Many people in Minnesota heat their homes using gas furnaces. They are generally very reliable and an effective and efficient source of heat for many people. If you come home to discover that you have a broken furnace in Bloomington and you heat with gas, try these troubleshooting tips before calling for emergency repairs.
Check the Pilot Light
The gas furnace, now your broken furnace in Bloomington, should have a pilot that is lit and burning. If the pilot is off when it should be on check to make sure that the gas valve in the line to the furnace has not been mistakenly turned off. If you notice any smell of gas around the furnace or around the panel of the pilot light do not attempt to light the pilot and immediately get the family out the house and call your gas company to report a leak.
A non-functioning gas furnace may also have a pilot light that lights and then goes out. This can occur when the thermocouple is too loose or the flame is not adjusted correctly. If your gas furnace has an electric ignition do not attempt to light the pilot and call in a repair service for your broken furnace in Bloomington immediately.
Running Off And On
When your furnace comes on and off repeatedly and constantly cycling it can be a problem with dirty filters or an issue with the blower or motor. It can be as simple as needing to be oiled or it can be a switch problem or a defective limit control. These issues should be addressed by a professional as quickly as possible to prevent further possible damage to the motor and blower.
Weird Noises
Sometimes, even before you find you have a broken furnace in Bloomington, you have noticed or hear strange noises when the furnace is running. This can include squeaking when the furnace is running, banging or rattling sounds or even grinding types of noises.
These precursor sounds to a broken furnace in Bloomington can be relatively inexpensive to repair and may just include replacing a belt, completing basic lubrication or tightening nuts that may have vibrated loose over time.
