When it comes to HVAC systems, there are a lot of misconceptions and myths floating around. These myths can lead to homeowners making poor decisions about their heating and cooling systems, which ultimately can lead to increased energy bills and a less comfortable home. In this article, we’ll take a look at five common myths about HVAC systems and set the record straight.
#1 Dirty Flame Sensor
This has to be one of the most common and preventable causes for a No Heat call. Just like it’s name states it senses the flame from the furnace and if it has excess build up of rust it will prevent the sensor from detecting the flame and the gas will turn off. Flame sensor cleaning should be done on every maintenance of the furnace to prevent this from happening.
#2 Bad Hot Surface Ignitor
The OEM hot surface ignitors are usually made up of silicon carbide which isn’t the strongest of materials. The HSI (Hot Surface Ignitor) receives voltage and starts to glow cherry red. If there are visible cracks, or even ones you can’t see, this can cause the HSI to not work. Over time just like anything they will fail but by testing the HSI during maintenance is something your HVAC tech can catch before it fails.
#3 Bad Furnace Control Board
This is the brains of the heating unit. It controls almost everything in your system. The control board sends signals to turn on the HSI, inducer motor, etc. If only one part of the sequence is off, then nothing will work and you’ll have no heat. Furnace control boards can fail from overheating, a power surge or lack of maintenance. Regular maintenance can extend the life of the control boards saving you money and inconvenience.
#4 Bad Inducer Motor
The inducer motor pushes all the exhaust out of your furnace. When this motor fails you’ll usually hear humming, whirling or banging noises. Inducer motors commonly fail because of age, and overheating. A common issue is wasp or bird nests inside the exhaust pipe. These block air flow and can cause the inducer motor to over work and eventually fail. This is condition that can be easily avoided with a Fire & Ice Maintenance Plan is a vital part of keeping your furnace operating for years to come
#5 Dirty Air Filter
This is the easiest and most common problem we see. When your filter gets dirty it doesn’t allow air to flow through your furnace causing your equipment to overheat and eventually shut down. This is the first thing you should check when you have no heat, it could save you both time and money.