Common Furnace Repair Problems in Calgary, AB
When you have a problem with your furnace, it can be frustrating and stressful to not understand what is going on. At Aire Serv of Calgary, we believe in empowering our customers and helping you have peace of mind through understanding what the problem might be. Read on to learn about a few common Calgary furnace repair problems and what the causes may be.
The Furnace Won’t Turn On
There can be multiple reasons why your furnace won’t turn on. It’s best practice to be aware of all the possible reasons why this could happen in your Calgary home:
- The circuit breaker is off. Even if your furnace runs on gas or propane, there are still parts of it that use electricity. To be sure your furnace isn’t malfunctioning in a different area, ensure all the HVAC switches on your circuit breaker panel are turned on.
- The thermostat is faulty. If your furnace won’t turn on, it could be because your thermostat is set to the wrong setting, has broken or needs to be reset. To test this, ensure your thermostat is set to “heat” and then set it to 10 degrees hotter than usual to see if the system kicks in.
- The air filter is dirty. If you haven’t changed your air filter in a while, it may have become seriously clogged. This may trigger a safety feature in some furnaces that will prevent it from turning on.
- The pilot light has gone out. If your pilot light has gone out, your furnace won’t turn on. This is so that your furnace won’t pump out dangerous gas into your home.
- There is a lack of natural gas or oil supply. Just like your barbecue, if your furnace isn't receiving enough fuel it won't turn on. If you have a natural gas stove, you could try turning it on as well. If it doesn't light, then you will need to get in touch with your gas or propane company.
The Furnace Won’t Turn Off
Likewise, if your furnace won’t turn off, it could be due to a variety of factors:
- The thermostat is faulty. A couple of things could be happening with your thermostat that will prevent your furnace from working properly. It could be that the thermostat has malfunctioned and the wiring that communicates to the furnace has worn out. Or, your thermostat’s settings may be incorrect. For instance, if your thermostat is set to “on” it will tell the furnace to continuously run. Your thermostat should be set to “auto.” This will trigger the furnace to turn off once it has reached the set temperature.
- The air filter is dirty. If your furnace does not have a safety feature that turns it off when the air filter gets too dirty, then your furnace may continuously heat your home if it has a dirty air filter. This happens because a dirty air filter makes your furnace work harder to heat your home. Since your furnace is less efficient, it will stay on longer trying to reach the desired temperature.
- The blower fan motor is broken. Sometimes, the blower motor may malfunction and cause it to run continuously. Generally, this is because the fan limit switch is broken. Without a fan limit switch, the motor won’t be triggered to turn off.
- The ductwork is leaking. Your ductwork is what transports hot air throughout your home. If there is a leak, then your home will not be heated as efficiently and the furnace will run continuously trying to heat your home.
The Pilot Light is Out
Depending on what kind of furnace you have—gas, oil, electric or propane—there are a couple of different reasons why your pilot light may go out.
- The thermocouple is malfunctioning. Ordinarily, in a gas furnace, if your pilot light has gone out this may be due to a malfunctioning thermocouple. The thermocouple is responsible for deactivating the gas in your furnace when the pilot light goes out. Without it, natural gas would continuously leak into your home. When the thermocouple is not able to detect the flame in your furnace, it will shut off the natural gas supply and inhibit the pilot light.
- The pilot light has blown out. Sometimes a draft in your home can extinguish the pilot light. However, it’s still best to call the Calgary furnace repair pros at Aire Serv just in case there is an additional problem. You can reach us by phone.
Our Calgary Furnace Repair Services: Why Choose Your Local Aire Serv?
At Aire Serv of Calgary, we are committed to more than only providing outstanding HVAC repair and maintenance services. We are passionate about ensuring our customers feel safe in their homes while breathing clean and healthy air. We go above and beyond to fix any of your Calgary furnace repair concerns while also checking for underlying problems that may negatively impact the quality of air in your home.
Our skillful Calgary furnace repair professionals are on-call 24/7, so we can help you out in an emergency. We also never charge overtime fees. Having a broken furnace during a Calgary winter is stressful enough—we don’t want to add to your stress by overcharging you. In fact, we are so confident that our experts will fix your Calgary furnace repair problems right the first time that we offer all our clients our Fixed Right Promise. If your furnace isn’t repaired properly the first time, it’s on us!
Additionally, we are devoted to serving the Calgary community. Our Owner, Zach Baker, has lived in Calgary for 14 years—and Calgary is the first city in Canada where Zach feels he has truly found a home. Together with his wife Michelle—who works as our location’s Office Manager—Zach delivers over a decade of trades experience, excellent customer service and a passion for serving the Calgary community.
Our team brings their expertise to communities across Calgary. We are proud to help families living in the Beltline, Bridgeland, Inglewood, McKenzie Towne, New Brighton, Strathcona and Tuscany—to name a few.
When you hire the expert team at Aire Serv of Calgary, you can expect nothing short of the best and you can rest assured that your furnace repair needs are in good hands. We’ll solve your HVAC problems quickly and efficiently, while giving you and your family peace of mind.
Furnace Repair Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have further questions about Calgary furnace repair? Continue reading to see if we answer them here. If not, we invite you to call our friendly team or contact us online for more information.
How much does furnace repair near me cost?
At Aire Serv of Calgary, we always maintain open and honest lines of communication. We offer upfront pricing so that you never have to worry about hidden fees or receiving a service bill that is much more than you had budgeted for. Since our pricing varies depending on the scope and scale of the job, it’s best to give our team a call or contact us online to inquire about pricing. We also offer flexible financing options.
How to find a trusted furnace repair service near me?
You are already in the right place! If you’re thinking about hiring Aire Serv for your Calgary furnace repair needs, then it’s our hope that we will earn your trust and your business through our expertise, excellent customer service and passion for serving the Calgary community. However, you don’t have to take it from us. Check out our customer reviews to see what other Calgarians have to say about our services.
How long will my furnace last?
Typically, a gas furnace will last between 15 and 20 years. To prolong the life of your furnace, we suggest scheduling regular furnace maintenance appointments. This will ensure any trouble areas are dealt with before having to complete a costly repair or replacement.
To check the age of your furnace, look for the manufacturer serial number on the inside of the furnace cover. Then, give us a call and we can give you the manufacturing date.
How often should you have your furnace cleaned?
The best practice to keep your furnace in top condition is to schedule a professional maintenance and cleaning service annually.
When you schedule an annual tune-up with our expert Calgary furnace repair technicians, we take care to ensure your heater is always working correctly and safely and that your family is breathing high quality air. We provide a thorough rundown of the system, replacing any damaged parts. We will also clean the entire system—inspecting each part of your furnace from top to bottom.
Should I repair or replace my furnace?
Whether you should replace or repair your furnace depends on how old the furnace is, how bad the damage is and whether it’s more cost-effective to invest in a new furnace rather than trying to repair one that is on its last legs.
You may want to consider investing in a new furnace if:
- Your furnace is more than 16 years old. While a furnace can last up to 20 years, if your furnace is more than 15-years-old and is giving you problems—the pilot light won’t stay on, or maybe the furnace runs continuously—then it’s likely more worthwhile to replace the furnace entirely.
- You’ve had multiple furnace repairs over the last two years. Furnaces tend to start malfunctioning during the last couple years of their lifespan. If you’ve had to continuously deal with a malfunctioning furnace within a two-year span, it’s time to buy a new furnace.
What can cause a furnace to stop working?
There are a few reasons why your furnace may not be working. You can do a quick DIY inspection to see if there is a problem with:
- Dirty filters
- A damaged thermostat
- The furnace is not turned on
- Leaking air ducts
That said, if you are uncertain as to why your furnace is not working, it’s best to call the professional Calgary furnace repair technicians at Aire Serv. When operating smoothly, your furnace brings warmth and coziness into your home. However, when there is a problem with your furnace, it may be quite serious and a professional HVAC service professional should be contacted right away. If you are dealing with a broken furnace, give our team a call today.
Schedule an Appointment with the Calgary Aire Serv Team Today!
Are you ready to have your Calgary furnace repair problems solved by the professionals at Aire Serv? Give our skilful and friendly team a call today or request an appointment online to get started. We are looking forward to making your acquaintance and helping you and your family breathe easy.