Many things can go wrong with your home heating system, and most of the time, you'll need to call in the experts to fix them.

But before you do, you have to check out the top issues that homeowners face with their heating, what causes these problems, what the signs are, and how you can prevent them. Keep reading to learn more!

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The Most Common Furnace Issues

Given that the furnace is the most common home heating system in North America, it's no surprise that it is also the source of many issues for homeowners. Here are some of the most common furnace problems:

The thermostat isn't working properly

By far, the most common issue that homeowners face with their furnaces is that the thermostat isn't working correctly.

The thermostat controls the furnace, so if it isn't working right, then the furnace won't turn on or off when it's supposed to.

Causes

There are a few different reasons why your thermostat might not be working correctly:

• The batteries might be dead – This is the most common reason for a malfunctioning thermostat. Simply replacing the batteries should fix the problem.

• The wiring might be loose – Another common issue is that the wiring between the furnace and the thermostat has come loose. You can try to fix this yourself by tightening any loose connections.

• The thermostat might be broken – If the batteries are fresh and the wiring is tight, then there might be something wrong with the thermostat itself. In this case, you will need to replace it.

Signs

Some few signs that can indicate that your thermostat isn't working properly:

• The furnace doesn't turn on or off when it's supposed to.

• The temperature in your house is not consistent.

• The thermostat is not reading the temperature correctly.

Prevention/Fixes

There are a few things that you can do to prevent your thermostat from malfunctioning:

• Make sure that the batteries are always fresh – Make sure to change the batteries regularly (every six months should do).

• Keep all of the wirings tight and secure – Check them regularly and keep them tight.

• Get a thermostat that is in good condition – If your thermostat is old or broken, then it might be time to replace it.

The furnace isn't getting enough air.

Another typical problem homeowners face with their furnaces is that they aren't getting enough air.

When this happens, your furnace overheats, leading to many other problems.

Causes

There are a few different reasons why your furnace might not be getting enough air:

• The filter might be dirty – the filter is clogged up with dirt and dust, it won't be able to let enough air through.

• The vents might be blocked – if the vents are blocked by furniture or other objects, then the furnace won't get enough air.

• The ducts might be leaky.

Signs

Some signs that can indicate that your furnace isn't getting enough air:

• The furnace is overheating.

• There is a lack of airflow coming from the vents.

Prevention/Fixes

To prevent  your furnace from not getting enough air, you can:

• Change the filter regularly – this will help keep the airflow clear.

• Make sure that the vents are free and clear of any obstructions.

• Have a professional inspect your ducts for leaks.

The furnace is leaking carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odorless, colorless, and poisonous. So, this is probably the most dangerous issue on this list. If your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, it can be hazardous.

Causes

There are a few different reasons why your furnace might be leaking carbon monoxide:

• The burner might be dirty – When the burner is dirty, it doesn't burn the fuel as cleanly, which can lead to carbon monoxide production.

• There might be a crack in the heat exchanger – If there is a crack in the heat exchanger, then the gas can escape and leak into your home.

Signs

Some signs that can indicate that your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide:

• You can't see the flames in the burner – this is a sign that the fuel isn't burning correctly, which can lead to carbon monoxide production.

• There is an increase in your energy bill – if there is an increase in your energy bill, it could be because your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide, and you're using more energy to try and compensate for the lost heat.

Prevention/Fixes

Here are a couple of things that you can do to prevent your furnace from leaking carbon monoxide:

• Clean the burner regularly – this will help keep it clean and functioning efficiently.

• Have a professional inspect the heat exchanger for cracks. If you suspect a leak in your furnace, immediately call the experts at Furnace repair Burlington to repair it.

The furnace isn't heating the house enough.

Poor heating is another common issue that homeowners face with their furnaces.

This can be caused by several problems, such as a dirty filter or blocked vents.

Causes

There are a few different causes of poor heating:

• The filter might be dirty – if the filter is clogged up with dirt and dust, it won't be able to let enough air through. This will cause the furnace to work harder, which will result in decreased heating efficiency.

• The vents might be blocked – if the vents are blocked by furniture or other objects, the furnace won't heat the house properly.

• The ducts might be leaky.

Signs

The signs are pretty obvious when the furnace isn't heating your house enough:

• The temperature in your house is not consistent.

• There are cold spots in your house.

• The furnace is running all the time, but the house is still not warm enough.

Prevention/Fixes

There are a few things that you can do to prevent poor heating:

• Change the filter regularly – this will help keep the airflow clear.

• Make sure that the vents are free and clear of any obstructions.

• Have a professional inspect your ducts for leaks.

The furnace is making strange noises.

If your furnace is making strange noises, it's probably a sign that there is something wrong with it.

Causes

There are a few different causes of strange furnace noises:

• The blower might be loose – if the blower is loose, it will make a rattling noise.

• The furnace might be overheating – if the furnace is overheating, it will make a loud banging noise.

• There might be something caught in the fan – check to see if something caught in the fan since this usually causes a grinding noise.

Signs

The signs of strange furnace noises are pretty self-explanatory: you'll hear strange noises coming from your furnace!

Prevention/Fixes

There are a few things that you can do to prevent strange noises from happening:

• Check the blower regularly to ensure that it's tight and not loose.

• Inspect the furnace for any signs of overheating.

• Make sure that there is nothing caught in the fan.

The furnace is turning on and off too frequently.

If your furnace turns on and off too frequently, it's probably because the thermostat is set too low.

Causes

The cause of this issue is pretty straightforward: if the thermostat is set too low, the furnace will turn on more frequently to try and reach the desired temperature.

Signs

You'll know that your furnace is turning on and off too frequently if you notice that:

• The furnace turns on more often than usual.

• The house doesn't seem to be reaching the desired temperature.

Prevention/Fixes

There are a few things that you can do to prevent this issue:

• Check the thermostat to ensure that it's set to the correct temperature.

• Adjust the thermostat so that it's set to a higher temperature.

• Have a professional inspect your furnace to ensure that it's working properly.

The furnace is not turning on at all.

Sometimes you'll find that your furnace doesn't turn on at all. This can be frustrating, but there are a few things that you can do to try and fix the problem.

Causes

There are a few different causes of this issue:

• The thermostat might be set too low – if the thermostat is set too low, the furnace won't turn on.

• The switch might be turned off – if the switch is turned off, the furnace won't turn on.

• There might be a power outage – if there is a power outage, the furnace won't turn on.

Signs

The signs of this issue are pretty self-explanatory:

• The furnace doesn't turn on when you try to turn it on.

• The house is cold.

Prevention/Fixes

To prevent this issue from occurring, try out these tips:

• Check the thermostat to make sure that it's set to the correct temperature.

• Adjust the thermostat so that it's set to a higher temperature.

• Flip the switch to turn on the furnace.

• Check for a power outage. If there is a power outage, wait for it to be fixed before turning on the furnace again.

Final Thoughts

These are the most common home heating system issues that you might encounter. If you're having any of these problems, try out the prevention and fixes tips that we've provided. Hopefully, this will help to solve your issue! If not, it might be best to call a professional to take a look at your furnace.