What is the most common culprit of a furnace not working?
Indiana winters can be grueling and nothing is scarier or more miserable than a cold winter night when the furnace stops working. Here at Surplus City Liquidators, we want to help you avoid those unpleasant experiences. There are several things that can be the reason of a faulty furnace in the winter. We are breaking down the most common issues so you can identify the problem and keep yourself and your family warm!
LISTEN FOR YOUR FURNACE IGNITOR
Ever hear a click before your furnace begins heating your home? That’s actually your furnace ignitor firing up. Furnace ignitors became a replacement for the pilot light in modern units. The ignitor either lights a spark that connects to the gas in your furnace or they can also heat without a spark. When the ignitor fails to work, however, your furnace will no longer heat.
When your furnace stops working, how do you know if the problem you are having has to do with the ignitor? One sign is if the air coming out of the vents in your home is cool instead of warm. This means that the furnace is blowing, but the ignitor likely didn’t spark the heat.
Pay attention to changes in the clicking noise you hear, the frequency with which your furnace turns on, and the temperature of the air.
FAULTY GAS VALVE
Another culprit of a furnace not working properly is a faulty gas valve. Any gas used by your furnace must go through the gas valve. However, sometimes the valve becomes faulty. Unfortunately, if a gas valve stops working properly it may do more than just make you cold. The gas can actually leak and be harmful to you and your family. Because of this, it’s very important that if you suspect an issue with your gas valve you get it looked at or fixed immediately.
So how do you know if it’s a gas valve issue? There are a few signs to look out for.
1. The furnace shuts down completely and stops blowing any air.
2. The furnace stops blowing warm air and only blows cool air.
3. You smell or notice a gas leak.
While some of these can be caused by other issues within the furnace, a gas leak is most commonly attributed towards an issue with the gas valve.
OTHER PARTS THAT COMMONLY BREAK
Of course, gas valves and ignitors aren’t the only things that can cause your furnace to stop performing. The thermostat, filters, and pressure switches can also cause your furnace to perform below peak level.
Be sure to watch, listen and look out for any issues that could cause further damage to your unit or harm your family.
TRUST SURPLUS CITY LIQUIDATORS
Keep your home cozy all winter long! You can count on Surplus City Liquidators to keep your home warm with new furnace parts. We take pride in our low prices and constantly rotating inventory. We hope you always count on us for your brand-name parts at a reasonable price.
If you notice your furnace ignitor, gas valve, pressure switch, or any other part seems to be having issues, contact us at (800) 428-4339. We are happy to give you information on how we can help you, what we have in stock, and tell you more about our mission. Remember, when shopping for furnace parts always check with us first!