Furnace Repair - What to Do When Your Furnace Breaks Down

A furnace is the heart of your home, heating and cooling it to a comfortable temperature. It's essential to have your furnace in top working condition for maximum comfort and energy efficiency. However, every now and then a furnace may break down, and you need to know what to do about it.

Generally, there are two options for furnace repair: You can fix it yourself or you can call a furnace repair calgary technician to come and do the work. The latter option, though more costly and time consuming, can help you avoid a big investment in a new furnace.

Simple Fixes:

One of the most common problems with furnaces is a blown fuse or circuit breaker. This usually indicates a problem in your electrical system, and you will need to call in a  furnace repair calgary electrician to make the necessary repairs.

Another common issue is a faulty flame sensor, which prevents your furnace from running a cycle because it thinks there's no flame present. The sensor is a rod that sits in front of the gas stream, and it's important for your furnace to be able to sense when a flame is present.

The sensor should glow orange when it's time for the burner to light up, and it's triggered by an electronic signal that opens up the gas valve. Once the flame gets lit, it sends a signal to a safety or limit switch that tells the furnace control board that everything is safe and it can continue to operate. If the circuit board doesn't receive that signal, it will shut off your furnace and try to start it again three times.

Cleaning:

Typically, furnaces require regular cleaning to keep them running efficiently and safely. Over time, dirt, dust, and rust can build up inside the unit and block the flow of air to various parts. It's important to remove the dirt and clean each component separately.

Furnace Ignitor:

Many furnaces use an ignitor to ignite the burners, which can become coated with soot or debris over time. If this occurs, it's usually easy to remove the ignitor and clean it. It's also important to make sure that your ignitor is in good shape and hasn't been broken.

You can clean the ignitor by disengaging it from its bracket and using a fine emery cloth to gently wipe down the metal surface. Once the ignitor is clean, you can put it back in.

Hot Surface Ignitor:

The most common ignition system on furnaces is a hot surface igniter. This is the replacement for standing pilot lights and electronic igniters. It works in the same way, only it is much easier to damage and can cause your furnace to shut off accidentally.

The best thing you can do is have your ignitor cleaned periodically to keep your furnace in working order. A clean ignitor will allow your furnace to operate smoothly and efficiently, and it's a much cheaper and more convenient alternative than replacing the whole system. Check out this post: https://www.britannica.com/technology/furnace  that has expounded on furnace repair.