Homes in Bergen County, NJ use many different types of heater to stay warm during the freezing winter months, from boilers to geothermal heating systems. In many cases, however, the forced-air gas furnace still prevails, using natural gas to heat the air before blowing it into your home with a fan. If you own a gas furnace, it behooves you to watch for signs of electrical problems. Though gas serves as the fuel for the heater, it still needs electricity to power key components, and when that electricity encounters issues, then the whole system can shut down. Here are some common electrical problems with your furnace that you should learn to watch out for.
THE FAN MOTOR
The fan motor operates the fan, blowing the hot air generated by the furnace you’re your home through the same ductwork that carries cool air in the summer. When the fan motor suffers an electrical short, that air can’t be distributed to your home and the temperature won’t go up. The hot air will just stay stuck in your furnace, which can cause other components to overheat as well. The good news is that the system will typically shut off before serious damage occurs, but even then, you need to fix the problem before you can use your furnace again.
THE IGNITION
Older furnaces uses a pilot light to ignite the gas and start the heating process. They were reliable but suffered from problems of their own. Newer systems use electrical ignition systems to spark the gas, which is much safer and less prone to problems. When the ignition system can’t get electricity, however, the heater won’t turn on. It’s beneficial because it won’t flood your home with unlit gas, but you still need to get it fixed before you can warm up your home.
Call BZ Dependable to handle electrical problems with your furnace!
