Liability risks and capital losses act as significant motivation to keep commercial HVAC systems running properly. At home, such powerful incentives don’t exist – or so we think. It’s easy to ignore furnace faults that, though they might lead to a furnace not working as efficiently as possible, don’t shut it down entirely. Here’s the reality: furnace faults should never be ignored.
The Definition of a Furnace Fault
Let’s begin with the definition of a furnace fault, compliments of Beehive Plumbing in Utah. Beehive Plumbing provides HVAC services across three counties, including Salt Lake County. They explain a furnace fault has any malfunction, error, or abnormal condition observed in a residential or commercial furnace.
The word ‘fault’ has been chosen to describe malfunctions because modern furnaces include onboard electronics capable of displaying fault codes. Just as with a car, furnace fault codes give technicians key insights into why a furnace might be failing. One code might indicate ignition failure while another suggests a malfunctioning sensor.
Signs and Symptoms of Furnace Faults
Even without a laptop or tablet computer to interpret furnace fault data, a homeowner should be able to recognize signs and symptoms indicating something is wrong. For example, a furnace not providing consistently warm air despite a working thermostat is obviously not operating correctly.
Common signs and symptoms of furnace faults include:
- Constant short cycling
- Blowing cold instead of warm air
- A constantly running blower system
- A discolored pilot light (in gas and oil systems)
- Odd noises emanating from the furnace or duct work
These things are all just common sense. And yet, how many of them are ignored by homeowners? In fairness, what seem like obvious furnace faults are sometimes ignored because homeowners cannot afford expensive repair bills. But a small fault can grow into a major disaster if not addressed early on. Then the repair bill will be higher.
Why It All Matters
Finally, we get to the ‘why’ of the issue. The number one reason furnace faults should not be ignored is safety. Furnace faults are not just about comfort. A malfunctioning furnace could actually put a homeowner and his family in jeopardy. Consider the following:
- CO Poisoning – Pilot light problems with a gas or oil furnace could indicate incomplete combustion. That could mean carbon monoxide (CO) escaping into the house. CO is deadly.
- Fire Risks – Gas and oil present obvious fire risks when furnaces aren’t working properly. But every furnace has electrical components that could spark a fire if they malfunction. Electricity is nothing to mess around with.
- Air Quality – Numerous types of furnace faults indicate problems that could actually reduce indoor air quality. That could mean more severe allergies for some and respiratory issues for others. Poor indoor air quality makes life unhealthy and uncomfortable.
- System Damage – Relatively minor faults can lead to extensive damage if left unaddressed. What starts out costing a few hundred dollars to repair could ultimately lead to a full replacement costing thousands.
Above and beyond all these other things is efficiency. A malfunctioning furnace is a less efficient furnace. You spend more money to keep your house warm – if it stays warm at all. You’re literally throwing money away by running a furnace that isn’t doing its job.
Do not ever ignore a furnace fault. Whether you live in Utah or elsewhere, get a malfunctioning furnace repaired as quickly as possible. Your health, safety, and finances are potentially on the line. Why take chances when most furnace faults can be repaired in a short amount of time? It’s just not worth it.
