New Jersey residents need to depend on their furnace when the weather turns cold. It’s not just about staying comfortable, either. It’s about staying safe. Severe cold snaps can be incredibly dangerous, and it’s important to make sure that your furnace is ready for the rigors of winter, or you could be facing the need for furnace repair. What are some of the most common reasons for a home’s heating system to need repair work?
1. Failed/Failing Thermostat
Your furnace is tied to the thermostat – you set the temperature that you want for your home, and turn the thermostat to the “heat” setting. When the temperature drops low enough, the furnace turns on and begins heating your home. However, if the thermostat is ailing or has failed, then the furnace will not receive the signal to turn on, and you’ll face a dangerous situation.
2. Clogged Filter
This is perhaps the single most common cause of furnace repair, and it can be easily avoided. Your home’s heating and air system pull air in from within the home. That air contains dirt, dust, hair, pollen, and other things that you don’t want to spread in every room. An air filter prevents that from happening. However, your filter will clog up over time and must be changed. If you don’t change it regularly, it puts additional stress on the system, reduces airflow, and can result in the need for furnace repair.
3. Air Flow Issues
Your furnace blows heated air through ducts to reach every room in your home. Over time, dirt, debris, dust, hair and other contaminants can build up within the ductwork, particularly if your ducts are located under the floor, rather than in the ceiling. It will reduce airflow volume through the ducts, decreasing your comfort and forcing the furnace to work harder than it should.
4. No Maintenance
Like all other machines, your furnace needs a bit of TLC from time to time in the form of maintenance. Failing to have regular maintenance performed will increase your risk of needing furnace repair over time. Ideally, your system should be inspected, cleaned and maintained twice per year – once in the spring, and then again in the fall before the cold sets.
Think you might need furnace repair? Contact First Choice Heating & Air Conditioning – a leading New Jersey service provider.
