Atlanta, GA – It’s November, which means cooler weather will soon be upon us. And before the cold really sets in, you want to be sure your gas furnace will be able to function properly to keep your family comfortable. Follow these tips from the experts at Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning to troubleshoot potential problems with your furnace.

1. Check your thermostat. One of the most common problems isn’t the furnace itself, but rather the thermostat. Be sure you regularly check the battery life on your digital thermostat to be sure there is still plenty of power for the thermostat to run properly. Most will have a battery display directly on the display panel, which will indicate when a new battery is needed.

   If you don’t see this, check the power source. If there is an issue with power, call your local HVAC technician to inspect the thermostat and repair the power supply if needed. In some cases, the thermostat may simply be broken. If this happens, your furnace will not be able to run properly. A furnace technician can quickly replace your thermostat with a new one to ensure your home can maintain a comfortable temperature.

2. Check your furnace for ignition problems. First, it’s important to understand the type of ignition your furnace should have. An intermittent pilot ignition will begin with a small flame first, then ignite the main burners. A direct ignition furnace will light all burners immediately. Once you know which type your furnace is, you’ll be able to recognize if there are problems when the furnace lights.
3. Listen for strange noises. Rumbles, rattles and squeaks can all be heard coming from furnaces. While they don’t always indicate a problem, it’s important to keep an ear on the sounds so you recognize when something sounds odd. A squeak or squeal can indicate air leaks, either in your duct work or around the furnace itself. Rumbles can indicate a blower that is out of balance. Noises can also come from a furnace that is dirty, but a professional technician can properly clean your system to prevent this from happening.
4. Check your filter. A clogged or dirty filter can lower the efficiency of your unit, so be sure you are changing your filter regularly. The more often you use your furnace, the more often you’ll need a clean filter.
5. Listen for how often your unit cycles on and off. If you hear frequent cyclings, it could be an indication that your unit needs to be looked at by a professional. In some cases, this could be due to a dirty filter, but in other cases it could be an indication that your furnace is beginning to fail.
6. Be sure your home is reaching the proper temperature. Again, a clogged filter may be to blame for your home not getting as warm as you’d like. But in other cases, it could be the furnace beginning to fail, or an improperly sized furnace for the size of your home. An HVAC system must be properly sized to the square footage of your home in order to adequately heat and cool the space.
7. Have your unit regularly maintenance. Failing to have our unit routinely inspected and cleaned can cause problems with your unit’s efficiency. Before the cold season begins, schedule maintenance with Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning to be sure your unit is ready to face the cold.