Furnaces are essential for keeping homes and businesses warm during cold weather, but they can become problematic when they break down. Furnaces require specialized equipment to operate, so they have many components that can break down. Furnace-repair professionals specialize in repairing these machines and restoring their function, keeping families comfortable during cold months.

If you notice that your https://www.eheatcool.com/services/heating/furnaces/furnace-repair/ is making strange noises or doesn’t seem to be heating evenly throughout your home, it’s time to call in a professional. These unusual sounds and problems usually indicate that something is wrong with the internal workings of your unit, such as a malfunctioning thermostat or gas valve. In some cases, it may also be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be dangerous for your family to breathe.

The first thing to look at is your thermostat. If you have it set a certain temperature and the room isn’t reaching that level, there could be a problem with the airflow, which can be fixed by adjusting the vents or replacing the blower fan belt. If you don’t think that’s the issue, check your furnace’s breaker box. Sometimes a power outage or electrical surge can trip the breaker and shut off your unit, which will need to be reset.

Another common problem is an inability to start the system. If your furnace won’t turn on, it may be an indicator that the heat exchanger has broken down or the burners aren’t working properly. In some cases, you might have to replace the blower motor or ignitor to get your system up and running again.

You might also hear rattling or banging sounds coming from your furnace, which could indicate that the heat exchanger is cracked or there’s a gas leak. If you smell gas inside your home, turn off the system immediately and contact an HVAC specialist.

Your furnace’s limit switch is a safety device that ensures the unit doesn’t overheat by measuring the temperature of the combustion chamber. If it senses too much heat, the limit switch will cut off the power to the burner, so that it doesn’t overheat again. You can find this switch near the blower on the side of your furnace, and it may be attached by a screw or held in place with a snap-clip arrangement.

If the limit switch gets flipped down or off, you’ll need to flip it back up to reactivate your furnace (Photo 2). It may have gotten shut off because of an overheating problem, and since the switch looks similar to a light switch, someone probably mistakenly flipped it off when they meant to turn on the heater. You might be able to clean the sensor and reset it, but if you need to replace it, consult your service manual for guidance.