Most Common Heating System Problems & How to Fix

If you’ve lived in Montana for a while, you don’t need to be told how cold it gets in the dead of winter. To stay warm and cozy in your own home, you’ll need to rely on a good heating system. Unfortunately, even the best heating systems can stop working at inconvenient times, leaving you to shiver beneath your own roof. Continue reading to learn about some of the most common heating system issues and what can be done to resolve them so your home will stay warm all winter.

Heating System Not Working? 6 Likely Causes

1. Wrong Thermostat Setting: Sometimes, a heating unit isn’t working for a very simple reason: the thermostat isn’t set to “heat.” Be sure to double check this first, even if you explicitly remember setting the thermostat to the correct setting. A glitch in the system – or your kids messing around – may have changed the setting. A battery-operated thermostat may also be stuck on the wrong setting because the batteries are dead. You may be able to fix heating system issues by simply adjusting the thermostat; if this doesn’t work, there may be a deeper issue that requires professional repairs.
2. Dirty Air Filter: If your heating system is not working but the thermostat seems fine, another likely cause is that your unit’s air filter has been clogged with dust. When air filters go a long time without being swapped out, all the airborne debris that’s sucked up by your heating system can dirty it to the point that airflow is severely restricted. Depending on the heating unit, it’s generally recommended to swap out air filters every one to three months to prevent airflow from being impeded. Try putting a clean air filter in your heating system to see if that solves your problem.
3. Blower Motor Malfunction: Commonly, if a heating system is not working, it’s because of a mechanical failure within the unit. One of the most frequent issues that causes heating units to break down is a malfunctioning blower motor. This component is responsible for circulating hot air so if it doesn’t work, the whole system will fail to operate. If you don’t hear the blower fan while the system is turned on, this is likely the reason that it isn’t running properly. When this happens, contact a professional HVAC repair technician in the Bozeman area to fix your heating system.
4. Ignition Failure: Sometimes, heating system issues are caused because the unit fails to ignite. If your home is heated by a gas furnace, the pilot light may have gone out, rendering the system inoperable and forcing you to relight it. With electronic heating systems, it may be possible to get your unit back up and running with the click of a reset button. Get help from a trusted HVAC company in Bozeman if you need help to resolve an ignition issue with your heating system.
5. Blocked Exhaust Vent: All furnaces have an exhaust vent that expels gasses and dirty air from your home. Good airflow is necessary for the exhaust system to be able to do its job, so if your exhaust vent gets blocked up in some way, this can cause heating system issues. In winter, exhaust vents often get blocked by heavy falling snow. Nests built by birds or rodents can also block up exhaust vents, as can other debris such as fallen leaves. Inspect your heating system’s exhaust vent for any of these obstructions and clear them out if possible; if not, you may need to hire a professional to solve the problem.
6. Faulty Limit Switch: A limit switch is a safety device installed in a heating system to shut the system down if it overheats, mitigating the risk of a fire. Unfortunately, limit switches sometimes become faulty and shut down a heating unit even when it is operating normally. Repairing a faulty limit switch is a complicated job that should not be attempted on your own; bring in an experienced HVAC technician to repair your heating system in the Bozeman area.

The Best Heating System Repair Company in Bozeman
You shouldn’t have to shiver through winter with a faulty heating system. Give Monarch Heating and Cooling a call today if you’re in need of heating system repairs in the Bozeman area!