Common Heating Problems
Furnace Issues.
From a failed blower fan to a pilot light that has gone out, we can pinpoint the problem at hand, and get to work providing you with the repairs you need to turn the heat back on. As we mentioned, we work with furnaces as well as boilers, and we provide service for all brands. Plus, if it’s time to replace your unit (instead of repairing it), we can do that too. Below, we’ve listed a few common heating problems that homeowners experience, so that you may be able to troubleshoot your current situation.
- Pilot light failure: If you have a gas furnace it is outfitted with either a pilot light or an automatic ignition. If you have a pilot light, it should remain lit throughout the season, ensuring that the burners have a flame source when your thermostat triggers the gas to turn on at the furnace. If your pilot light goes out, you may simply need to reignite it — be sure to let any airborne gas clear out of the room, and then follow the directions in the owner’s manual or on the furnace itself. If you can’t ignite your pilot light on your own, then you may have a pilot line that is gunked up, or you may have another issue along the gas line — we’d be happy to take a look to locate the problem.
- Ignition failure: Automatic ignition systems are designed to create a small electrical arc near the furnace burner which serves as an ignition source to create a flame once the gas is on. However, these systems are liable to fail if there is an electrical issue, or if any of the failsafes integrated into the system have been triggered. Count on JDL HVAC to fix or replace your automatic ignition.
- Blower fan failure: The blower fan pulls fresh air from the outdoors through your heating system, pushing it through the ducts of your home. If your blower fan isn’t working, then your home will be cold, yet your furnace will work overtime (since the thermostat will remain on), and it may overheat, triggering a failsafe. If you don’t feel heat coming from your vents, and you can’t hear the fan running when the furnace clicks on, then your fan may have failed. We can suss out the source of the issue, whether it’s an electrical failure, or the motor itself is burnt out.
- Erratic temperature fluctuations: Erratic fluctuations in the temperature of your home may be an indication of a variety of issues. You may have a poorly calibrated thermostat. You might have burners that are gunked up. Or, as we mentioned, your blower fan may be cutting out — among other problems. We’ll pinpoint the problem at hand.
- Poor heat: Similarly, you may have poor heat production out of your furnace, which may be caused by any number of problems. You may have a dirty air filter, your burner may be gunked up, or you may have issues with your ventilation system. Count on us to find the source of the issue.
- Complete furnace failure: Like any other appliance, furnaces eventually fail. If you have a furnace that is between 15 and 40 years old, then your furnace may be at the end of its service life. Eventually, your energy bills will raise, you’ll have frequent repairs, and you may hear strange noises coming from your furnace — all of which are indications that your furnace is nearing complete failure. We can replace your furnace with a new unit, and we’d be happy to recommend a unit that is well suited to the demands of your house.
If your boiler isn’t operating as it should, then you have a time-sensitive problem on your hand, especially if it’s the dead of winter here in central Maryland. That’s why we strive to provide speedy service for any boiler issues that you may encounter. Give us a call right away if you notice any of the following problems:
- Lack of pressure: Boiler systems rely on a pressurized system to keep water flowing through the radiators. If you have a loss of pressure, your boiler and radiators may make strange noises, and you may have little to no heat flowing through the system. Turn off your boiler at the thermostat and reach out to your HVAC technician here at JDL to keep your boiler from causing further damage.
- Leaky radiators, boiler, or pipes: A leak will lead to a loss of pressure, which can cause further problems for your boiler and radiator system. Again, shut off the boiler at the thermostat if you notice a leak. We can replace pipes, radiators, and even the boiler tank itself, if you’re experiencing leaks.
- Lack of heat: A lack of heat is an indication that hot water isn’t reaching the radiators. You may have a leak, you may have a blockage in the pipes, or your boiler burners may be inoperable. We can assess the situation to find the problem at hand.
- Kettling: Kettling is a serious issue that can occur when your boiler no longer circulates water throughout the radiator system. When this happens, your boiler can overheat and store steam, which can lead to a whistling sound (thus the term, “kettling”). If you hear whistling from your boiler, shut it off and call your HVAC expert.
- Strange noises: Your boiler shouldn’t make much noise when it runs. It will make a slight whoosh noise as the burners ignite, and you may hear a bit of crackling and popping. Aside from that, you shouldn’t hear bubbling, clunking or other noises. If you hear loud noises from your boiler, you should have it checked.
