The weather in Ohio can get pretty ugly in the Winter. You definitely want to make sure that your furnace is in good working order before the freezing weather sets in. Having your heating system break down during extreme weather can be a huge inconvenience and a huge expense. Here are a few reasons why your furnace may not be keeping your home as warm as it should be:
1. Your HVAC system needs to be professionally inspected and cleaned
Your furnace spent the long summer months sitting unused and collecting dust – literally. The dust and debris can clog up your HVAC system and keep it from performing its best. Show your system some much-needed TLC by calling Centerville Heating and Cooling at (937) 353-1169 to schedule a professional HVAC inspection and complete cleaning. Not only will your system receive a thorough cleaning, including the ductwork, but our trained HVAC technician will spot any issues that could potentially become serious problems later on and make the necessary repairs right away.
2. Don’t shut your furnace down during the winter months
When your furnace has been turned on for the Winter, do not shut it off until the cold-weather season has come to an end. On days when the weather is mild, reduce the temperature setting on your thermostat, but don’t shut your furnace off altogether. The weather will turn frigid again, and when it does, if your furnace has been shut off, it is going to take longer to heat up again. This, in turn, will delay your house becoming warm again. If you turn the heat completely off in your home, then you also run the risk of the water pipes in the house freezing and bursting if the temperatures fall below freezing. This can cause serious problems, can destroy items and areas in your home, and can cost a lot of money to repair or replace.
3. Your furnace is the wrong size for your house
If the heating system in your home is too small, the motor can become overworked and overheated easily. This will burn up the motor and destroy your entire HVAC system. You can easily test to see if this is the problem. Turn up the setting on your thermostat five degrees higher than usual. Time it to see how long it takes for your home to reach the new temperature. If it takes a long time for the house to reach this temperature, or if it doesn’t reach the temperature at all, then the furnace in your home may be too small to be as effective as it should be.
On the other hand, if your house gets too warm no matter what your thermostat’s temperature is set on, then your heating system may be too large for your home. Not only will your home be too warm all the time if this is the problem, but the excessive temperatures can also damage your HVAC’s ductwork, meaning you will have to shell out money to have it repaired or replaced.
4. Your HVAC’s fan isn’t working properly
Inadequate airflow from your furnace into your home will keep it from being warm and cozy when cold weather arrives. If there is a problem such as a broken blower fan, a dirty air filter, or ductwork that has been damaged, the heated air cannot circulate throughout your home. Check the most accessible possibility first: take a look at your furnace’s air filter and change it if it is dirty. If this isn’t the problem, give us a call so that we can schedule you for an appointment and have one of our expert HVAC technicians come out and inspect and repair your heating system.
5. Your thermostat could be ineffective or broken
If your furnace stops and starts nonstop but your home doesn’t get warm, then this could indicate that your thermostat isn’t working correctly. Check this possibility by turning up your temperature five degrees higher than usual. Listen for a click, then check to see if warm air is coming through the vents. If there is no warm air being blown into your home, then there is an issue with your thermostat. Contact us immediately and one of our certified technicians will visit and assess the situation. Your HVAC system may need an upgrade to a programmable thermostat. These models are much more efficient than older models. They can be pre-set to maintain the temperature in your home even when you aren’t there and to automatically lower temperatures during certain times, which will save you money on your energy bills. Most programmable thermostats are able to alert you if a problem comes up, taking the guesswork out of it for you.
Centerville Heating and Cooling wants to help make your home as comfortable as can be for you and your family during the winter season. Give us a call at (937) 353-1169 or visit us online at https://www.centervilleheatandcooling.com/appointments/ if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment for a professional inspection and complete cleaning of your entire HVAC system. We’re here to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
