An overheating furnace can be problematic, especially during the winter months. When a furnace overheats, the whole system could just shut down abruptly at any unanticipated moment. Worst of all, you may have a difficult time getting the furnace started again, leaving you hopelessly stranded in the freezing cold.

There are several pre-emptive warning signs of a furnace overheating. The most common signs include a burning smell from the vents and inexplicable noises coming from the furnace unit. If these are recurring symptoms, you should call in the HVAC specialists as soon as possible, since the overheating furnace can be potentially life-threatening.

As a homeowner, you may want to investigate why your furnace is overheating. Once you recognize the root issues, you can take proactive steps to stop your furnace from overheating again. Below are six reasons why your furnace is overheating and how to fix these potential problems:

Reason #1: Your furnace is overheating because of its age.

Most furnaces are built to last for up to twenty years with regular check-ups and maintenance work. If you just purchased your home, you may not know when the last check-up was done or even how old the furnace is. When a furnace has significantly aged, it could start overheating just weeks or months after you take possession of your new house.

You should have your furnace checked by a professional to ascertain its age and general condition. If you know that your furnace is reaching the twenty-year mark, start looking into options for purchasing a new furnace. In most cases, you will be better off buying a new furnace instead of maintaining an old furnace that is likely to overheat.

Reason #2: Your vents are the problem.

You may have closed several vents in order to control the temperature in various rooms of the house. If you have too many vents closed, this could potentially cause your furnace to overheat. Since the hot air is trapped with no place to go, it will put a lot of undue pressure on your furnace system. To prevent this, open your vents and turn down the thermostat.

In some cases, your vents might be open, but there is something else potentially obstructing the passage. This has the same effect as a closed vent and may cause the furnace to overheat. You will want to contact a furnace repair professional to look more closely into this problem.

Reason #3: The inner workings of your furnace have failed.

A furnace is a large machine with many parts, some of which are delicate. You may have an overheating furnace if the wiring or any mechanical component came loose, became broken, or simply stopped working. Without the technical expertise, it will be difficult for most homeowners to figure out exactly what broke inside the furnace. This is one of the few furnace repairs that you won’t be able to DIY.

Instead, contact a professional HVAC expert for assistance. The knowledgeable technician can inspect the furnace and quickly analyze which elements have failed. The technician can also identify potential weak links, allowing you to replace the parts and components before they break apart.

Reason #4: Your furnace isn’t being properly maintained.

Your furnace could be overheating due to maintenance issues. Think about the last time you had a furnace maintenance check-up. If these inspections haven’t been occurring on a regular basis, your furnace might have maintenance risks that could lead to the system overheating.

During these furnace inspections, the technicians can identify small problems that are easy to fix in the moment. If left unattended, these issues will escalate over time and cause more dramatic problems in the future. To avoid an overheating furnace, you should schedule regular check-ups about once a year.

Reason #5: Your furnace doesn’t have sufficient airflow.

Keep a close eye on the condition of your furnace’s air filter. If this component becomes too dirty, your furnace can quickly become coated with lint, dust, and other unpleasant materials. When this happens, your furnace may not be able to cycle the hot air as intended. Since there is limited air flow traveling through the furnace, this will lead to the risk of overheating.

Make sure the airflow remains as clear as possible by cleaning or replacing the air filter. This should be done each month. Be sure to replace any filters if they become damaged or too old to perform the job effectively.

Reason #6: Your furnace is short cycling.

Your furnace may start short cycling when the system shuts off before it can move through all the stages of heating. Short cycling often occurs if there is a issue with the heat exchanger or lack of air flow. Often these issues result in the furnace being controlled by its high limit switch and not the thermostat. When this happens, it stresses out the motors and other components of the furnace, which can lead to a furnace breakdown.

You may not even notice your furnace is short cycling at first, so be more attuned to when the system powers on and when it is suddenly turned off. Short cycling could be the result of a complex furnace problem, so you should contact a professional for a deeper diagnosis.

During the cold winter weather, we gladly seek refuge in the reassuring warmth of the indoors. Unfortunately, there are times when the temperatures drop so low that even your room doesn’t feel warm enough. You can try to increase your body temperature by wearing an extra layer of clothing, but this isn’t a long-term solution. There are much better ways to keep a room warm in your house.

If you find yourself shivering inside the house, this probably means your room temperature isn’t adjusted at an optimal level. You will need to come up with intuitive ways to increase the indoor temperature. The following are eight ideas on how to keep a room warm without wasting too much energy or too much money:

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In recent years, home heating systems have drastically evolved since the days of the original humble fireplace. Back in the old days, the home heating options were quite basic and limited. It may be shocking to think that people didn’t use to have modern furnaces or smart thermostats in their homes, which are the home heating systems that we now take for granted.

Fortunately, technological advances have made our home heating options more efficient than ever. You are probably familiar with the traditional furnaces, but there are also new technologies designed to heat up specific parts of the house. When you combine these different home heating systems together, you can achieve the perfect temperature in every corner of your house.

The following are six of the most efficient home heating options that you can use during winter:

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As winter binds us in its chilly grip, it’s important to have a water heater that works. Unfortunately, even the sturdiest water heaters are prone to malfunctioning from time to time. If you cannot fix the unit quickly, you will be left stranded in a house with no hot water for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Without this precious hot water supply, winter is going to feel like a cold and miserable season for the next few months.

While it may seem daunting to repair the water heater by yourself, some of the common problems are quite small and fixable, even for novices. With the right knowledge, you should be able to perform the water heater maintenance and troubleshoot the basic issues. For the more perplexing complications, you can always contact the professional HVAC technicians for assistance.

To help you learn more about water heater maintenance, here are seven troubleshooting tips for homeowners:

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A thermostat regulates your heating or cooling systems. When it is functioning properly, the thermostat plays a central role in circulating the warm or cold air throughout your building. Click a few buttons, and you can adjust the settings to control the exact temperature of your house.

However, there are times when your thermostat device does not function properly. No matter which thermostat model you use, glitches do happen from time to time. Occasionally, you may need to call an HVAC professional for help. In most cases, you may be able to troubleshoot why your thermostat is not working.

The most common issues with a thermostat can be easily corrected if you know what to check for. Below are seven reasons why your thermostat is not working:

1. The thermostat is not working because of its age.

Age is one of the most common problems associated with a faulty thermostat. Over time, the thermostat may become less effective through natural wear and tear. Remember, thermostats are not meant to last forever. Besides, an outdated model may cost you money in wasted energy and time tinkering with it.

If the thermostat is not working properly, it should be time to replace your older model with a newer one. For those still using a mechanical thermostat, which is the most basic type of thermostats, replace it with a programmable thermostat that is easy to use and simple to connect to your existing system.

2. The thermostat is not working because it has wonky wiring or parts.

Loose connection, disconnection, and faulty wiring can cause your thermostat to malfunction. Inspect the wiring in your thermostat and fasten any noticeably loose wires. Consider replacing the worn-out cables or consult a knowledgeable HVAC professional to solve your wiring problems.

Inside the mechanical thermostats, there is an electrical resistor device that informs the thermostat when to turn off the system. If not functioning correctly, it may cause your furnace to cycle on and off more frequently than necessary. The electrical resistor devices can be adjusted, ideally using an amp to determine the proper settings. For programmable thermostats, these devices come equipped with a built-in anticipator that sets itself automatically.

3. The thermostat is not working because of programming defects.

If the thermostat system is not working, there could be a system glitch in its programming. This often occurs during an abrupt power failure, which could interfere with the regular functions of the programming chips inside the thermostats. To correct this problem, you will need to reprogram the chip. There are also programmable thermostats with stronger memory systems that stay intact even after a power failure.

4. The thermostat is not working because it ran out of batteries.

During power outages, the batteries help to retain the thermostat settings. These batteries should last at least one year, although many homeowners fail to replace them until it’s too late. If the batteries are near depletion, it will disrupt the thermostat’s ability to manage the heating and cooling processes.

Most programmable thermostats display a warning symbol when the batteries start to run low. When the display goes blank, it means the batteries are completely depleted. At this point, the thermostat can no longer control the HVAC system, leading to extreme temperature levels. To replace them, you will need AA or AAA alkaline or lithium batteries, depending on the thermostat model.

5. The thermostat is not working because of its location in the building.

A suboptimal location may be the reason why your thermostat is not working. In general, you should avoid installing the thermostat at places where there is direct sunlight or near exterior doorways, since this will compromise its function. In addition, you should mount the thermostat on a wall with a high thermal coefficient.

If you believe your thermostat isn’t suitably located, move it to a better spot. For optimal comfort, place your thermostat in a central location that allows the evenest temperature distribution.

6. The thermostat is not working due to a problem with the circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker is a switch that protects your home from electrical surges. If a circuit breaker trips repeatedly, this will cause your thermostat to stop working. The key is to reduce the electrical load on the circuit by moving appliances. Get an electrician to perform an extensive upgrade, which may include adding more circuits to your system.

Some circuit breakers trip for no other reason than simple wear and tear. Call a professional immediately if you start experiencing regular circuit outages, detect a burning odour, or notice signs of deterioration around the circuit breaker. Ignoring electrical problems can result in fire and other hazards in your home. Keep the circuit breaker off until the problem is investigated and addressed.

7. The thermostat is not working due to the dirt and debris.

Over time, dust accumulates inside your thermostat. A buildup of debris and dirt could cause an inaccurate temperature reading, which may escalate to a sudden system failure. To clean the thermostat, you need to remove the cover and gently clean its interior components, including the bimetallic switch and the coil contact areas.

First, make sure the thermostat is adjusted to its lowest settings. Then, use a soft brush to clean the bimetallic coil. Next, set the thermostat to its highest level and clean the coil again. Once this is done, readjust the thermostat to your desired settings.

Before the winter season arrives, performing a basic furnace maintenance check-up will put your mind at ease. You want to make sure the furnace is safe, efficient, and well-maintained enough to keep your home warm in the colder months. If any problems are detected, you still have time to repair the furnace before the temperature starts to drop.

Ideally, you should call an HVAC technician for a comprehensive furnace inspection. However, there are several basic furnace maintenance tasks that you should be able to perform on your own. These tasks are simple and straightforward enough for any handy homeowners with basic knowledge. Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable doing these tasks, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional for their expertise instead.

The following are six basic furnace maintenance tasks that you can perform for this upcoming winter:

Task #1: Inspect the burner flames.

You should take a moment to inspect your furnace at least once a year, or preferably at the beginning and the end of the heating season. Your first basic furnace maintenance task is to inspect the burner flames. Start by turning off the power of your furnace. Then, remove the combustion chamber door. If your furnace has a burner cover, you will need a screwdriver to remove it as well.

Now that you can see the inside of the burner, turn on the power and turn up your thermostat. Put yourself at a reasonably safe distance, and then take a close look at the flames of the burner. Be careful not to breathe on them. The flames should be blue and even. If they are yellow, it could be because the burners are dirty. You will need to turn off the power and clean them thoroughly.

Task #2: Clean inside the furnace.

Most of the basic furnace maintenance tasks involve a lot of cleaning. Dust and debris may have gathered inside the furnace, so you need to unclog any parts to ensure the system is in working order.

Start by turning off the power and shutting off the gas valve. Then, use your vacuum cleaner to clear all the dust you see on the burners and at the base of the furnace. If you notice some black powder inside the cavities, it might be a sign that something is wrong with your furnace.

Your furnace may have a squirrel-cage blower, which is notorious for getting clogged with dirt and dust. You should remove the screws and bolts, lift out the blower, and clean it thoroughly. Using a small brush, gently clean each blade of the blower. You should then use your vacuum cleaner to remove the loose debris and residue dust.

Task #3: Clean or replace the furnace filter.

The filter of your furnace should be cleaned once at the beginning of the heating season. When it’s being used continuously, you should also keep cleaning it once a month. If the furnace filter is too dirty or seems damaged, you need to replace it with a new one.

Task #4: Inspect the different components of the furnace.

Your next item of business is to inspect the other furnace components more closely. This should be a quick inspection, just to make sure all the parts are in working condition before putting them in place. Be sure to check the belts, the wiring, and the switches. If you notice rust or damage on any of the individual parts, they will need to be replaced.

Another component that demands your attention is the motor. If the motor of your furnace is sealed, you don’t need to lubricate it. If your motor has oil ports, it should be lubricated once a year. You will most likely need to lubricate the blower shaft as well. Simply remove the caps, add a few drops of lightweight machine oil in the ports, and replace their caps.

Task #5: Inspect your ducts and ventilation systems.

Checking the ducts of your vent system is another inspection that you should perform. If the ducts are clogged with debris, they will have to be cleaned by a professional. Occasionally, you may detect leakages in the air ducts. In which case, you can use metal tape to seal them shut carefully. If you are unable to locate or repair the leak, ask a professional to fix it on your behalf.

Task #6: Call an HVAC professional for repairs.

While these basic furnace maintenance tasks can be performed on your own, you are still advised to seek professional help for the more demanding problems. If you notice anything wrong during your inspection, call an HVAC professional to repair the furnace as soon as possible.

Preventative maintenance is the key to a fully functional furnace with years of longevity. You should repair any small issues before they have a chance to become worse. Most importantly, this is the best way to make sure your furnace will perform properly during the winter season.

Have you ever considered the quality of the air that we inhale into our bodies? In the outdoors, it can be difficult to control the air quality with so much environmental pollution from cars, factories, and power plants across our cities. When we are safely indoors, it is much easier to manage the quality of the air. With the help of certain indoor air quality products, you can turn your residence into a little oasis that smells and feels rejuvenating.

The indoor air quality is so important because it can greatly affect your mood, your health, and the overall feel of your home. If you have noticed more headaches, dizzy spells, or other inexplicable health problems, this may be due to the poor air quality inside your living quarters. Without realizing it, you may have breathed in harmful airborne toxins that are detrimental to your well-being. In these instances, you should have the air in your residence tested carefully and inspected thoroughly.

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As the outdoor temperature begins to drop, this is a sure sign that the winter season will be fast approaching. Before it gets too cold outside, now would be a good time to make sure your furnace is in good working condition. Almost an entire year has passed since you last used the furnace. There is a chance that your furnace may require some minor repairs or even major replacements.

Even though some homeowners forgo the furnace inspection process, this is not recommended. Without these routine check-ups, you are putting your furnace at risk to potential malfunctioning in the future. Many furnace problems can be easily fixed during the inspection, but only if they are spotted early. By the time winter arrives, and your furnace suddenly breaks down during the coldest day of the year, you will regret not performing these repairs sooner.

A furnace won’t usually break down overnight. There are often cautionary signs that indicate a problem within the furnace, which necessitates a deeper furnace inspection. Before your unit comes to a halt, the following signs may alert you that something is wrong with your furnace:

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Uneven temperatures can make your home feel extremely cold in January and overly hot in July. In most cases, the culprit is a fault or an inefficiency in your HVAC system. Uneven temperatures can manifest in a freezing basement, insufficient airflows in upper rooms, or a kitchen that’s always too warm.

You deserve to be comfortable in your own home. However, these fluctuating temperatures could be inconvenient, frustrating, and may even lead to illnesses. To help you diagnose the problem, a HVAC professional can inspect your systems and perform the proper maintenance that will restore the temperature in your home.

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It’s no secret that HVAC systems consume a lot of energy. If you are looking for ways to reduce the amount of energy consumed, regular HVAC maintenance should be on your to-do list. The scheduled maintenance will ensure your systems are performing at optimal levels. It will also save you money on costly repairs by detecting smaller issues before they escalate.

Ideally, you should hire a professional to inspect your HVAC system once or twice a year. Heating systems should be inspected in the fall season, while cooling systems should be inspected when spring arrives. Regardless of the season, there are several crucial tasks that must be performed during the inspection. Here are six essential tasks in your HVAC maintenance checklist:

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