How do you heat your house during the winter? If we had to make a guess, we’d choose a gas furnace every time. Gas furnaces are the most common type of heater found across the country, thanks to their powerful heat output, easy availability of fuel, and energy efficient performance.
Of course, a gas furnace isn’t perfect, and the majority of them will run into one or two malfunctions during their service lives—possibly more if they don’t receive regular maintenance each year from professionals.
Below are some of the furnace repairs you may need for the best heating in Salem, OR or wherever you are in our service area. Keep a watch for the signs your furnace is experiencing trouble and don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here for you, any time of the day or night!
Replacing a cracked heat exchanger
The heat exchanger in a gas furnace is a metal chamber that contains the hot combustion gas from the burners, where it then transfers the heat into the air. It’s basically where the heating part of the furnace’s heating cycle occurs. Stress on the exchanger may cause it to crack, allowing the combustion gas into the air, which is dangerous. If you hear a clicking sound from the furnace after the blower shuts off, you may have a cracked heat exchanger that needs to be replaced.
Electrical repairs to the blower
Have you turned your furnace on only to have it cause a circuit breaker to trip? If you reset the circuit breaker, but it trips again, you’re likely dealing with a blower motor fan that’s overloading the circuit. Professionals can find out if there’s a relay problem or a failing motor and have it repaired. (This is a good reminder that gas furnaces require some electrical power as well.)
Replacing a failed electronic ignition system
Modern furnaces no longer use standing pilot lights to ignite their burners. For better energy efficiency and reliable performance, they have electronic igniters that use a spark to get the burners going. The electronic ignition system can fail, however, and this is one of the reasons you might find that your furnace won’t light. Professionals can replace the broken igniter.
Cleaning the burners
The burners must have oxygen in order to light. If the burner is covered with dust, grime, or rust flakes, it makes it harder for the burner to access the oxygen and it will struggle to light. If there’s a delay before the burners come on, or you hear a booming noise as the burners ignite, the burners probably need to be cleaned. Don’t attempt this yourself: professionals must remove the burner and handle the cleaning jobs.
An important reminder: Natural gas furnaces can pose health risks if when they aren’t working right. This is the best reason to always call as soon as you can for professional repair work when you notice something wrong with your furnace! Our technicians will see that your furnace is safe and working once again.
Comfort Flow Heating serves all of Oregon and we offer 24-hour emergency service.
