As the weather begins to shift from warm to cool here in the Keystone area, homeowners are beginning to switch over from using air conditioning to using heating. With this time of year – you may find yourself needing to use both on some days. But for many homeowners, it will be the first time they’ve turned on their furnace since last winter or spring. Sometimes, when you turn your system back on, it may not operate properly.

In our last post, we discussed the importance of routine furnace maintenance. However, in this article we are going to show you several reasons why your furnace may be blowing cold air instead of that cozy warm air that you expect.

5 Reasons Why Your Furnace Isn’t Working Correctly

1. Incorrect thermostat settings: during times of the year where your thermostat is frequently being switched up and down, it can mess with some of the settings needed to ensure proper operation. Check your thermostat fan setting and make sure that it is set to AUTO instead of ON. When the thermostat is set to ON, it means that the fan will constantly run without providing heat. It is important to not have the fan set to ON, because it can cause costly furnace repair.
2. Your furnace is overheated: if you have not recently changed your air filter, the burner in your furnace may have shut down. The reason this is caused is because the old clogged air filter compromises the air flow, causing the furnace to overheat. Be sure to change your air filter routinely.
3. Pilot light has gone out: If you have an older gas furnace that requires a continuous pilot light, it may have gone out. There are many reasons why this could happen. Most often, it’s because of a gust of air that blew it out. You can relight the pilot light yourself if you feel comfortable with it.
4. Leaking ductwork: this is a very common cause of discomfort in your home. If you have ripped or leaky ducts in your attic or crawl space, you may be experiencing cool or cold air in the home when you are running your furnace. Additionally, this can cause high energy bills. If you suspect ripped ducts, contact a professional for professional ductwork repair.
5. Faulty electronic ignition: if you have an electric furnace, which is more common in newer homes, you may have a faulty electronic ignition – which causes the furnace to not operate correctly. This problem is more difficult to solve than the pilot light, and require a professional HVAC repair technician.

Contact Keystone Comfort Solutions Today

If you are experiencing or suspect any of these signs, contact the team at Keystone Comfort Solutions today. We offer furnace repair and can help get your system up and running again. Additionally, our service agreement can ensure that your system stands the test of time and continues working correctly throughout the years.

To schedule service, call our office or request service online.

With cooler weather arriving, it is important to begin thinking about getting your residential heating system tuned up and ready to keep your house warm and cozy. In this post, we are going to explain 5 reasons why furnace maintenance is important.

How Does A Gas Furnace Work?

Before we can fully dive into why you keep your furnace maintained and operating correctly, it’s important to understand how a furnace works. There are 5 crucial steps in the operation of a furnace, all equally important.

• Step 1: The thermostat signals to the furnace to begin warming the home
• Step 2: Natural gas is ignited in the furnace burner
• Step 3: Ignition of the burner begins
• Step 4: The furnace starts filtering good air from the combustion waste
• Step 5: Distribution begins, then the process is repeated

If any of these steps malfunction, it can result in no warm air, and, possibly lead to costly repairs! Having understood this, it is important to know why routine maintenance is important.

Ensure System Efficiency

Different parts of your furnace wear down quicker than others, especially when they are used extensively, as many homeowners tend to do. For example, your air filter. The furnace relies on the air that is pulled to heat it, and then push the air through the home. When the air filter is clogged, your furnace will have to work much harder to pull the air through it, which not only wears down different components of your furnace, but decreases the efficiency of your system.

Decrease Risk Of Furnace Failure

Having a professional furnace maintenance company, such as Keystone Comfort Solutions, check your unit once a year means they can catch any parts that are worn down and can get them replaced before it effects the entire system. Our team will lubricate parts that need it, and check the electrical wiring. It is important to have a professional do this routine maintenance to your furnace at least once a year because they can identify when things are about to fail, or it they are good to go for the heavy usage in fall and winter.

Save On Repair Costs

It happens almost every year, homeowners will fail to get their furnace or heating system tuned up and ready for the year, and then the first time they go to turn it on.. it doesn’t work! Then they’ll have to spend money on costly furnace repairs just to feel comfortable in their home. This shouldn’t be the case! By having routine maintenance done on your system, you will be able to prevent spending money on costly repairs & replacements. At Keystone Comfort Solutions, our maintenance plans come with bi-annual tune-ups, which can help prevent system failure!

Extend The Lifespan Of The Furnace

Purchasing a new gas furnace is a hefty investment, but with time, it is necessary. By having routine maintenance conducted to your existing furnace, you are able to prevent having to install a new furnace before you need to. Let’s keep that furnace running for as long as it can so that you can get the more money out of your furnace purchase.

Keep Your Family Safe

This is the most important reason of all! Did you know that furnaces are designed to release carbon monoxide in the exhaust? This is part of it’s normal operation! When operating properly, it will vent the carbon monoxide through an exhaust pipe to the outside of your home. It is important to have a licensed professional check to make sure it isn’t leaking into the home. Additionally, we encourage any homeowner with a gas furnace to invest in a carbon monoxide detector!

Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance Today

Are you ready to get your furnace tuned up before the cold weather gets here? Contact Keystone Comfort Solutions today! Our furnace repair experts can help get your furnace ready for the heavy demand. Thinking it might be time to replace your furnace? We’ve got you covered! We offer professional furnace replacement services that come with industry leading warranties & best-in-class installation!