Many U.S. households heat their homes with a furnace. Let’s explore the most typical issues homeowners experience with their furnaces in Modesto, CA and what you can do about them.
A Furnace That Won’t Turn On
The first item to check is the electrical panel to see if a circuit breaker tripped. Be mindful that even most modern fuel-burning furnaces need some electricity and can trip the breaker. If the breaker has tripped, reset it. If the breaker trips again, call in our pros at Honey's Air & Solar. Ongoing trips suggest a more serious problem, and continued resets could do further damage.
Has it been a while since you checked your furnace filter? If so, inspect it, and see if it’s clogged. Filter clogs can get so bad that there’s not enough airflow, and the furnace won’t start. Check the thermostat as well. Ensure that it’s on and in Heat mode with a proper temperature setting.
Most furnaces have a power switch. Verify that it’s in the On position. If you have a pilot light, check it, and relight it if necessary. It should be relatively easy to light, and you should only relight it once. Many modern furnaces also have a reset switch. Flip the reset switch to the Off position. Wait several seconds, and then flip it back to the On position. If, at this point, your furnace still won’t come on, schedule a professional repair.
Pilot Light Troubles
Many gas furnace manufacturers have transitioned to electronic ignition systems and electric intermittent pilot lights. If you have an older furnace, it may have a traditional standing pilot light. Pilot lights should burn blue with perhaps a tinge of yellow or orange at the tip. Any other color indicates a potentially serious issue, so you need to turn the furnace off and not use it again until a technician has inspected it.
Pilot lights can go out from time to time, and an isolated outage isn’t cause for concern. If the pilot light goes out frequently, it can be due to a carbon deposit buildup, a bad gas-air mixture, or a faulty part. Before relighting, clear the pilot chamber of any dust and cobwebs. If the pilot is difficult to light or goes out again shortly, you need professional service.
Short Cycling
A furnace will typically cycle for 10 to 15 minutes, and that will occur two to three times an hour. If you notice your furnace turning on and off more frequently, it’s short cycling. The most common cause of this behavior is a clogged filter. The restricted airflow causes the furnace to overheat, which trips the system. When it cools, it cycles on again.
If it’s not the filter, you can try cleaning the thermostat. Remove the faceplate. Clean the contacts with rubbing alcohol, and clean between them with a straight edge. If that doesn’t do the trick, you’ll need a technician. The blower may not be running at a high enough speed. The culprit may also be a dirty or damaged flame sensor or a blocked flue.
Unusual Smells
It’s not unusual for there to be a faint, fleeting gas-like odor when your furnace cycles on. This is often just dust burning. There shouldn’t be strong or persistent odors. Dust accumulation in the ducts can cause bad odors, and mustiness may suggest there is or was moisture in there. Schedule a duct camera inspection. If there is excessive buildup, your technician can vacuum it out.
Other smells are much more serious. You should turn the furnace off, and wait for a technician to arrive. A rotten egg smell indicates a potential gas leak. The smell of burning plastic can indicate a cracked heat exchanger, which is serious because damaged heat exchangers can mix toxic gases into your air supply. A burning plastic smell can also indicate an overheated blower motor. An electric burning smell suggests problems with wiring and other electric components.
Do You Need Furnace Diagnostics in Modesto?
Honey's Air & Solar is a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave that provides home services throughout Modesto and the surrounding areas. Our technicians install, maintain, and repair furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, and smart thermostats. We install, repair, and clean ductwork. Our indoor air quality team installs and services whole-house fans, air purifiers, and other IAQ solutions. Count on us for your water heaters and water treatment systems. We also install and service solar panels and standby generators.
To schedule a service appointment or get answers to questions about your furnace, contact us at Honey's Air & Solar today.
