Furnace Repair Spokane

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Furnace Not Making Any Heat

If the thermostat checks out, but your furnace is not producing heat, you should check your circuit breaker. Again, this is like making sure it is plugged in, but since your furnace is hard-wired into the house electrical, you’ll need to check the breakers. Locate the breaker box, in the basement or a closet usually although they could also be located outside on certain (older) homes.

Breaker boxes shouldn’t be scary but always use common sense and be careful around any electrical system. If you are uncertain or something looks wrong, please call a professional HVAC Technician who can ensure safety.

​Visibly check for any “tripped” breakers, meaning they are in the off position. They may be in an intermediate position between off and on. Hopefully your furnace breakers are labeled, but if not you should just be able to check for any that are tripped. Flip the furnace breaker back to on. If that fixes your furnace problems, great, but if the breaker flips back off you have an electrical issue that needs professional attention.

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Another very simple thing to check is that the access panel on your furnace is in place. Most furnaces should have a safety switch that prevents operation with the access door removed. Ensure the access door is fully in place and the safety switch is engaged when closed.

Furnace Not Making Enough Heat

Now let’s look at the problem of your furnace not producing enough heat. A reminder first that central heat in a house will not pump out tons of piping hot air through your heat vents. Central heat is a very efficient system that maintains a constant level of heat throughout your home without the ups and downs of heat you might have with a space heater or fireplace. The heat is generated at the furnace and gently blown throughout the house via long air duct channels. So don’t expect a hot blast of hair from every vent.

That being said if you notice less heat than before, the first check is for your furnace air filter. Air filters MUST BE CHANGED REGULARLY… Pardon the shouting but this is such a simple task that gets so often overlooked and will decrease the efficiency and lifespan of your heater. If the air filter is clogged or looks dirty, the airflow will be limited. Simply change the filter and you may see your heat improve right away.

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Some newer models may actually shut down if an air filter is too clogged.

Maintain the area around your furnace. Never store flammable or combustible materials around your furnace. Even if it’s “just for the summer”. It is too easy to forget about these materials and have a hazardous situation in your home. Keep the area around your furnace clean and clear. Regular cleaning around your furnace will also help to keep dust and lint down and prolong the life of your air filter.

Furnace Making Strange Sounds

There are several parts to your furnace, and overall HVAC system, that can indicate a problem if making unusual sounds.

One is the blower motor. This is essentially the fan that draws heat from your furnace and pushes it throughout the home’s duct system. It should be oiled yearly to maintain smooth function and kept clean and free of debris. While it is a simple job to oil and maintain it, we recommend simply including it as part of your yearly inspection. You don’t want excess oil dripping in your system, nor do you want any damage to such an integral part of your HVAC system. If you hear a grinding or other unusual noise, or there seems to be less airflow than normal, give us a call and we can easily inspect your system and ensure it is operating optimally.

If your blower is continually running without heat, your furnace high limit switch may have either tripped or be faulty. If the temperature gets too high the limit switch will shut off the heat and allow the blower to continue to clear out the excess heat. If the limit switch is bad the furnace won’t fire and the blower will continuously blow. This can shorten the life of the blower motor and should be repaired by a qualified furnace repair technician.

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If you hear your furnace is turning on and off again in rapid succession there are several reasons that could be the culprit. However, the first check would be for a dirty air filter. If the air filter is fine, or the problem is not solved with a new filter, give us a call and we perform a full troubleshooting diagnostic on your system.

Gas Furnace Flame Issues

If you are able to view the flames in your gas furnace, they should appear blue in color with even size and appearance of flames. If they are yellow you may have dirty or faulty burners. Best to have a professional HVAC company inspect the burners safely and completely. 

Your system may have a pilot light system which is a continuously burning flame that allows the rest of the burner system to ignite when needed. If this pilot light goes out it will need to be relit. Follow manufacturers recommendations and instructions.

​Many of the newer systems are ignited electronically so no need for a pilot light. These systems are often more efficient. The igniter system can fail though so if your furnace is refusing to light, call for a repair.

Furnace Not Blowing Air

The furnace blower moves cool return air through the heat exchanger to be warmed and then on through the home ductwork to heat your house. If the furnace is not blowing air, or not blowing it efficiently, that cold air will not get warmed and the warm air will not be dispersed through your house. Not good. 

Most furnaces will have an inspection window- check to make sure the blower is free of any obvious debris or obstructions. There will usually be a flashing green or red light. Like most things, green is good and red means service is needed and you should call for HVAC service near me.

​If the furnace blower is running continuously, check to see if the thermostat is set to “continuous fan”. If not then you could have a problem with a limit switch and should call for HVAC system maintenance.

Furnace Making Noises

The noises your furnace makes could be an indication of several different issues. Let’s run through some of them. With any of these furnace noises, if they are concerning to you, best to have a HVAC professional take a look and listen. 

Furnace making popping and pinging noises. If not overly loud or constant, this could simply be the sound of thermal expansion, metal expanding as it heats up, of your ductwork and is not something to be overly concerned with as long as it is intermittent and not too loud. 

Furnace making a rattling sound could be simply loose panels in duct work or on the furnace itself. Ensuring these panels are secured properly should solve the issue. Loud rattling could be indicative of more mechanical issues and should be checked out.

Squealing sounds from your furnace could be a drive belt that needs replacement or adjustment at the least. 

​Grinding sounds are most likely related to the bearings going out and would necessitate a furnace repair technician to fix

Gas Furnace Repair

If you have a gas furnace, there are several issues that could affect the functioning of your heater. These include the pilot light going out, flame sensor needing cleaning, gas line being shut off, or fuel running low or completely out. If the pilot light is out, there are usually simple instructions included on the access panel to your furnace for re-lighting the pilot light. Follow manufacturer’s instructions but call a profession HVAC service technician if it won’t stay lit after 2-3 attempts.

Before re-lighting, check that the gas line is open. There will be at least one valve, possibly more. Follow the length of the gas line as far as you can to check that any valves are open. 

​Also check any tanks to ensure they have sufficient fuel in them and refill if low.

What To Do If You Smell Gas Near Your Furnace

​If you ever smell gas, you MUST STOP, leave your house, and call your gas utility company. This can be a very dangerous situation for anyone in the home and must be dealt with accordingly.

Tips For Heat Pump Repair

Heat pumps are most efficient when used as a set it and forget heating system. Avoid fluctuating the thermostat settings too often and allow the heat pump to maintain a constant and comfortable temperature in your home.

​Ensure that the area around your heat pump is free and clear of obstacles, debris, and weeds. The heat pump needs good airflow. This extends to proper maintenance of the inner air filters which need to be changed regularly.

How old is my Furnace?

Any mechanical system has an operating lifespan. Your furnace or heat pump is no different. It is very important to know how old your heating system is because you could be expecting more efficiency and life than the system was designed to give. There is no magical formula for finding the age of any HVAC system but here are a few tips:

Look for the sticker on your furnace that gives the Make and Model of your system. It should have a serial number as well. Write down all this info and hit the internet. You may be able to get a good idea of the age and expected lifespan with a few Google searches.

There may very well also be a sticker from the original HVAC company who installed your system. Look for any installation date or maintenance date there. You could also check the manual for the furnace if available. Someone may have written down furnace service dates in it.

​Finally, you may be able to call your local HVAC company. They may have records linked to your address that will give great info.

HVAC Maintenance

We at Spokane Heating & Cooling hope that this article will prove useful to you. It is meant as informational only and not as a troubleshooting guide. Do not attempt repairs you are not trained for. Be sure you, or anyone working on your furnace or HVAC system, have the appropriate skills and training. 

​If you ever need furnace repair in Spokane WA or the surrounding areas, call Spokane Heating and Cooling for the best HVAC maintenance, repair, and installation in Spokane!