- The air filter on a furnace is there to trap dust, pollen and other particles that fly through the air and can cause breathing problems. The filter should be cleaned on a regular basis. How often the filter should be changed will depend on the model, so check your manual. No matter how often the manual recommends replacing the filter, however, you should inspect the filter once a month. If it is obviously dirty, don't wait to replace it.
- The blower motor should always be inspected before the start of cold weather. Inspection should also take place when the weather turns warm if you also use your furnace for cooling. The blower motor can be accessed by opening a panel to the blower housing. Some motors will be self-lubricating, but for those that aren't, add a few drops of lubricating oil to each of the ports. There will also be a gear belt and you should make sure that there is good tension on this belt, but not too tight.
- No furnace is going to work correctly if the pilot light isn't working. If the furnace has a standing pilot light, check the flame to make sure that it is burning clean. If the pilot light has a very weak and blue flame, the problem is probably that it is not reaching the thermocouple and that may need replacing. Make sure that the gas is completely turned off before replacing a thermocouple.
- Another common problem that causes furnace problems is dirty burners. The burners are used to mix the gas and air so that they can be ignited by the pilot light. The gas is transmitted through a manifold so that it enters each burner individually through a tube connected to hole called the spud. Make sure that the furnace is shut off and turn off the power at the main service panel. Make sure to give the parts time to fully cool, which should take at least 30 minutes, before cleaning the burners.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -