Heater Troubleshooting: 6 Common Problems and Their Solutions

When you switch your HVAC system to its heating setting or turn on your furnace for the winter, you expect it to work and warm your home. However, heating systems can break down over time and start to run inefficiently. Since no heating system will last forever without needing a repair, it’s critical to know the most common heating problems and their solutions.

6 Common Heating Problems and Solutions

If your heating system doesn’t keep your home at the right temperature or only warms certain rooms, you’ll want to find a solution fast. One of the best ways to ensure your heating system works properly is to be aware of some of the most common heating problems. By understanding the main issues heating systems face, you can identify problems quickly and solve them before they start to affect your comfort.

Learn more about the six most common heating issues and their solutions below:

1. Lack of Proper Maintenance

When you don’t properly maintain your system, you can run into several heating issues. Regular maintenance helps your system run efficiently, avoids components breaking down earlier than expected, and keeps your home comfortable. When a professional doesn’t regularly repair or clean your HVAC system, it can start to break down or use excess energy.

If you want to avoid this issue, a great option is to schedule regular maintenance visits from an HVAC professional. By hiring someone to conduct scheduled inspections and maintenance on your system, you can actually save money, as you’ll likely avoid the need for costly repairs.

2. Broken Thermostat

Broken or faulty thermostats regularly cause HVAC systems to not work properly. Some of the most common issues include misinterpreted temperatures, low or dead batteries, incapability with your HVAC system, and improper settings. All these issues can cause your heating system to not warm your home at the temperature you desire.

When your batteries are dead, a quick fix is to simply switch them out for fresh ones. Another issue might be that you’ve simply set your temperature lower than what’s comfortable, and all you’ll have to do is turn it up. However, for more complex thermostat issues, you’ll likely need to turn to a professional to determine the problem’s source and repair it. If you need a new thermostat, you can speak to an HVAC professional for advice about the right one.

3. Dirty Filters:

One of the most common causes of heating problems is a dirty filter. When your HVAC system’s filters become dirty, they’ll restrict airflow into the system and make it difficult for your system to circulate air throughout your home. Due to the restricted airflow, your house will have trouble staying warm.

While dirty filters are a major cause of heating issues, they’re also one of the easiest problems to fix. Normally, all you’ll have to do is change your old filter out for a new one, and you should start receiving warm air again. To prevent this issue from occurring, you can check your system’s suggested intervals for filter replacement. After checking, swap out the filters on the recommended schedule.

4. Failing Heat Pump

When you rely on a heat pump to keep your home warm over the winter, it can sometimes fail due to overuse. Since heat pumps operate best when running in below-freezing temperatures, warmer North Carolina winters can put more strain on them. If you have your heat pump running all the time in above freezing conditions, it can start to have trouble warming your home.

Common issues resulting from heat pump overuse include low refrigerant, poor reversing, and failed compressor valves. A damaged heat pump isn’t something you should try to fix on your own, so it’s best to hire an HVAC professional to conduct an inspection and perform heater repairs.

5. Leaking Ductwork

Your HVAC system or furnace blows warm air through your home’s ducts to warm every room. If your ductwork has any leaks, you’ll likely face heating issues. Since the air will escape before it reaches the proper vent, your heating system will work harder to replace the escaped air. Besides leaking ducts causing your home to not be as warm as you want, the overuse of your HVAC system or furnace can cause your heating system to break down prematurely.

Since finding leaks in your ductwork and repairing them can be complex work, you’ll likely need a professional. An HVAC professional can find the source of the leak and repair it quickly, so you don’t lose out on any warm air.

6. Poor Circulation

As components in your HVAC system age, they can cause your HVAC system to not properly circulate air throughout your home. For example, damaged belts, fan motors, and bearings can all impact your home’s circulation. When your system can’t circulate air correctly, it won’t distribute heat throughout your home, and the system could even overheat, leading to a full breakdown.

Homeowners who want to stay ahead of this potential issue will hire a reputable heater repair company to check the HVAC system’s internal parts. A great technician will inspect the system and replace any parts showing signs of wear. Besides providing preventative services, a technician can also find already failed components and perform a heater repair before the issue worsens.

Choose Newcomb and Company for Heating Services in Raleigh

Whether you need a new heating system or heater service, you can trust Newcomb and Company to handle it for you. If you live in Raleigh, Wilmington, or the surrounding areas, we can provide you with various heater services to keep your home warm all winter long. Besides our ability to repair or replace your current system, we also offer comfort contracts. When you choose one of these contracts, we’ll inspect your system semi-annually and perform any necessary maintenance.

Learn more about HVAC repair and replacement services today. If you’re ready to schedule a heater service appointment or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.