The heating system in your home can quit working or need repairs for any number of reasons. These can range from the simple fixes to those that require a replacement unit, and everything in between. However, there are five heating problems that are always popping up, and if you own a heating system, chances are that you will run into them.
Dirty Filters
Dirty or clogged filters make your heating system work harder, which means it can cause components to wear out or fail completely. Additionally, if the system has to work harder that also means that it is running longer, without providing the same comfort levels. If you want to make sure you aren’t paying higher energy bills, or requiring service any time soon, make sure you change your filter at least once every month.
Faulty Thermostats
The thermostat is essentially the brain of your heating system. It tells it when it’s time to start circulating warm air, when the ideal temperature is reached, and when the fan needs to start and stop blowing. Thermostats can be tricky, and problems can range from loose connections in the wall to complete failure. When it first starts going out, it can cause the heating to work intermittently, or not turn on at all.
Wear and Tear
Your heating system is composed of many different mechanical components. Over time, parts such as the bearings, motor, and belts simply start showing signs of wear, which means that your heat is not performing at optimal levels. Worn out parts can lead to the system overheating, or failing to provide adequate heat or fan speeds. If the issue isn’t discovered, or worse, is ignored, it will result in the system not working at all when you need it.
Ignition and Pilot Problems
Heating systems require either an intermittent pilot or a hot surface ignition to control it when the burners ignite to produce warm air. The intermittent pilot ignites the pilot with a high voltage spark, which then causes the main burners to ignite to produce heat. The hot surface ignition relies on a heating element to light the burner. Over time, both of these can wear out, which means it can’t light, and therefore can’t warm your home either.
Improper Maintenance
The number one most common problem with heating systems is a lack of maintenance. In fact, proper maintenance can help prevent many of the other problems. While it can’t prevent the natural wear and tear problem, having your system maintained and serviced properly can allow the technician to catch any potential problems before they turn into system failures. While that may not seem all that important during the summer when its 95 degrees outside, when the temperature suddenly drops and you can’t heat your home it certainly will.
A preventative maintenance program is designed to keep your system running at its best, which means fewer problems, and less out of pocket expense in the long run. Your filters will be changed appropriately, the system will be cleaned out to ensure nothing is clogged, and all of the components will receive a thorough checking to make sure they are working as they should. All of these things work together to ensure that your system runs properly, and you have heat when you need it. Additionally, making sure all of these things are done will also protect your system from overwork, which means it will also last longer than systems that are not maintained.
If you want to keep your system running properly, and avoid these common problems, contact us about our System Assurance Membership today.
