Ohio is well known for its cold weather. We are in the coldest season of the year, and temperatures sure have dropped! We are now donning our coziest of clothes, using extra fuzzy blankets for warmth at night, and overall, just trying to stay warm and toasty as much as possible. Recently, you have probably caught yourself increasing the furnace’s temperature on extra cold days. But have you ever stopped and thought about what it would be like not to have a functioning furnace in the winter? It doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience, does it? Unfortunately, if your HVAC system does not get the proper preventative maintenance it needs, it can get overworked, leading to problems with your furnace. With furnace usage running full force this time of the year, sometimes the inevitable still happens. So, here is a list of the seven most common reasons your HVAC system may act up this winter. Of course, this is pieced together by your favorite HVAC experts from Five Star Heating & Cooling Group.  

NUMBER 1: THERMOSTATS- IS YOUR FURNACE RESPONDING TO THE THERMOSTAT? 

First of all, let’s start by checking the thermostat. As the thermostat is the primary means of communication between you and your HVAC system, if it were to break down, it’s safe to say your furnace would likely not function properly either. So, check the thermostat to make sure it is not the issue. It’s important to verify that your thermostat still turns on and responds to temperature and setting changes; try adjusting the temperature to see if your HVAC system responds accordingly. Who knows – the resolution to your HVAC issues may just be that you simply need to change out the batteries for a fresh set. 

NUMBER 2: AIR FILTERS- IS YOUR HVAC SYSTEM DUE FOR AN AIR FILTER CHANGE?  

Secondly, don’t forget about your regular air filter changes! If you have been experiencing furnace issues, try changing the air filter for a fresh one. Even if you have recently changed it, it won’t hurt to double-check and make sure the filter has not become clogged. There’s potential that it has gotten bogged down with an extra layer of dust and airborne debris. A filthy air filter can cause a variety of HVAC problems. Furthermore, it’s crucial to remember that air filters should be changed every 30-60 days. Enforcing this is the best form of preventative maintenance you can practice!  

NUMBER 3: FROZEN PIPES- IS YOUR HVAC SYSTEM ENCOUNTERING FROZEN HVAC PIPES & COILS?  

Thirdly, frozen HVAC pipes and coils are, in fact, a common issue in the HVAC industry. When temperatures drop so low, they are prone to freezing up! If you perhaps think that your furnace isn’t working correctly due to built-up ice, you should have it looked at as soon as you are able to. You don’t want to delay the issue of a frozen pipe further. Frozen pipes can potentially burst and cause extensive damage to your HVAC system. You’ll be left with a damaged unit and high repair bills as a result. Ten out of ten – we do not recommend this if it can be avoided! 

NUMBER 4: AIR FLOW RESTRICTION- IS YOUR FURNACE WARMING ALL ROOMS IN YOUR HOUSE EVENLY? 

Suppose you noticed a particular room in your house tends to be a tad colder compared to the rest of the room in your home. If this resonates with you, you may just be dealing with a case known as airflow restriction. Airflow restriction is another frequent HVAC problem we see occurring in the winter, as it’s much easier to notice a cold area of your home amidst the cold weather. If this is something you think you may be encountering, try inspecting each vent in the room to check that all vents are open; it’s important that they always remain open. Furthermore, make sure there are no items obstructing the line of airflow to the vent. This means no furniture pieces or items should be placed over a vent or in front of it. 

NUMBER 5: PILOT LIGHT- IS YOUR FURNACE’S PILOT LIGHT OUT? 

If you have a gas or propane furnace, this means your heating system utilizes a pilot light. Perhaps you have suddenly noticed that the furnace isn’t emitting heat, but it is still running. If this is the case, it’s likely your pilot light went out. Pilot lights can go out when a draft blows by the flame, suddenly causing it to flicker off. However, it could also be a system-related problem, such as a damaged sensor. In this case, you should call a licensed professional to come to inspect your furnace. You can also try relighting the pilot light by yourself. This might assist you in determining whether you need to call a professional or not. However, if you don’t feel comfortable doing so or you have tried relighting it but the issue persists, please contact us so we can send one of our NATE-certified technicians to your home as soon as possible. We will assess and resolve the issue as quickly as we can.  

NUMBER 6: HEAT PUMP- IS YOUR HEAT PUMP FROSTED OVER?  

Heat pumps tend to have problems with frosting in the winter – not a surprising fact regarding our recent weather. To prevent this, most heat pumps have a built-in feature that will automatically turn on and defrost the heat pump as needed. However, if your heat pump doesn’t come with this special setting and you suspect that your unit might be covered in frost or ice, don’t hesitate to call us.  

NUMBER 7: CYCLING- IS YOUR FURNACE POWERING OFF & ON REPEATEDLY?  

What does it mean exactly when we refer to a furnace as cycling? Good question! When you hear someone say their unit is cycling, this refers to the unit being in a state where it is constantly running and is stuck in a loop, repeatedly powering off and on. You may have noticed this happening with your own heating system but couldn’t quite place a finger on the reason. Regardless, if this sounds like it is the situation you’re currently in, try checking the air filter. When an air filter gets clogged, it confuses the HVAC system, which then sparks it into a cycling loop. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, this would be a good point to call an HVAC professional such as Five Star Heating & Cooling Group to adequately assess the issue for you.  

If any of these seven common HVAC issues have occurred for you this winter, and you are still experiencing problems, don’t hesitate to call us. You don’t want to put off the issue any further and risk causing more damage to your system. We would feel honored to provide you with our five-star customer service. In addition, we offer a vast range of HVAC-related services and are also proud to say we provide emergency HVAC services round the clock! So, rest assured; Five Star Heating & Cooling Group has got you covered! Call us at (614) 490-7550, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!