Did you know that on average, furnaces can last anywhere from 15 to 25 years?

However, just like any equipment, space heaters need maintenance and TLC to last that long. Besides, routine maintenance helps prevent common furnace problems from occurring or worsening.

Still, there are times wherein furnace issues can occur even if you take good care of your system. The most important thing is to know the signs indicating the need to call a pro for help with repairing a furnace.

This guide lists the top home heater woes homeowners frequently experience, so be sure to read on.

1. Issues With the Pilot Light

The pilot light is a tiny blue flame that ignites the primary furnace burner. In older heating systems, this flame stays lit all the time. Newer units, like those installed around 2010 or later, have electronic igniters, though.

In older units, one of the most common furnace issues is the pilot light going off. In some cases, a strong draft can be enough to extinguish the flame.

In both new and old heaters, filth in the pilot burner or ignition can stamp out the flame. There may also be dirt accumulation in the gas tube, so the gas won’t even reach the ignition device.

2. Filthy Furnace Filters

As explained by Great Home Supplies, filters are like sieves for air contaminants. As a furnace sucks in air, the system forces air to pass through the filter. The filter then separates and entraps particles like dust, debris, and pet dander from the air.

All furnaces must have clean filters to help keep the system itself free of residue. For the same reason, they help maintain good air quality inside homes.

Because of their job, even the best furnace filters will accumulate filth over time. Depending on indoor and outdoor air quality, this can be anywhere from one to three months. You can expect yours to develop clogs sooner if you have many pets or live somewhere with unhealthy air. 

3. Weird and Loud Furnace Noises

Obnoxious, reverberating noises in furnaces usually indicate residue or soot build-up. For example, excessive dirt in burners can delay the combustion process. This leads to the gas going unburned, but once it does, all that gas that ignites can create a booming sound.

Loud scraping, on the other hand, can mean that some metal parts grind against each other. For instance, the furnace blower wheel may be bumping against the blower case.

4. Smoky Smells That Intensify

If your furnace emits intense smoky odors, shut it off right away, as something may really be burning. Foreign objects or even dead animals may have found themselves in your heater. These smells may also result from a defective gas pipe that’s feeding the burners too much fuel.

5. Rotten Egg Smells

Natural gas leaks can occur in gas furnaces due to pipe defects or a lack of maintenance. It’s easy to identify a gas leak as it smells like sulfur or rotten eggs. Natural gas itself is odorless, though; it’s the mercaptan added to it that makes it stink.

If your house starts to smell like sulfur, please turn off your gas valve as soon as possible. If you can, open a few windows before exiting your home right away. Once you’re outside, call your gas company and a furnace repair company.

It’s vital to get those leaks repaired as natural gas leaks can result in serious explosions.

Don’t Delay Getting These Furnace Problems Fixed

There you have it, your guide to the most common furnace problems to be on the lookout for. Just keep in mind that the better you take care of your system, the fewer of these issues you’re likely to encounter. If you do experience them, especially gas leaks, please call professionals right away.

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