There are a million reasons why your home’s heating system may give way and need a professional to come and have a look at it.
But here are 7 common furnace issues and the average costs to fix them.
1 – Lack of Maintenance
One of the most common causes of furnaces breaking down is lack of maintenance.
If your furnace is not maintained on a regular basis, then that’s certainly a recipe for disaster.
You may experience an unexpected breakdown and the timing could be really bad – like right now when South Texas was blanketed in rare snowfall a few days ago.
With sudden drop in temperatures, it’s essential that you have a furnace that functions extremely well.
Another effect of lack of maintenance is a poor performing machine and loss of energy.
It can also lead to emission of carbon monoxide, which can have an adverse effect on everyone in your home.
So a routine maintenance visit by furnace repair service professionals is highly recommended.
It costs most homeowners about $100, plus the cost of new filters, if needed.
2 – Ignition Control Issues
Another common issue that most homeowners complain about is the ignition of their system. It can malfunction at times and hence, make it difficult to heat the room.
You need to know that there are two types of ignition systems – intermittent pilot and hot surface ignition.
Both the systems are electrically controlled but have different operation mechanism.
Intermittent ignition system uses high voltage to ignite the gas pilot whereas the hot surface ignition uses heating elements to ignite the gas burner.
If you’ve been having issues with the ignition system, then it can cost you anything between between $300 and $400 to fix it.
3 – Dirty Filters
If you want to extend the life of your furnace, then it’s absolutely necessary for you to change the filters at least once in three months.
When your filter accumulates dirt, it leads to restriction of airflow through the ducts. The unit will have to work longer thereby putting unnecessary stress on the system.
There may be times when dirty filters can also damage the limit switch that controls the fan.
On an average, the cost of replacing filters is between $36 and $69.
4 – Malfunctioning Thermostats
Surprised?
Don’t be! Malfunctioning thermostats is also one of the common reasons why your furnace isn’t working like it’s supposed to.
Check if your thermostat is set to ‘heat’ and if the temperature is enough to get it working. New thermostats need power and if yours isn’t working, check the power source.
If you still find the thermostat is not working, then it is better to contact furnace repair service professionals near you.
This is because if you continue using a problematic thermostat, it can affect the fans.
A basic model will cost you about $20 for replacement, plus service charges. For advanced models, expect to pay up to $200 at least.
5 – Tripped Circuit Breaker
There is a switch near the furnace, check whether it’s turned on or off. Check if it is turned down by somebody when operating the attic light.
After resetting, if your furnace still doesn’t work, then you may need to fix or replace it.
It will cost you between $10 and $50.
6 – Furnace Motor
Inducer motors are manufacturer specific. So if they fail, you won’t get them in middle of the night.
A dead motor or the one on the verge of dying can cause serious problems leading to loss of money.
But blower motors are universal because they are specific to size and horsepower.
The motors can cost you around $400 to $1,400. The price will depend on the type of engine and technology.
7 – Flame Sensors
The sensor is able to detect the heat from burners and tells the furnace to continue releasing fuel.
If the sensors are faulty, the fuel will continue to burn, which can be quite unsafe for all the occupants of the house.
It could result in a fire!
So replacing a flame sensor is crucial. It’ll cost you between $200 and $400.
If you’re looking for furnace repair service professional in Dallas and nearby areas, you can narrow your search by reviews and ratings on Same Day Pros.
