When rehabbing interiors, you might encounter a problematic gas furnace. This home appliance is meant to keep the home warm during winter. In snowy areas, having a well-working gas furnace is a must. It is also a must repair for rehabbers. This article, the first of two parts, will show you some common gas furnace problems and their possible repairs.

First off, you must know how a gas furnace works. It simply sucks in and filters cold air. Air is then heated up with a gas burner and then distributed across the home through the duct. This permanently installed appliance usually uses natural gas although some models utilize LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), fuel oil, coal, or wood. It is considered as part of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) and is present in most homes in the country. Now, on to the most common rehabbing gas furnace problems.

The first common problem you might encounter is the absence of heat. What you can do is to check the thermostat. It must not be set too low and should be in heat mode. It is also possible that the device is turned off or the thermostat is not working. It won’t heat up if the natural gas or propane control valve is closed or if there is problem with the circuit breaker or fuse. If you are not certified for electrical-related rehabbing jobs, leave them to professionals.

No. 2 on the list of common gas furnace problems is the blower is always running. What you can do is to check the thermostat setting. It should not be set at fan continuous. If there is no fan setting, it is possible that the furnace has a faulty fan limit control switch. In this case, simply replace the switch. Again, as a safety reminder, be sure that you are qualified for a certain rehabbing interiors job before actually doing it.

When you troubleshoot the gas furnace, you might notice that old ones tend to shut on and off frequently. There are various possible causes of this problem. One of the most common causes, especially in urban areas, is a dirty furnace air filter. The frequent on and off could also be caused by a problem with the blower motor or the heat anticipator. Be sure to check these three areas to solve this rehabbing interiors problem. Among the possible solutions are replacing the air filter, lubricating the blower motor, and adjusting the thermostat. It will help to check the belt as well. If it’s too loose or tattered, then it should be replaced.

Also included on the list of common gas furnace problems is the pilot. When the pilot is out, it could be due to dirt in the gas tube. It could also be due to a strong draft or a dirty orifice. The thermocouple can shut off the gas supply so be sure to check that part as well. This rehabbing interiors problem ends Part I of the Most Common Gas Furnace Problems. Other furnace headaches will be discussed in Part II.