Your furnace in McMurray, PA should heat your indoor air to comfortable temperatures for you and your family. It shouldn’t overheat. If yours is, here are three potential reasons why that’s the case.
1. Clogged Air Filter
When your air filter is dirty, it restricts airflow and causes your furnace to work harder to push air through. This extra strain can lead to overheating and, if left untreated, can cause serious damage to your furnace.
2. Thermostat Issues
Your thermostat is the control center for your furnace, and if it’s faulty or malfunctioning, it can cause your furnace to overheat. For instance, if your thermostat turns on and off repeatedly, it can cause your furnace to overwork and overheat.
3. Mechanical Failure
Over time, furnaces naturally experience wear and tear, which can occur more rapidly without proper maintenance. Parts like the blower fan and electrical wiring are often the first to fail, causing the furnace to overheat.
Signs of a Problem
Some signs that your furnace is overheating include strange smells, unusual noises and frequent cycling. If you haven’t run your furnace in a long time, a burnt smell might just be the dust and debris burning off. However, if the smell persists, it’s best to turn off your furnace because this is usually the first and most important sign of overheating.
Unusual noises coming from your furnace, such as banging or clanging sounds, are also great indicators of overheating. Loose or broken parts within the furnace can create friction and cause the furnace to overheat.
Lastly, frequent or short cycling is when your furnace turns on and off too frequently. System safeguards sometimes shut down the furnace when overheating.
When it comes to furnace issues, overheating is a matter that requires the expertise of a professional to inspect and diagnose. It is not advisable to attempt fixing it on your own. So, if you live around McMurray, PA, call Bruno Plumbing & Heating today for repair, maintenance or installation of a new furnace.
Image provided by iStock
