Furnace repair comes with lots of problems that this article will guide you on avoiding. Getting your furnace to function properly may look simple when you’re just thinking about it.
But, if you don’t understand the basics, you’ll end up overspending. The HVAC market in North America has a valuation of over 13.8 billion. It’s a number that includes the cost of purchases and repairs.
One of the major problems of fixing your furnace is the instability in the repair cost. Certain factors contribute to the unpredictability of furnace repair costs which makes it difficult to budget for it.
To help you, we’ve created a comprehensive guide for furnace repairs. It contains tips on maintaining your furnace and DIY methods you can employ to repair your furnace. Read further to get answers to all your questions about furnace repair and maintenance.
The Need for a Furnace Repair Guide
The furnace’s warmth is one fundamental reason it must always be in good working condition, especially during the winter season in Vaughan. Unfortunately, your furnace is likely to develop faults over time after continuous usage — just like any other home appliance.
When planning for furnace repairs, you’ll discover there’s a problem with its repair pricing. The instability of pricing is one major factor that affects furnace repairs for everyone. However, you can’t blame furnace repair technicians as price instability is not their fault.
Another thing you have to bear in mind is that owning a furnace isn’t the same as understanding furnace maintenance. You need to service your furnace regularly to ensure it functions properly. With proper maintenance, you’ll be prolonging the lifespan of your furnace.
The information in this article will guide you through furnace repair. It’ll give you an idea of how much it costs to repair your furnace and some basic steps you can take. As you read further, you’ll come across tips on furnace repair.
How Much to Repair a Furnace?
The cost of fixing your furnace in Vaughan is around $1500. But some homeowners may end up spending up to $2,000 fixing a particularly faulty high-efficiency furnace with two stages.
Most of the furnace repair prices you may see online are between $8,00 to $1,000. But many online prices don’t reflect the actual or realistic prices. You may have to pay up to $8,000 in some cases. So you need to be curious if a furnace repair service costs less than you expect.
Try to look out for the authenticity of the replacement parts the repairer intends to use for repairs. Repairers can buy fake or refurbished components during furnace repair.
If you’re not observant enough, you’ll make unnecessary expenses that you may end up regretting. As a result, you’ll be spending money without getting value in return. To better understand the instability of furnace repair costs, we have to look at the factors that guide them.
Factors that Determine the Cost of Furnace Repair
When it comes to repairing your furnace, prices differ due to the furnace type — natural gas, electricity and oil. The different types of furnaces come with varying costs of repair.
Other factors that’ll determine how much you spend on furnace repair are:
Warranty
A warranty is a written guarantee by the manufacturer of a product to a buyer. Warranty is proof the company is responsible for repairing or replacing a product over a given period.
If your furnace is still under warranty, this can reduce or eliminate the cost of fixing it.
Extent of Damage
The extent of damage to your furnace is another important factor that determines the cost of the repair. Minor damages to your furnace will have a low cost of repair as opposed to major faults.
Service Provider
As we all know, different service providers offer various pricing structures. Therefore, getting information from multiple service providers is a helpful tip in determining the cost of your furnace repair.
It’s better to inquire and obtain quotes from different service providers before deciding which furnace repair service to patronize. This subtle investigation will guide your expenses on furnace repair.
Location
Your location is important when you’re trying to repair your furnace. The cost of living and supply of materials may be an advantage that keeps repair prices down. Likewise, you may spend more on furnace repair, depending on your location.
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Common Furnace Repair Issues and How Much to Fix Them
Just like most appliances develop faults, your furnace is no exemption. Some defects that will most likely come up over time are:
Limit Switch Device
The limit switch device quenches the furnace the moment it starts overheating. It’s important to repair your furnace’s limit switch to prevent your furnace from cycling without order. You may end up spending about $115 to $470 to either repair or replace your limit switch device.
Faulty Motor
The motor in the furnace is responsible for powering the fan that circulates air throughout your home. When the motor malfunctions, it stops the fan from working. Motors are virtually expensive to replace. You’ll spend between $1,200 to $2,400.
Poor Maintenance
Conduct annual furnace maintenance and inspection. As with most appliances, your furnace will develop faults if you don’t service it properly. Lack of proper care may cause your furnace to break down unexpectedly, leading to unnecessary expenses.
However, you can avoid it by implementing routine inspections. It’ll make your furnace run more efficiently and possibly increase its lifespan. Depending on the schedule, a professional furnace maintenance and servicing team may charge you between $80 to $300.
Electric Ignition Problem
The electric ignition is a device that replaces conventional pilot lights in your furnace. It’s a small metallic device that uses an electrical current to heat a high temperature to ignite your furnace’s burners. It costs about $80 to $300 to repair an ignition problem.
Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger component heats the air the furnace circulates in your house. It’s a crucial part of your furnace. It costs $1,200 to $2400 to replace or repair a furnace motor.
Clogs, thermocouple problems, or drafts in your furnace can result in an unlit pilot light. These problems make it difficult and sometimes impossible to heat your home or commercial space.
Blower Fan
The blower fan is part of the components responsible for circulating air properly. The fan costs $80 to $300 for repairs.
Dirty Filters
The basic function of your furnace filter is to trap airborne contaminants, not for air quality purposes. But basically, to keep them out of your heating and cooling system.
Clogged or dirty filters limit airflow, which makes your furnace work harder than it circulates normally. In some cases, it can damage the limit switch which controls the fan.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
The thermostat is the main control point that determines how much heat the furnace will put out. It’s also the nerve center of your furnace. When your furnace thermostat is faulty, it can lead to problems with the fan and comfort levels. It costs between $125 to $650 to replace a defective thermostat.
Should I Repair Or Replace Furnace?
The furnace is an essential feature in most homes as it provides comfort throughout the winter season. Since you must have one in your home, it’s best to weigh how much it’ll cost you to repair or replace a furnace.
The following conditions will help you determine whether to repair or replace your current furnace include:
If Repair Occurs Frequently
In a case whereby your furnace breaks down frequently and requires repair very often, you’ll have to consider purchasing a new one.
Frequent repairs indicate the cost of constant maintenance to your furnace isn’t worth it. Most importantly, in cases whereby the repair cost is constantly increasing with each fault.
Replacement, in this case, is more cost-effective and a good financial decision. It makes more sense to replace your old furnace with a new one. You’ll stop repairing the one that keeps breaking down.
Furnace Lifespan
It’s common knowledge that every appliance has a lifespan. For example, the average lifespan of a furnace is between 16-20 years. So, if your furnace is at the end of its lifespan, it will generally begin to show signs of wear. These signs precede frequent and costly repairs.
Economically, replacing your furnace with a new one is reasonable instead of incurring the cost of frequent repairs. Use the lifespan of your furnace to guide your repair expenses.
If Your Furnace Is Emitting Carbon-Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas from burning gasoline, wood, charcoal, and fuel. It’s also a silent killer because it leads to death when inhaled for a long time.
Certain signs indicate when your furnace is emitting carbon monoxide. Some of these signs include:
- Yellowish furnace burner flame instead of blue
- Rusting on pipes Soot streaks around the furnace
- Nausea and other flu-like symptoms.
If you observe any of these symptoms above, ensure you leave your home immediately. Then call the utility company to turn off your gas and seek medical help as soon as possible. In this case, it’s mandatory to replace your furnace.
Warranty
A warranty is a written guarantee by a manufacturer to a purchaser promising to repair or replace the item, if necessary, within a particular period.
Therefore if your furnace keeps developing a fault within the warranty period, you can take it to the company for possible repair or replacement, depending on the exact issue. In addition, the issuance of a warranty will help you control or guide the cost of your furnace repair.
If Your Furnace Makes Strange Noises
You must pay attention to the type of noise you hear from your furnace, such as screeching, popping or humming. Noises can be a result of motor failure, unbalanced motor, or another deteriorating part.
If the noise keeps getting increasingly louder, it’s a warning sign that you need to check out your furnace as soon as possible. It’ll prevent it from getting worse.
If your furnace is noisy, you can repair it, especially when your system is new — to preserve it for its expected lifespan. However, replacing a furnace is more cost-effective if your system is getting to the end of its lifespan.
DIY Methods On How To Repair Your Furnace
Understanding the basics of how your furnace works is very important. So you can at least have an idea of what to check when something is wrong with your furnace.
In as much as some furnace issues require the help of a professional, certain problems are minor and fixable. In addition, fixing your furnace yourself generally helps save the repair service cost of a professional. Some of the common issues and how to repair them are as follows:
Heating Problems
When your furnace has heating problems, it’ll turn on and off again too quickly. This problem is a result of a dirty or worn-out air filter. If you recently replaced the air filter, you can get a new one or just clean it and observe any changes.
However, if you don’t notice any remarkable change even after getting a new air filter, you’ll have to request the service of a furnace repair technician.
Gas Furnace Blower Runs Continuously
A furnace blower motor takes the heated or cooled air within the furnace and circulates it throughout the home. The thermostat is responsible for the temperature. You can find it between the return ductwork and the furnace.
If your furnace does not shut off, you have to ensure your thermostat setting is not on “continuous fan.” In some cases, you may have to turn down the temperature to see if this solves the problem.
Furnace Does Not Blow Air
Your furnace won’t blow air if the temperature is incorrectly set, if the circuit breaker is off or if the filter is clogged. If your furnace does not blow air, you can take the following steps:
- Check the thermostat to ensure it’s set to “heat” instead of “cool,”
- Check the air filter. A clogged filter will affect the free flow of air from your furnace.
- Check the gas supply to ensure the fuel supply is sufficient.
- Check the pilot light after turning off the furnace and shutting off the circuit breaker. If the pilot light fails to remain lit, it may result from a clogged orifice that you can poke clear with a small piece of wire.
Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is a safety feature on your furnace that safeguards against the unsafe burning of fuel. A dirty flame sensor will cause your furnace to function inefficiently. To clean the flame sensor, you need to:
- Turn off the power of the furnace
- Detach the sensor from the furnace if possible
- Clean the sensor gently to remove dust
- Reattach the sensor to the furnace
- Turn on the power of the furnace.
If you don’t clean the flame sensor properly, oxidation can restrict the flame sensor’s ability to function properly. As a result, it can cause your furnace to malfunction.
The Furnace is Not Producing Enough Heat
Dust and dirt restrict airflow in a furnace and are the major causes of most furnace problems.
When the air filter is clogged, it’s very likely for the blower to run without producing enough heat as the heat exchanger overheats and shuts off fast. If your furnace doesn’t have sufficient heat, you must check and change the clogged air filter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Furnace Repairs
These are some of the frequently asked questions about furnace repairs:
What things can I do at home to help maintain my furnace?
The most important thing you can do to help maintain your furnace is to ensure you keep your filter clean. Frequent filter changes prevent it from getting clogged and increases the lifespan of your appliance. It’s a very important tip to repair and maintain your furnace.
Should I repair or replace my furnace?
When your furnace is older than ten years and way past the warranty period, replacing it with a new furnace is better. If your present furnace requires frequent and costly repairs, it may be a sign to buy a new one.
How do I clean a dirty furnace flame sensor?
The flame sensor is a small metal rod you can spot near the pilot. Open the access panel, detach the flame sensor, and scrub it carefully with a non-abrasive pad to clean off dust and dirt.
How do I know when my furnace is starting to fail?
Signs that can tell you when your furnace is starting to fail are when it doesn’t produce heat at all. Other times, it won’t have sufficient heat, constant pilot light failures and delayed ignition.
Why is my furnace so noisy?
Most times, when your furnace makes funny sounds like rattling, squeaking or rumbling, it’s due to mechanical problems like a faulty belt or a loose panel. The sound of noise coming from your furnace can help in diagnosing the exact problem.
How do I change my furnace filter?
To change your furnace filter, firstly turn off your furnace, then locate your filter, which is usually on the right side of the furnace. Afterward, remove the old filter, using the arrows for guidance and slide the new filter into place.
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Final Thoughts
A furnace is an essential home appliance as it provides warmth and comfort for the home during the winter season. The way you maintain your furnace can affect its average lifespan. But even with proper maintenance, furnaces tend to develop faults now and then.
You can fix some furnace problems with DIY methods. But if it starts becoming too technical for you, it’s time to call for professional help.
ALP Heating is the most reliable furnace repair and installation service near you. Our services are first-class, and our rates are quite pocket-friendly. Get in touch with us today!