Here are 3 Reasons Why

It's an annoying problem, especially when it happens in the dead of Winter, and cold temperatures are making you miserable in your Manchester, NH home. Many people look to the furnace as the source of their woes, but believe it or not, that is not always the case.

Problems can be caused by a variety of different factors and even by one's own negligence! Fortunately, you will at least be able to eliminate a few of the obvious possibilities, and help the repairman fix your furnace for you.

Determining the Cause of the Problem

Of course, there are many possibilities that are unique to the type of furnace you have. For example, did you know that many people forget that they have to light the pilot on a gas furnace for it to blow warm air, or that problems with an oil-based furnace can be fixed by simply changing the filter or cleaning the heat sensor? Here are some of the more universal possibilities, as explored in this article from ASM Heating and Cooling, a licensed HVAC repair company that serves customers in Los Angeles, California.

The furnace may not be to blame -

Believe it or not, many people believe that the air blowing from the furnace will instantly be hot. No matter how advanced your furnace is, this is not the case. It takes time for the heating elements inside your furnace to warm the air passing through it. Wait about an hour or two after you first turn the heater on just to be safe, then check the vents again. You may find that your furnace doesn't need repaired at all, and this simple step will save you money on labor hiring a licensed professional to fix the furnace for you. Also, this will likely be the first thing the repairman will ask you about.

Problems with ductwork -

This type of problem is not obvious to the average person, but leaks in the ductwork in your house can reduce your furnace's ability to warm the air going through it. Check for the possibility of leaks. Leaks in your ductwork can be caused by a variety of things, such as simple thermal stress, negligence or improper installation, just to name a few causes. Take special care if your ductwork is located in an attic, and walk only on the wooden planks going through the attic, called joists. You may end up falling through your ceiling if you simply walk around without watching what you're doing, and holes in your ceiling are not cheap to fix. Be safe, and do a little bit of research on your house.

Improperly set thermostat -

So you've turned on the furnace, and waited two hours before checking the vents again, but you still feel cold air coming through your vents. If this fails to fix the problem, check to make sure your thermostat is set higher than the temperature of your home. Most furnaces are designed to cut out when the temperature inside your home reaches a specific temperature. That temperature is determined by your thermostat.

Also, another thing that's commonly overlooked is the batteries in the thermostat. (Yes, many thermostats run off batteries, and they do go bad eventually.) Try replacing the batteries. If these steps fail to fix your problem, call a licensed professional to have it fixed.

More Common Than You'd Expect: Sizing issues -

It's not common knowledge, but homes have a specific furnace installed for a reason. If you have replaced the furnace recently, it is possible that you have a furnace that is either too big or too small for your Manchester home.

If your furnace is too small, it will not be able to supply enough power to properly heat your home. On the other hand, a furnace that is too big for your home will heat your house too quickly, and will constantly cut itself off and restart, thinking your home is warm enough. As a result, your energy costs will increase.

This is why bigger is not always better.

Have the size of your furnace ready when you contact a professional, as they will more than likely ask you for it. All pertinent information will be prominently located on a sticker placed in the inside of your furnace (or on a riveted metal plate if the furnace is an older model) and is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units.)

If you're having trouble with your Manchester, NH Heating system, don't hesitate to call the experts of Skovron Mechanical Services LLC. at (603) 922-4037.