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With the variations in winter temperatures that Oklahoma experiences, furnaces face differing heating challenges. Depending on the age of your furnace, you may also experience certain issues more frequently than others.

In any case, disruptions to your home’s comfort are frustrating, and shelling out for repair costs only adds to it. So, to help you troubleshoot and remain warm this winter, let’s explore the 5 most common furnace problems and solutions in Oklahoma:

• Furnace is blowing cold air
• Furnace won’t turn on
• Furnace is short-cycling
• Furnace is creating a weird smell
• Furnace fan keeps running

With a little know-how, you can fix (or better yet, avoid!) the above problems this heating season.

Need a trustworthy furnace repair? Turn to Oklahoma’s best: Prudhom Mechanical.

Since 2003, Prudhom has put customers first with convenient scheduling, upfront pricing, and professional quality service. No matter your furnace’s age or condition, rest assured that our knowledgeable and highly-trained technicians will repair and maintain it for top-notch performance.

Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

You depend on your furnace to produce that nice, toasty air that warms your home quickly. So, if it’s blowing cold air, you’re probably wondering what’s happening. Especially if your thermostat is set to your desired temperature setting, and you know for sure that your heating system has power.

Solution:

First, check that your thermostat is set to AUTO, not ON. That might sound strange, but if it’s set to ON, it will run the fan constantly, even if your furnace isn’t heating the air. Second, clean or replace your air filter. If it’s dirty, the blockage in air flow will impede your furnace’s heat exchanger, which is where hot air gets created. Third, check your condensate drain line. If it’s clogged, it will trigger the overflow switch, which puts a stop to your furnace running.

If none of these issues are at play, contact Prudhom’s licensed heating professionals. We’ll perform a thorough diagnostic and get your heat restored ASAP.

Furnace Won’t Turn On

Is your furnace not turning on at all? If you don’t hear any sounds, airflow, or heat from your vents, there could be an issue with the pilot light. Or, you could have a tripped circuit breaker.

Solution:

If you have an electric furnace, head to your electrical panel and check for a tripped circuit breaker. If you see that it’s tripped, flip it back to ON and that should resolve your issue. If you have a gas furnace, you should definitely check the pilot light. If it’s gone out, it will need to be relit in order for your furnace to ignite. Lastly, you may also want to check on your thermostat. It’s possible that someone in your household accidentally turned it off or set it to COOL.

Furnace Is Short-Cycling

Does your furnace turn off and on constantly? It’s probably short-cycling. Short-cycling is a pretty common furnace problem, especially when your unit is too big for your home. Because it has such great capacity, it will heat your space really fast, shut off when finished, and then turn back on to keep heating your home.

Solution:

Contact a professional HVAC technician to inspect your furnace. After careful assessment, they’ll let you know if your furnace is improperly sized, or if you have another behind-the-scenes issue happening. In some cases, a clogged air filter can cause your furnace to overheat and then shut off for safety reasons. Or, you could have faulty thermostat wiring that keeps sending the wrong signals to your furnace.

For an expert diagnosis, call Prudhom Mechanical at 405-285-5757 or schedule an appointment online. We come prepared with well-stocked vehicles to repair most furnaces in a single visit!

Furnace Is Creating a Weird Smell

Do you smell anything strange coming from your air vents? This is another common furnace problem in Oklahoma, especially at the start of the heating season when most homeowners notice a burning smell.

Solution:

During the off-season, your furnace will collect dust. When you turn it on for the first time, there will probably be a faint burning smell due to the dust burning off. This is normal and not cause for concern. However, if it lingers or if you smell a mechanical odor, contact a professional HVAC technician for further inspection. You should also make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You don’t want to risk inhaling toxic gasses!

Furnace Fan Keeps Running

Does it seem like your furnace fan keeps running even after the heating cycle has ended? This can be an annoying sound to listen to.

Solution:

Check to see if your thermostat is set to “FAN.” If it is, that’s why your fan keeps running. Turn it to “AUTO” so the fan only runs when the furnace has heated air to circulate. If the thermostat is set correctly, it’s possible that you could have malfunctioning wires in your thermostat itself. Contact a qualified HVAC professional for further investigation. They’ll get to the bottom of the issue and put a stop to your furnace fan running constantly.

Trust Prudhom for top-notch quality furnace repairs.

When you call Prudhom for a furnace repair, you’ll get professional, prompt, and honest service. We also provide knowledgeable advice and maintenance services to help you head off problems like these in the future. So, for 100% satisfaction guaranteed, contact us today!