The heating in your home is provided by a complex system that can fail in a variety of different ways. One of the best indicators that something is going awry is a lack of heat generated by your furnace or heater. Of course, fault finding a heating system and carrying out a repair is beyond most of us and the province of a dedicated professional HVAC engineer. That being the case, there are three things that you can check and correct yourself without any training at all.
1. Leaky Ductwork
A common cause of low quality heat can be caused by leaks or holes in the ductwork. This can cause the heated air to escape into areas such as the attic, instead of where you need it. Take some time to examine your ductwork, and you may find areas where you can feel the heated air escaping. The ductwork should be repaired to improve the quality of the heat and improve the efficiency of your heating system. The temptation may be to simply cover a hole or crack with a temporary fix, but this kind of repair will not be effective. If you don’t have any experience, it’s a better idea to hire a professional that understands the best practices for air duct repair and replacement.
2. A Dirty Air Filter
This is a very common issue, and it is such an easy problem to correct without professional intervention. Upon inspection, you may find that the air filter has become blocked with materials, such as pet hair, lint, and dirt. This slows down and eventually if the problem is not corrected stops the flow of air. This lowers the heat as less air is running through the conditioning process and it also adds additional stress to the heating system. Change your filter on a regular basis, and this problem will not occur again.
3. A Worn Blower Motor
There is a blower motor that pushes air through the air duct in you home. A blower motor that has become worn over time will perform its job less effectively. This will reduce the amount of treated air being circulated and leave it stranded in your ducts. Your home will feel colder as the heated air will not reach the areas that need to be heated. This is easy to identify by holding your hand over the vent; there will be little to no air flow, and the quality of the heat will be very low.
How These Problems Arise:
Let’s take a moment to consider how these problems arise in the first place. The most common cause is a lack of low level furnace maintenance that is vital for hassle free heating. Many people, neglect their furnace and fail to schedule regular maintenance. This is a mistake, as regular maintenance can catch any potential problems before they get worse and lead to more expensive repairs. It may even be the case that you need to replace your existing heating system with a newer model. This can be a blessing in disguise as modern systems are far more efficient than older models. This could significantly reduce the heating bills for your home and make it a more comfortable place to be.