Here in the heart of winter, any problems with your furnace system are cause for concern. Boerne, TX gets pretty cold in January, and without reliable heating, your home could experience a deep freeze right in the middle of a cold front. Most breakdowns announce themselves with subtle signs, and the sooner you can spot them, the better.
Of particular interest is a lack of air flow coming from your vents. It doesn’t sound like much, and indeed it can be pretty hard to spot if you’re not paying attention. But it can make for big problems if you aren’t careful, and if the flow of air from your system diminishes for any reason, you should shut the heater off and call in a repair service immediately.
Why Is It a Problem?
Low air flow is a problem first and foremost because it lowers the efficiency of your system. That forces it to work much harder to do its job, increasing your monthly bills and overall wear and tear on the system in equal measures.
More than that, however, low air flow usually means that hot air is stuck in the heart of your furnace. That will cause key components to overheat if left unaddressed, which often turns a comparatively simple repair call into a very expensive one. The good news is that modern furnaces usually possess safety features that will turn the system off automatically before that happens, but it still leaves you with a malfunctioning furnace that needs to be addressed before it will function effectively.
What Causes It?
Causes of low air flow can vary widely depending on the system. Usually, however, the problem boils down to one of two basic issues:
- Something is blocking the flow of air. If the air flow is limited in just a single vent or two, it’s likely caused by build-up in the ducts, a breach, or a crimp of some kind. A more comprehensive reduction in air flow can likely be traced back to a clogged filter or the like.
- The power pushing the air is reduced. In this case, that likely means trouble with the fan motor, which is reasonably complex and which may need to be replaced. Faulty electrical connections can also cause reduced air flow, as can a problem with the fan belt. In some cases, the fan itself may be misaligned, or individual fan blades may be broken or bent.
Never try to diagnose or correct a problem with your heating system itself. Only licensed and trained technicians know what to look for, and if you cause further damage to the system, you’ll be on the hook for any repairs. Instead, turn the system off, note any other symptoms you may have spotted (it can help the technician with his or her diagnosis), and call in a qualified repair surface to take care of the problem the right way.
The friendly professionals at D’Spain Sales & Service Inc., are standing by to perform any repairs or replacement services on your heating system. Give us a call today.
