Many of us have experienced issues relating to furnaces. This could range from faulty thermostats to normal wear and tear from poor maintenance. In today’s article, we will be presenting a list of the most common furnace issues as well as possible reasons and solutions.
1. Clogged Filters
It’s important to routinely change your filters for your air & heating system. This is a major reason owners will often call for furnace repair services. Learning how often your filter needs to be replaced can help you save time and money on repairs that end up being more expensive down the road.
2. Insufficient Heat
Operating in a cold workplace can be a major discomfort. While a furnace could be running safe and sound, it’s important that it provides the heating loads that are needed for your commercial comfort. In most cases, problems of insufficient heat can lie in a clogged filter. This is particularly the case if the filter worked well in the past. When the air is heated, it passes through the filter and on through the ventilation ductwork. If the filter has not been changed or checked periodically it can become plugged and decrease air flow. This causes the furnace to heat up and reach the high-temperature limit, causing the furnace to shut off the air flow.
What if the filter is checked and appears fine? If this is the case, the issue may lie in the circulating fan. Having a clogged blower wheel can greatly inhibit airflow circulation. This can be solved by clearing the blower of any buildup with a brush or vacuum cleaner as appropriate.
3. System Turning On And Off
Having a furnace that turns off and on at odd times may be attributed to a faulty thermostat or its settings. Thermostats take in the temperature of the room and compare it to the desired temperature. If the room temperature is below the desired temperature, the thermostat signals the furnace to turn on until the room temperature reaches the desired temperature. If your furnace cycles on and off frequently, checking the thermostat will usually solve this issue. Thermostats usually have a range above and below the desired temperature that you can set. Having a short range will require the thermostat to signal the furnace to turn on and off more frequently in order to maintain the temperature of the room within a few degrees. Having a more broad temperature range will enable the thermostat to signal the furnace less frequently.
4. Normal Wear & Tear
Even the best furnaces don’t last forever. Mechanical components wear down over time, making repairs and replacements inevitable. However, the lifetime of a furnace depends on how well you take care of it. Here is a list of some tips you can use to help increase the life of your furnace:
- Change the air filter on a regular basis. A dirty filter restricts the amount of airflow through your system, which can cause the system to overheat.
- Reduce levels of humidity. High moisture levels can cause heat exchangers to rust.
- Clean the air conditioning coil. This can keep the drain from plugging and leaking condensation onto the furnace, which can damage electrical components of your furnace.
- Get proper maintenance. It is important to regularly check your furnace for any wear and tear that might occur. This can help you foresee any issues that might come down the road.
5. Ignition Problems/Pilot Light
Issues involving faulty ignition or an unlit pilot light make heating incredibly difficult. This should be attended to quickly by a qualified furnace repair technician.
6. Noisy Unit
Furnace units are built to run smoothly and quietly, so having noticeable rattles and squeaks indicate a mechanical problem somewhere in the system. Possible culprits may include problems in the airflow, a clogged burner, or loose mechanical components. You can check that all fixtures and parts are attached securely to reducing vibrational noise.
7. Thermostat Issues
A faulty thermostat can be a huge problem for maintaining operating temperatures for your business. This can cause the furnace to operate at incorrect times and produce inaccurate heating loads. A faulty thermostat should be checked by a qualified technician to verify its standard settings and specifications.
8. Poor Maintenance
The lifetime of your furnace depends on how well the furnace is taken care of. Poor maintenance can make a furnace experience more wear and tear than usual. You can save time and money by including preventative maintenance services in order to resolve any existing issues and foresee any problems that may arise in the future.
9. Furnace Keeps Running
This issue has two parts. It can be that the blower (fan) won’t turn off, or the furnace burners won’t turn off. If the furnace blower won’t turn off, the thermostat may be set to ON instead of AUTO. You can try turning off the thermostat to see if the fans turn off. If they continue to run, you likely have a faulty thermostat. If the furnace burners won’t turn off, this may be that the thermostat is set too high. Setting a high temperature on a cold night can cause a furnace to run constantly. Another issue may be that the air filter is too dirty, which restricts the amount of airflow passing from the furnace into your home. Call a professional technician to diagnose your furnace appropriately.
Have an issue with your commercial furnace that we haven’t specified? Our friendly technicians can help you. Our professional, licensed technicians are trained in repair and maintenance services for HVAC, refrigeration, and restaurant appliance systems. Give Touchstone Commercial Services a call today!
