Troubleshooting Common Heating Problems | Kitchener ON

Originally published Jan. 22, 2019, updated Jan. 17, 2022.

A problem with your heating system can keep you and your family from staying comfortable, breathing easily, and sleeping well in your Sandy Springs, Georgia, home. Without the help of an HVAC professional, the problem could worsen and require expensive repairs or even a new heating system. Here are three common problems you should watch out for when trying to heat your home, along with tips for troubleshooting them.

Drafts That Lose Heating

If some rooms in your home tend to stay chilly, heat could be escaping through leaky ductwork or gaps around windows and doors. You can eliminate drafts around doors by sliding a draft stopper underneath, and you can also stop chilly air from coming through windows by caulking around the windows or using weather-stripping. If that doesn’t correct the issues, have an HVAC professional inspect your ductwork for damaged or loose ducts and missing insulation. Any of these problems can cause your heat to escape into the attic or basement, not delivering warm air to the rooms in your home.

Dry Air

Many gas furnaces, wood stoves, and fireplaces lower the humidity in your home as they warm the air, which can cause damage to wood floors and electronics, as well as chapped lips, sore throats, eye irritation, dry skin, and other health problems. A humidifier can return moisture to the air and prevent many of these issues. You can have a whole-home model installed inline with your HVAC system, or you can use a less costly portable version you can move from room to room.

A Yellow Pilot Light

If your natural gas heater has a pilot light, it should be blue. A yellow flame means your furnace isn’t getting enough oxygen and isn’t burning the gas completely. And that can produce dangerous carbon monoxide levels. You could also notice your heating system frequently cycling with a yellow flame. If you see this, shut off your heater and contact an expert immediately.

E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning is a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer with more than 50 years of heating and cooling experience, and we’re ready to help you resolve any problems with your heating equipment. To schedule service, call us anytime.