coming loose, so inspect the electrical wiring connections
- The thermostat requires fresh batteries, if battery-powered, or it is bad and must be replaced, an issue that can be diagnosed utilizing an electrical multimeter that reveals if a circuit is total
- The filter is dirty and must be changed or cleaned, an issue that is specifically true on more recent heating systems that are equipped to shut down if the filter isn't allowing sufficient air flow, a condition that can trigger serious mechanical failure
- The heater's primary circuit board/control board is bad, a concern that can be diagnosed by a HVAC technician is nothing else resolves the issue
2. Heater Blowing Cold Air
If the heater won't produce heat, you can examine to see if it is getting power by moving the fan switch from the "Car" position to the "On" position. If the fan comes on, then the heating system is getting power. The most likely problems then are:
- The gas is turned off, so examine the gas cock near the furnace to ensure it is parallel to the gas line
- The gas control valve isn't opening and should be replaced
- The ignitor is failing and need to be changed
- The draft motor isn't working or the fresh-air intake is obstructed, possibly by snow or debris, and needs to be cleared
3. The Draft Motor Runs, Heating System Will Not Start
The draft motor is also hvac heating and cooling called the inducer motor. It pulls hot combustion gases through the heater and out the exhaust stack. If it starts and then the heater shuts down, the cause might be:
- The motor or the board that controls 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 concerns gone over above with gas, gas valve and ignitor must be dealt with
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 fixing draft motor issues and what is triggering them.
5. The Flame Starts, but the Heater Shuts Down
If the burner begins making heat however soon turns off without warming your home, the flame sensing unit isn't working. If the sensing unit has corrosion on it, sanding it might work, though replacing it is a longer-lasting fix.
6. The Blower Won't Turn Off
If the blower motor runs all the time, there are three typical concerns:
- The fan switch on the thermostat is set to "on" instead of "automobile".
- Relays in the control board are stuck in the closed position, so the blower is getting a continuous supply of electricity, and the control panel should be changed.
- The thermostat likewise has contacts that control power to the heater, and they can be worn, so the thermostat must be replaced.
7. Why Does the Furnace Keep Shutting Off?
If your furnace burner lights but the furnace quickly shuts down, there are a few common problems that may trigger this:.
- The heating system filter is unclean and should be cleaned or changed.
- furnace service near me The flame sensing unit isn't working and need to be changed.
- The thermostat is failing.
- While these are common, there are numerous other potential causes best diagnosed by a furnace professional. This video gives extensive protection to the issue of heater short-cycling.
8. The Furnace Runs however Can't Keep the House Warm.
If your furnace is effectively sized for your home, then it should keep your home warm even in extreme cold. If it runs constantly but isn't supplying enough heat, the likely causes are:.
- A filthy filter that should be washed (just if the washable type) or replaced.
- The filter is the wrong type for your furnace and limits air flow, so ought to be changed.
- The filter is set up backwards, a problem that can be checked by looking for the arrows on the filter frame that reveal appropriate setup instructions with the circulation of air.
- Air ducts are dripping, sometimes producing telltale whistling sounds, and it is time to have them sealed as suggested by Energy Star.
9. The Heater Makes Loud Noises.
A loud furnace is frequently the outcome of:.
- The furnace being a single-stage design that operates on high capacity all the time, so it's going to be loud.
- A bad bearing in the draft motor or the blower motor that need to be changed.
- A leakage in the heating system cabinet, sheet metal plenum or ductwork near the heater that must be tightened.
- An unclean filter, which can also trigger whistling.
10. The Furnace Leaks when A/C is Running.
Water condenses on the evaporator coil in your heater, and if it leaks onto the floor, the problem is more than likely a blocked drain pan or drain line.
11. The Air Coming from the Heating System Smells Bad.
Foul odors from the furnace are normally caused by:.
- An extremely filthy filter that must be washed, if washable, or replaced.
- A dead rodent or bird someplace in the system, normally a job for an expert furnace technician.
12. The CO Display Going Off.
A carbon monoxide gas alarm should be taken seriously. Turn the heater off at the thermostat. Don't go into the room where the furnace lies. Open doors and windows, and go outside. Call 911 from a cell phone outside your home.
How to Select a Gas Furnace Repair Professional.
Some house owners choose the most inexpensive repair work service in Calgary, and the results are usually bad. Inexpensive services are either simply getting started, so do not have experience or they have a bad credibility, so need to provide inexpensive rates to get jobs.
On the other hand, some services are overpriced. The very best way to find quality heater repair at a reasonable price is to get estimates from several of the top heating system repair companies in Calgary. Meet with each, discover their history and the experience of the technicians that will do the work. Pick a knowledgeable heating system repair professional with reasonable rates.