The most stressful time for furnaces is during the winter, when they tend to be used on a daily basis to warm homes. That means wear and tear increases, which then means that the chances for serious problems occurring also increases. Since furnace issues grow progressively worse the longer they are allowed to continue, it behooves you to look for signs that your system is in trouble. The faster you can get the system repaired, the more damage you can prevent. So read on to find out which furnace problems to watch for this winter.
Air Handler Issues
The air handler is the part of the furnace responsible for circulating air throughout a house during operation. It is essentially a motor with a fan attached to it. The air handler is put under a pretty immense amount of strain during operation, which is why it is outfitted with a number of lubricated bearings to reduce friction. Over time, these bearings will wear down and need replacing. You will know when this is happening by the loud grinding sound coming from your furnace during operation. If the bearings are not replaced in time, the air handler motor can overheat and burn out.
Short Cycling
The result of the air filter becoming clogged, short cycling is a behavior in which the furnace constantly turns on and off every couple of minutes. This puts the furnace under an immense amount of stress, causing various parts to start to break down in short order. If the behavior goes on long enough, the entire system may actually break down. If you notice your furnace is short cycling, you should turn it off and call for repairs immediately.
Call Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration for comprehensive furnace repairs. We serve the entire Santa Fe, NM area.
