When the snow is blowing and your furnace gives out suddenly furnace problems occur, knowing that the failure was likely preventable is a bit of a “cold comfort”. The best way to prevent furnace failure and subsequent freezing is by routinely checking your furnace before the cold season hits each year.
The Common Furnace Problems
IGNITER
Due to normal wear and tear, often the igniter will go out. This is a component that endures constant expansion and contraction and really high heat, failure is pretty common. They are also susceptible to power surges, which can also cause them to fail.
The average furnace turns on 4-5 times per hour, that means over the course of a season, the igniter is undergoing a lot of stress. We recommend getting a diagnosis from a licensed HVAC technician to know that the igniter is the culprit first before attempting to replace it yourself.
Air Leakage
Perhaps your furnace is running, the ducts are clear, you’ve checked all the switches, but you’re still not getting the warm air that you should be. It could be that there is an air leak somewhere in your system.
If the warm air is heading outside instead of heating the house, your home will be a bit cool. Or, if there is a draft (perhaps one that you cannot feel directly) then too much cold air could be coming in. Complete a thorough check of the interior and exterior of your home to determine if this is the case.