Key Problems With Your Home's Furnace

Posted on: 26 November 2019

With colder temperatures settling in all over the country, it's the time of year when most homeowners are turning on their furnaces for the first time in a long time. When you start your home's heating system for the season, you need to be able to recognize the signs of problems and damage to the furnace. Here's a look at what you need to know about your furnace and the need for furnace repair.

Blower Motor Belt Issues

If your furnace turns on and you hear a loud, sharp, and squealing sound, that's a key indication that your blower motor's belt is damaged or slipping. You'll want to turn off the furnace right away because a damaged belt can cause your blower motor to spin incorrectly or fail entirely. Your furnace repair technician will have to replace the belt to repair the problem.

Pilot Issues

Problems with your furnace pilot light can be highly problematic. If the pilot light won't stay lit, you've either got a problem with your fuel supply or the pilot light nozzle. You can sometimes clean the nozzle yourself, but a problem with the fuel supply requires the intervention of your furnace repair technician.

Another thing to watch for with your pilot is the condition of the flame. If the pilot flame is flickering, uneven, or orange in color, that's a key indication that there's too much carbon monoxide building up in the firebox of the furnace.

In order to avoid any kind of gas buildup in your house, you'll want to have pilot light issues addressed as soon as possible so that you keep your home safe.

Ball Bearing Issues

The ball bearings in the blower motor of the furnace should spin smoothly and should be properly lubricated at all times. If the ball bearings are damaged or worn out, they won't spin correctly. This can lead to scraping sounds from the furnace. If you hear something like this, you need to turn the furnace off and call a repair technician right away. Otherwise, you risk having the motor seize completely and require a full replacement. 

Understanding some of the most common issues that can occur with your home's furnace can help you recognize the need for repair before that need becomes a disaster. Talk with a furnace repair technician near you today for more information. You can talk about having your furnace evaluated and maintained as soon as possible to keep it running safely.

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