This web site provides general information about furnaces. If you are experiencing furnace problems, please call an expert before it’s too late.

When inside feels like outside…. it’s time to call Van Valer Heating Cooling and Plumbing about getting your furnace repaired or buying a new American Standard furnace

Make sure you stay warm this winter and make sure your family stays safe and sound by getting your gas furnace inspected annually.

The Gas Furnace

A gas furnace is a complex appliance that looks like a large box.  A gas furnace

• takes in cold air,
• cleans it with an air filter,
• heats it up with a gas burner using a stainless steel heat exchanger,
• distributes the warm air with a blower motor through your home’s ductwork

The heated air then cools down in your home’s various rooms and returns to the furnace through return air grills and ductwork.

The cold returning air enters back through the air filter into the furnace to complete another heating loop.

Furnaces come in different efficiencies.

Although a good furnace can last 5 to 8+ years especially if it is serviced annually.

Eventually everyone will need their furnace repaired.  When a repair is too costly it makes sense to buy a new furnace.

Here are some common furnace problems.

Gas Furnace Does Not Produce Enough Heat

Possible Causes

• Dirty furnace air filter
• Gas burners may be dirty or need adjustment

Gas Furnace Comes On and Off Too Frequently

Possible Causes

• Dirty furnace air filter
• Blower motor problem
• Thermostat problem (heat anticipator)

Blower Does Not Turn Off – Always Running

Possible Causes

• Thermostat set to fan continuous
• Faulty fan limit control switch on furnace (if thermostat has no fan setting)

Gas Furnace Has Noisy Operation

Possible Causes

• Higher pitched “squealing” sound may be caused by slipping blower belt or motor or shaft bearings in need of oiling
• Lower pitched “rumble” sound may be caused by a poorly adjusted pilot light if this problem occurs with the burners off.
• Lower pitched “rumble” sound may be caused by dirty gas burners if the problem occurs with the burners on.

Lighting a Gas Furnace Pilot

Possible Causes

• A pilot can go out due to a strong draft, dirty orifice or dirt in the gas tube.
• The thermocouple may also be faulty and is shutting off the gas supply.

Electronic Ignition Furnace Problems

Newer furnaces do not rely on a standing pilot to ignite the gas burners. Electronic ignition occurs typically in one of two ways:

• Intermittent Pilot, or
• Hot Surface Ignition

The intermittent pilot system uses an electronically controlled high voltage electrical spark to ignite the gas pilot and then subsequently the main burners, when the thermostat calls for heat.The hot surface ignition system uses an electronically controlled resistance heating element not unlike a light bulb filament (and shown in the photo above), to ignite the gas burner.

Mismatching the Furnace and Thermostat:

Furnaces and thermostats are not mix and match appliances. Using the wrong type of thermostat with a furnace will cause operating problems and can be dangerous. Although thermostats look similar they are designed vary differently.

There are numerous types of heating systems and thermostat systems and they need to be coordinated for safe and proper operation.