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Heating and Cooling

Jan 19
Furnace Issues

4 Common Furnace Issues and How to Fix Them in Fredericksburg, VA

By Heating and Cooling

It’s every homeowner’s nightmare: with the Virginia winter drawing in, you decide to crank up the thermostat – only to find your furnace won’t turn on.

We rely on our HVAC all year round, but it’s especially important during the winter months. If you’re stuck in a cold home, you want to act fast and resolve your heating issue today.

We’ve put together this simple guide for homeowners in Fredricksburg to explain the 4 most common furnace issues you’ll see this winter.

Read on for everything you need to know.

1. Electrical Short

If your thermostat is plugged in, but your HVAC system isn’t responding, you could have a problem with the electrical supply.

Double-check that your thermostat is on the right setting. If you still get no response, locate the circuit breaker connected to your thermostat.

If the breaker switch is off, return it to the on position. If it stays on, the electrical fault may have been caused by a one-off incident such as a power surge. If the switch flips back off when you use the thermostat, you have an electrical fault and should call a professional electrician.

2. Squealing or Grating Noises

If your furnace is making weird noises, that’s a strong indicator that you need furnace repairs. Different noises indicate different issues.

For example, a grating or rattling sound usually means that the ball bearings have worn out. Running a furnace on worn bearings can cause lasting damage, so get it repaired by one of our experienced technicians now.

If your furnace is making a high-pitched squeal, you probably have a slipped blower belt. While this can be repaired at home with a little mechanical know-how, you can save yourself time and effort by giving us a call.

3. Ignition Problem

If your pilot light keeps going out, or you’re finding it difficult to get it lit, you should contact a professional to identify the cause. 

Ignition problems can lead to gas being released without being burned, which can be very dangerous. You should shut your boiler down until you know what’s causing the issues.

While the issue might be a simple fix, it’s not worth risking it in the meantime.

4. Dirty Filters

If your air filters are dirty, your HVAC system has to work twice as hard to pump air around your home. Putting undue stress on your furnace shortens its lifespan and leads to costly repairs.

You can prevent this by regularly changing the air filters in your furnace. Check your owner’s manual for a guide on how often you should replace your filters.

Your Furnace Issues Resolved

Nobody wants to be in a cold house this winter. By looking out for these common furnace issues, you can be proactive and keep your home warm when you need it most.

Here at Alco HVAC, we’re on hand to keep your furnace running, no matter what the problem is. Contact us today for all your furnace and HVAC needs. 

Nov 21
family sitting on couch with hot beverage - ALCO HVAC

Furnace Not Turning On After Summer? Try These Tips From a Fredericksburg, VA HVAC Expert

By Heating and Cooling

Temperatures in Fredericksburg, VA can get as cold as 28°F. You’re going to want to make sure you’re prepared for this coming winter. This means ensuring that your furnace is in good shape. You should test your furnace out before the real cold weather sets in. That way, if your furnace won’t turn on, you can fix the problem while you’re not freezing.

If you want to know how to fix a furnace that won’t turn on, continue reading.

Steps to Take When Your Furnace Won’t Turn On

You’re not completely hopeless if your furnace doesn’t turn on. There are plenty of minor issues that can cause this furnace problem. You may even be able to fix some of these problems yourself.

Whenever you can’t turn your furnace on, take the following steps.

Check if the Furnace Is Powered On

This step may seem obvious. However, the fact that it is so obvious is often why people tend to forget about it. Also, it can be easy to forget even the simplest things when you’re panicking.

Find the furnace power switch, which should look like a light switch. You can usually find it near the unit on a wall, ceiling, etc. Once you think you’ve found it, flick it on.

Give the furnace a bit of time to start. If that doesn’t work, continue to the next furnace troubleshooting step.

Check if the Thermostat Is Powered On

Your furnace’s thermostat often runs on batteries rather than electrical power. So even if your furnace is on, your thermostat may not be. If the thermostat isn’t on, the furnace may be unable to activate.

Check the thermostat and see if it’s on and/or programmed correctly. If you can’t turn it on, try to give it new batteries. If you can’t turn it on after giving it new batteries, you may need to perform some furnace maintenance and replace the thermostat.

Check if the Air Filter Is Dirty

A clogged air filter can cause your furnace to shut down. Without regular airflow, the heat inside your furnace can increase to dangerous levels. Your furnace may then shut itself down to stay safe.

Check your air filter, which should be on the return vent or at another location. If it seems too dirty, buy a replacement filter and switch it out with the old one. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional furnace repair technician to perform this action.

We’re HVAC Technicians in VA

With proper care and careful thought, your furnace will keep you toasty warm all winter. So stay calm when your furnace won’t turn on, think hard, and slowly perform all the tasks.

Also, consider contacting us to help fix your furnace problems. Our team is trained to handle a variety of HVAC problems in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg. Request a free quote on our website today.