Every time your thermostat calls for heat, the furnace runs a fixed checklist. The inducer motor starts and proves draft by closing a pressure switch, the hot surface igniter heats up, the gas valve opens, the burners light, and the flame sensor confirms there is fire. Only after all of that does the blower start pushing warm air into the house. Finding the step that fails is most of the job. Around Killeen, TX, the usual failure points are an oxide-coated flame sensor, an igniter cracked by years of heating and cooling, a pressure switch that stays open because of a weak inducer or a clogged condensate trap on a high-efficiency unit, and control boards with burned relays. Any one of them halts the startup, and from the hallway they all look alike.
When the AC quits in summer, see AC Repair.
Warning Signs for Furnace Repair
Catching these issues early helps you avoid costly problems. Watch for these telltale signs:
- Clicking and a glowing igniter with no burner flame
- A pilot or burner flame that is lazy yellow instead of crisp blue
- Frequent on-off cycling that never reaches the thermostat setting
- Rust streaks, soot, or water around the cabinet or flue
- Burners light, run a few seconds, then shut down repeatedly
- Loud booms at startup caused by delayed ignition
- A fan that keeps running while the registers blow cool air
- Grinding or high-pitched squeals from the blower
Early Action Saves Money
What seems like a minor issue today can take out a compressor or heat exchanger tomorrow. Don't wait, call (254) 218-1617 and we'll take a look right away.
