When You Need to Troubleshoot Common Gas Furnace Problems

What are some common gas furnace problems? Is it possible to fix them on your own, or should you call Blue Frost Heating & Cooling?

Having a heating system that will keep you comfortable inside while it’s icy cold outside this winter is crucial. And a natural gas furnace is the heating option that will provide just that. Don’t let the high Indian summer temps fool you into thinking you’ve got plenty of time to prepare your furnace for “the long winter’s nap.” Take a look at your furnace now. Then, if you discover any gas furnace problems, you’ve got time to troubleshoot them yourself or call Blue Frost Heating & Cooling for help.

A Natural Gas Furnace is your Best Heating Option

We’re big believers in technology at Blue Frost Heating & Cooling, but natural gas remains the trusted heating fuel of choice. Why?

• It works well.
• It’s still the most energy-efficient way to heat your home.
• Natural gas has the fewest emissions of any heating fuel.

Awesome improvements have been made on traditional natural gas heating offering, even more, advantages than it used to. New gas furnace models:

• Combine technological advances with the advantages of traditional natural gas heating. They combine the trusted reliability of natural gas heating with new ways to make home heating easier.
• Have communication technology that results in greater comfort and efficiency. This communication technology allows the heating system to take room temperature, space, and humidity into consideration and work accordingly. They are able to calibrate on their own for ultimate performance, year after year. Check out Trane’s XC95m gas furnace.
• Offer a cleaning feature that allows for advanced air filtration to remove more dust, pollen, and other irritants from the air. And this creates a cleaner and more comfortable environment in your home.

All the advantages of natural gas, and the ability to save more money and consume less energy, the perfect combo for the smart homeowner. Because it’s natural gas, it’s highly energy-efficient, making sure your money goes toward keeping your house warm.

Common Gas Furnace Problems

But what if a new furnace isn’t really needed quite yet or isn’t in the budget? Are there common gas furnace problems you can fix yourself? The answer is, “Yes” and “No.”

First, your furnace needs to be checked and maintained once a year at the least. Have you scheduled maintenance for your furnace yet? Click here if you haven’t.

Second, it’s a good idea to call Blue Frost Heating & Cooling if you’re experiencing problems with your furnace. Tackling most furnace repairs yourself can damage your unit and lead to home-threatening problems like gas leaks.

1. My gas furnace isn’t producing any heat or not enough heat.

If your gas furnace isn’t producing heat or it is blowing cool air, check your thermostat.

This is usually an easy fix, requiring adjustment or sometimes replacement.

Try this:

Set your thermostat to “heat,” not “cool.” Set the fan to “auto.” Then, set the thermostat to a temperature high enough to trigger the furnace to turn on.

Once your thermostat is properly set, check to make sure it is getting power (batteries, fuses, circuit breakers). Also, make sure the interior components of your thermostat are clean. Dust and debris inside can cause it to malfunction.

2. My gas furnace is overactive or short-cycling.

A gas furnace that turns on and off way too often is inefficient and even damaging. There are several possible reasons for an overactive or short-cycling gas furnace:

• Malfunctioning thermostat
• Rusted flame sensors
• Dirty air filters
• Overheating
• Oversized furnace

It’s important to pinpoint the exact cause of your short-cycling furnace. And for an overactive or short-cycling gas furnace, it’s best to hire Blue Frost Heating & Cooling. We can identify the problem safely and offer the appropriate solution. Short-cycling gas furnaces require working with electrical and gas systems and must be handled correctly by a professional.

Eliminating short-cycling saves you money and provides steady, more comfortable temperatures in the home. It also eliminates larger, more serious gas furnace problems that could threaten the safety of your home and family.

3. The gas furnace blower won’t turn off.

There are two things to check for this problem, and their fixes are simple:

• Is the thermostat set to fan continuously? Change the thermostat fan setting.
• Is the fan limit control switch faulty or does it need to be reset? Reset or replace the furnace fan limit control switch.

4. My gas furnace is really noisy!

A noisy furnace is annoying, and different sounds mean different problems. If your gas furnace is loud or makes unusual sounds, it may be telling you that something serious is going on. And continued use of a malfunctioning furnace can cause damage that will require expensive repair. So listen to your furnace and find the source of the noise right away.

Before you attempt to identify the noisy sounds your furnace is making, turn off the power and shut off the gas to your furnace. Now, how would you describe the sound to your Blue Frost Heating & Cooling technician?

• Scraping
• Thumping
• Humming
• Squealing
• Banging
• Rumbling

There are a couple of noisy furnace sounds you can take care of on your own – a dirty filter or poorly lubricated blower motor. Improve your furnace’s efficiency and eliminate noises by installing a new filter and oiling the blower motor.

And while you’re installing a new filter, check your furnace’s flue. This is a good time to make sure your flue is free of rust, corrosion, and deterioration. It’s wise to check your flue each time you replace a filter since it vents harmful gases away from your home.

5. My gas furnace pilot light is out.

A strong draft, dirty orifice, or dirt in the gas tube can cause your furnace pilot light to go out. Relighting the pilot light is one of those common gas furnace problems that is fairly simple to do yourself. If the thermocouple is faulty, it will shut off the gas supply. This problem is not as simple, and your thermocouple may need to be replaced. Here are some instructions on replacing your thermocouple.

Newer furnaces rely on electronic ignition of the pilot light in one of two ways:

1. Intermittent pilot
2. Hot-surface ignition

In an intermittent pilot system, an electronically-controlled high-voltage electrical spark ignites the gas pilot and then the main burners when the thermostat calls for heat.

In a hot-surface ignition system, an electronically controlled resistance-heating element is used to ignite the gas pilot. Think light bulb filament.

6. Could I be using the wrong type of thermostat?

You might be using the wrong of a thermostat with your furnace. Thermostats may look similar, but they are designed differently. Choosing the wrong thermostat can damage your furnace and lead to malfunction and costly inefficiency. Heating systems and thermostat systems must be compatible for safe and proper operation. Using the wrong type of thermostat with your gas furnace can be dangerous!

The three types of thermostat systems used today are millivolt, low-voltage, and line-voltage. Use this guide to help you identify and fix common gas furnace problems that are thermostat-furnace related.

Blue Frost Heating & Cooling Can Help You with All your Gas Furnace Problems

Blue Frost Heating & Cooling stays up on the new developments in the home heating and cooling industries. Finding out what works best to provide comfort during the cold, Midwest winters is what we like doing for our customers.

Call Blue Frost Heating & Cooling at (630) 444-0860 today for all your gas furnace problems, even those you may be able to troubleshoot. And when you do, ask about our Furnace Pre-season Sale!