Winters can be a wonderful time since that’s when the holiday season begins. But winter also brings along cold weather, which might not be to everyone’s liking.
Fortunately, many homes have HVAC systems to keep out the winter chill and keep your home toasty until spring rolls in. HVAC systems do this by using their built-in furnaces to generate heat and circulate the heat around your home.
But furnaces aren’t indestructible; sometimes your HVAC furnace may need a few repairs to keep it running at peak performance. So let’s delve into furnace repair in Pittsburgh PA and the telltale signs that your furnace needs repairs.
What are the most common types of furnace repair in Pittsburgh PA?
Here are some of the most common types of furnace repairs you may come across:
1. Blower Motor Repair
The blower is a fan that circulates warm air throughout your home. If the blower motor fails, your furnace won’t be able to heat your home properly.
One of the most common problems that the blower can develop is damaged ball bearings. When the ball bearings are damaged, it’s not safe to continue running the furnace as the bearings could experience even more wear and tear. In most cases, worn-out ball bearings are usually seen in older furnaces that have been used frequently.
2. Thermocouple Repair
The thermocouple makes sure that the furnace won’t continue to run once it’s out of fuel. If there’s something wrong with your thermocouple, your furnace won’t turn off properly. A thermocouple may stop working due to oxidation on its metal parts or improper installation.
3. Igniter Repair
The igniter, as the name suggests, is used to ignite the fuel that powers your furnace. If the igniter fails, your furnace can’t produce any heat. Clogged filters and problems with the gas line are some causes of igniter failures.
4. Ductwork Repair
Improperly installed ductwork or older ductwork may get damaged over time with rust, and this may lead to problems like air leaks that could cause inefficient heating. The ductwork will need to be patched or replaced if the damage is too extensive.
5. Blower Capacitor Repair
The capacitor’s job is to provide energy to power the furnace. A bit similar to a battery, the capacitor stores energy and releases it to start the furnace. When the capacitor fails, the furnace’s motor will start using energy directly from the circuit board—this could lead to power surges.
Power surges could trip your home’s breaker or, in the worst-case scenario, damage your home’s appliances.
What are the telltale signs that a furnace needs repair?
Sometimes, you might not even be aware that your furnace needs repairs. Here are a few signs that you may need furnace repair in Pittsburgh PA fast:
1. Banging or Grinding Noises
These odd noises could be a sign that there’s something wrong with the blower motor. If the ball bearings are damaged, they may create loud noises.
This could also happen when the lubricant in the motor has dried up.
Sometimes, poorly installed components can move around when the furnace is operating, making loud noises.
2. Tripping Circuit Breaker
It’s not uncommon for a furnace to trip a circuit breaker during a power surge. This will prevent your home’s electrical appliances from getting damaged. If the furnace keeps tripping the circuit breaker, there may be a serious underlying problem, like a faulty capacitor.
3. Gas Leaks
If your furnace is gas-powered, it may run on gases like propane and butane. When a gas leak occurs, you should notice a sulfur-like smell—this can mean there are gases like propane leaking out of the furnace.
Also, gas leaks can be extremely dangerous as they could lead to fires. If you notice this happening, immediately shut down your furnace and call a professional for help.
4. Yellow Pilot Flame
If the pilot flame inside the furnace is yellow or orange in color, it could mean that the flame’s temperature is too low. One common cause of yellow pilot lights is the presence of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide gas, called CO for short, is a colorless and odorless gas that can be very dangerous if inhaled in large amounts.
Every year, about 400 Americans die from accidental CO poisoning. If you start to feel dizzy or light-headed when the furnace is turned on, this could mean there are high levels of carbon monoxide in the air.
5. Smoke
Gas-powered furnaces use combustible gases to warm your home. Sometimes, you may notice faint smoke coming from the vents, this could sometimes be dust getting burned in the vents and should stop after a while.
However, if you start seeing significant amounts of smoke, you should call a professional immediately.
6. Strange Smells
When your furnace’s ductwork becomes too dirty, it can turn into a breeding ground for mold and mildew. When mold and mildew form in your ductwork, they can release some very unpleasant odors.
Also, mold releases spores and these spores may trigger allergic reactions in some people. If you start to notice any of these odd smells, you should consider cleaning out the ductwork.
Cleaning ductwork by yourself can be dangerous, so consider calling a professional furnace repair service for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some commonly asked questions from our customers about furnace repair:
1. How often should I get my furnace serviced?
Ideally, you should get your furnace serviced at least once a year before the winter months roll in.
2. Can I do furnace maintenance by myself?
Small repairs like replacing the filters can be done on your own; however, for more complex repairs, you should consider calling a professional.
3. How long does a maintenance visit for a furnace take?
This depends on the HVAC services company and the kind of repairs your furnace needs. Usually, a maintenance visit will take between 1-2 hours.
Get in touch with a professional for furnace repair in Pittsburgh PA
Without proper maintenance, your furnace may develop all kinds of problems down the road and this can lead to major repairs and even complete replacements. By doing small but necessary repairs on your furnace whenever you notice the slightest sign of a problem, you can ensure that your furnace works at peak performance for many years to come! Speak with an HVAC services company for professional furnace repairs today.
