This rehabbing interiors article lists down more common gas furnace problems and their possible solutions. Be sure to read Part I before you proceed. If you’ve gone through the first installment of this two-part report, then you can read on.

We now move on to one of the most annoying problems furnaces have: its noise. Homeowners hate it because it’s distracting and irritating. This noisy operation is annoying in other defective appliances too, such as refrigerators and air-conditioning units, among others. That is why as a rehabber, and as a homeowner yourself, you must fix this rehabbing interiors problem. First, you should diagnose the home appliance and determine what’s causing the noise.

Common gas furnace problems can sometimes be solved by listening well. If you hear a high-pitched noise, then it’s probably some parts squealing. Check the blower belt first. Does it have the right tension? You should be able to press it down for around an inch at the center. It’s also possible that the belt is already frayed. In this case, you need to replace it. Another possible cause of this rehabbing interiors problem is a dried blower motor or shaft bearings. Lubricate the ports.

If you hear low-pitched noise, then it could be because of the pilot light or gas burners. The next thing to do is to check whether the gas burners are on or off. If they are turned on, then you’ll need to adjust the pilot light. If the gas burners are off, they are probably dirty and need a good cleaning. Some jobs are best left to professionals and cleaning and adjusting gas burners are among those tasks.

Now, in older homes, you’ll find furnaces that use a pilot light for ignition. However, newer models come with electronic ignition. And when it comes to electronic ignition problems, it is better if you leave this matter to technicians. But to help in troubleshooting, you must know that electronic ignition occurs in two ways: intermittent pilot or hot surface ignition. In the first method, a high voltage electrical spark is set to light the pilot, which will then light the gas burners. In the other method, an electronically controlled resistance heating element ignites the burner. When calling the technician, he’ll most likely ask you what ignition the furnace uses. If you know what to tell him, then that will speed up this rehabbing interiors job.

The thermostat and furnace compatibility concludes the list of common gas furnace problems. Needless to say, the thermostat type must suit the furnace’s requirements. Otherwise, it will lead to operational problems. But when it comes to thermostats, what you must know is that they come in at least three types of systems: millivoltage, low voltage, and high voltage.

When rehabbing interiors, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter millivoltage systems; they’re not usually installed in homes. High voltage thermostats are also uncommon inside homes as they are used for electric resistance heating systems. Most likely, you will deal with low voltage thermostats.