Every time your thermostat calls for heat, the furnace works through 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 begin sending warm air into the house. Finding the step that fails is most of the job. Around Sandy, UT, the usual failure points are a flame sensor fouled with oxide, 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.
For air conditioning breakdowns, see AC Repair.
Warning Signs for Furnace Repair
Catching these issues early helps you avoid costly problems. These are the signals our technicians see most often:
- Rust streaks, soot, or water around the cabinet or flue
- Loud booms at startup caused by delayed ignition
- Yellow, wavering burner flames where they should be sharp blue
- Squealing or grinding from the blower compartment
- Short cycling every few minutes without reaching the setpoint
- The furnace clicks and glows but the burners never light
- Air moving through the vents that never gets warm
- Repeated shutdowns just seconds after the burners light
Act Before It Gets Worse
Left unchecked, even a small fault or temperature swing often signals a system working its way toward a breakdown. If you notice any of these signs, call (385) 206-5502 for a prompt inspection.
