Heating & Cooling in Greenville, SC

Furnaces that are 20 years or older lose efficiency over time, crack, and leak, putting you and your family at risk. If your furnace is between 16 and 20 years old and frequently fails, you really should think about replacing it.

Furnaces come in three main categories, with the primary distinction being the fuel used to produce heat: electric, gas (including propane), and oil. Each type of furnace has a slightly different cost for repairs. An electric furnace typically costs between $50 and $300 to repair. You might have to pay more for gas, oil, or propane-powered furnaces; typical furnace service costs range from $300 to $1,200.

To begin, you should take a look at the thermostat. The fan switch should be near the bottom of your thermostat. The toggle switch has two positions: ON and AUTO. When the fan is turned on, it constantly blows air through the house. As a result, you may notice cold air coming from the vents. When the switch is set to auto, the fan will only turn on when the air has reached the desired temperature. To prevent cool air from entering your home, set the thermostat's fan switch to auto.

The air filter should be checked next. If you can't remember the last time you changed the furnace filter, it is most likely too dirty to allow the furnace to function properly. A clogged air filter can obstruct airflow over the heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. For safety reasons, the high-limit switch will be tripped at this point, and the burners will be turned off. Change your air filter once a month to improve indoor air quality and avoid furnace problems.

If everything looks good with your filter and thermostat, you should next check the pilot light. Older furnaces are powered by a standing pilot light. The pilot light may be extinguished and must be re-lit in order for the burners to produce heat. If you don't see a blue flame near the bottom of your furnace, you'll need to access the reset switch and light the pilot again with a lighter.

Finally, inspect the condensate line. When newer, high-efficiency furnaces run, they produce water. This excess moisture is then drained via a drain line. If the line becomes clogged, the water will return to the furnace, tripping the overflow kill switch and shutting down the furnace.