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 Eugene, OR, 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.
Cooling trouble instead? See AC Repair.
Warning Signs for Furnace Repair
The sooner you notice these red flags, the easier and cheaper the fix. These are the signals our technicians see most often:
- Booming or banging at light-off from delayed ignition
- Water, rust stains, or black soot around the flue or cabinet
- Repeated shutdowns just seconds after the burners light
- Clicking and a glowing igniter with no burner flame
- A flame that burns soft and yellow rather than steady blue
- Grinding or high-pitched squeals from the blower
- Short cycling every few minutes without reaching the setpoint
- Air moving through the vents that never gets warm
Don't Wait for a Total Failure
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 (541) 634-9848 for a prompt inspection.
