Photo By monkeybusinessimages at istock

When you need to heat your Garland, TX, home, there’s nothing worse than having a problem with your furnace. Unfortunately, you can’t count on your furnace to provide heat to your home if you’re not taking good care of it. Every once in awhile, you need to have a furnace repair company check out your furnace to make sure there are no problems. If you want to make sure you’re staying on top of repairs and keeping your heat on all the time, here are the problems you should be watching out for.

Dirty Air Filter

The air that your furnace provides for your home has to run through a bunch of ducts, which means it can pick up a lot of dust on the way. In order to keep the air that comes into your home clean, there’s an air filter in your HVAC system that removes particles from the air. The more particles this air filter removes from the air, the more clogged it gets and the more problems it can cause.

A clogged air filter impedes airflow in your HVAC system, which can make it difficult for your heating and cooling system to work. Oftentimes, a furnace repair call is as simple as replacing an air filter to make sure air is flowing freely. Even if your furnace is working, a dirty air filter will reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Changing an air filter isn’t very difficult or expensive, so you should make sure you’re having it done regularly. It’s best to have your air filter changed at least once every 3 months, but you might want to change it monthly if you’ve got a large family or several pets.

Thermostat Problems

If your furnace isn’t heating your home the way it should be, there might not be a problem with your furnace at all. Your thermostat is what controls your heating and cooling system, telling your furnace or AC to turn on and shut off to keep the temperature in your home consistent. If you think you’re in need of furnace repair, make sure you have your thermostat checked out, too.

In some cases, your thermostat might simply need to be calibrated to make sure it’s properly measuring the temperature in your home. If your thermostat is shutting off too early or too late, you’re going to end up with a home that’s not heated as much as it should be or a furnace that keeps on running.

The good news about thermostat problems is that you can replace a thermostat for a low price, and you can even upgrade and get the newest features. Even a smart, WiFi-connected thermostat can be purchased and installed for a reasonable price. As long as you’re upgrading to a digital thermostat from a reputable brand, you can count on getting accurate readings that save you money and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Pilot Light Problems

If you have a gas furnace, the pilot light is one of the most important parts of the whole thing. If your pilot light isn’t working, your furnace can’t get started up and you won’t have heat in your home. The thing is, pilot lights can have a lot of problems if you don’t clean them occasionally.

Generally, a pilot light problem can be fixed by either cleaning or replacing the pilot light ignition assembly. You might also have a problem with too much carbon monoxide in your furnace. Whether your pilot light is flickering or not working at all, you should have a furnace repair expert take a look at it.

Belts

When you have a problem with a belt in your furnace, you’ll usually hear a squealing noise. While replacing a belt isn’t the most difficult repair job, it’s important to do it as soon as you notice the squealing noise. Not only does a bad belt make an annoying noise, it can cause problems with your furnace. You should have your belts checked out when you have your furnace inspected and maintained.

Bad Ball Bearings

If you have a problem with the ball bearings in your furnace, you’ll notice a scraping sound. The problem with bad ball bearings in a furnace is that they can lead to a lot of damage. If you hear a scraping sound coming from your furnace, you need to shut it off right away and have a furnace repair expert take a look at it. The longer you let your furnace run with bad ball bearings, the more damage you’re going to cause.

Routine Maintenance

As a Garland, TX, homeowner, it’s important to have a furnace repair expert take a look at your furnace on a regular schedule. The best thing to do is to schedule seasonal maintenance each spring and fall. During seasonal maintenance, an expert can take a look at your furnace to make sure everything is clean and you don’t have any problems with the belt or bearings. While it does cost a little bit to have your furnace maintained, seasonal maintenance is the best way to prevent expensive furnace repairs.

Call Us Today

The last thing you want is a furnace problem in the middle of winter, and you can avoid that with a little bit of maintenance. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for some of the most common furnace problems so you can call a furnace repair expert when you notice something.

If you’re looking for furnace repair and maintenance in the area, you can count on the team at K&S Heating & Air to take care of everything. To learn more about taking care of your furnace this winter or schedule an appointment, give us a call at 972-942-8078.