When the cold winds of autumn start to blow, and the overnight temperatures drop, you want to start using your furnace, maybe just a little at first. However, that could be enough to trigger some of the early season problems that keep your furnace from operating properly.
Here are some of the common problems that people see when they start up their furnace at the beginning of the season. Not all of these problems require furnace repair or replacement. Many are preventable with simple annual furnace maintenance.
Dirty Ducts
Dust has been collecting in your air ducts while your furnace has been idle all summer. Even if you run AC all summer, the air can move differently through the ducts, so when you start your furnace in the fall, the dust blows through the ducts and creates a smell. This isn’t a major concern, as long as it’s the smell you recognize from prior years. If, instead, it’s the smell of gas, then you should get out of the house and call 911. If you don’t know the smell of dust in your ductwork because you’ve never had central heating before, shut down your furnace and call someone who can identify the dust smell.
The dusty smell should resolve after the first few furnace uses, unless you shut the furnace down for a few weeks because of the return of warm weather in the winter.
Clogged Air Filter
With all the dust in your ducts, your air filter is likely to get clogged a lot early in the season. Although changing your air filter is furnace maintenance that you can handle on your own, it’s often neglected. Many people let their furnace run too long without changing the filter – especially in the spring – which means that you should change it first thing before turning your furnace on for the season.
If your furnace is turning on, but failing or struggling to deliver heat, checking for a clogged air filter is a good place to start.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
If your furnace won’t turn on or if it turns off before achieving the temperature you want, the problem could be your thermostat.
The easiest fix for a troublesome thermostat is to replace the battery or batteries. If that doesn’t work, try doing a hard reset on the device, something your paperwork should tell you how to do. Though you might lose the programming in your smart thermometer, it might be worth it if it gets your furnace working again.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
It’s not uncommon for a tripped circuit breaker to keep your furnace from working in the early season. Simply throw the breaker and restart the furnace. However, if the furnace keeps tripping the breaker, you should get furnace maintenance professionals out to look at it.
Dirty Burners
Burners are where the gas burns to create heat that warms your home. Over time, these can get dirty, which can lead to inefficient burning or even prevent fire from starting. Dirt comes from a mix of sources, including residue from natural gas. Although gas is cleaner than other fuels, it can still produce small amounts of soot and other waste particles, which can build up on the burners.
Seized Blower
Your blower can go through extreme periods of activity and inactivity. It might run dozens of times a day on the coldest days, but may sit completely idle over the summer. This combination can be hard on your blower and may cause it to seize up when it comes time to start the burner up again in the fall. Getting annual furnace maintenance can protect your blower by lubricating bearings and other key parts to avoid seizing.
Bad Limit Switch
The limit switch is supposed to limit the heat in the furnace. It is supposed to turn the blower on when the furnace gets hot enough, then turn the burners off if the furnace gets too hot. This controls the risk of fires started by an overheated furnace.
With a bad limit switch, the blower might never turn on, or the furnace might keep running constantly, even if the furnace gets too hot. This could increase the potential for furnace-related fires in your home.
Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor helps ensure that the gas in your furnace is only running when it is getting burned. It’s designed to shut off the gas if the furnace doesn’t heat up shortly after the gas starts running. This can cause your furnace to run short cycles that never produce any real heat.
Professional furnace maintenance should include cleaning the flame sensor to help keep your furnace working as it is supposed to.
Get Furnace Maintenance in Colorado
If you are looking to resolve early season problems with your furnace in Denver or along the Front Range, Major Heating and Air Conditioning can help. Since 1970, we’ve been helping Coloradans enjoy a comfortable internal climate at their home and office. We have an A+ rating with the BBB and can provide customized maintenance plans that fit your equipment and your needs.
In addition, we offer 24-hour emergency services, so you can call us whenever your furnace stops working, and we will be out right away to determine the problem and get you comfortable as soon as possible. We offer free estimates on new equipment, too, so you can learn what it might cost if you need to replace your malfunctioning furnace.
Please contact Major Heating and Air Conditioning today to get the furnace maintenance you need. We serve customers in Denver and the surrounding areas.
