A good furnace is vital to keep you feeling cozy and warm on even the coldest winter days. Your furnace will be called on to perform every day in the colder weather, and you may find you use it on slightly cooler fall evenings. So, when a problem occurs with your furnace, you may want to have it fixed as quickly as possible. While it is always a good idea to err on the side of caution, there are some non issues that don’t require the attention of a professional HVAC specialist. These issues may just be part of the normal operation of your furnace and will leave you feeling a little red faced if you call out a technician. So, here we will explore the three most common furnace non issues you don’t need to be concerned about.
Slow Start Up
When you switch on your furnace, you may have noticed that the fan doesn’t start immediately. If you’ve never heard this before, the period of silence before the heat starts to kick in can be a little worrying. You may start having thoughts of faulty electric systems or ignition problems that are sure to warranty a hefty repair bill. Fortunately, this delay is a normal part of furnace operation. It is simply that your furnace needs some time to heat up the air to a sufficient level. When you turn on the heat, the burners will ignite, but it does take a little time for the heat exchanger to be warmed and the air temperature to be raised. So, if your heater doesn’t appear to start up immediately, give it a few moments before you start to worry. If the furnace fan is running within a few minutes, it is very likely that everything is perfectly well with your system.
Lack of a Pilot Light
If you’ve recently upgraded from an older furnace, you may think about checking the pilot light on your new model to check it’s lit. This can be quite disconcerting when you search your furnace and can’t see a pilot light. While your thoughts may drift towards an unlit pilot light, you need to appreciate that newer systems don’t rely on a pilot light. Instead of the pilot light, you had on your old furnace, your new model is likely to use an electronic ignition switch. These switches are not only safer, but they are more reliable and don’t require you to keep checking that they are working correctly.
Higher Thermostat = Faster Heat
Many people believe that cranking the thermostat settings will mean that their home will heat up more quickly. This attempt to speed up the process of heating a home is ineffective, and when it still takes time to achieve the desired comfort level, you may start to think that something is wrong with your HVAC system. In truth, most models of heater have two settings; off and on, raising the thermostat settings will do nothing apart from making your system run for longer.
If you still have concerns that your heating system is not operating correctly, it is a good idea to speak to a professional HVAC technician. An experienced professional can assess your system and determine if there is an underlying problem or fault, so you can have the reassurance that your HVAC system is operating safely and efficiently.