Learn Which HVAC Part Is Most Likely to Fail This Winter

If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t know a lot about all the many working parts of your HVAC system. Not to get you worried, but some of these parts get a real workout in the summer, while others are subjected to more strain in the winter, when you’re heating your home. To help you understand a bit more about how your heating system functions, here is a brief summary of the HVAC part most likely to fail this winter and a couple of other parts to look out for.

Blower Motor

The blower motor is one of the most essential parts of your HVAC system. This motor powers a fan that sends the heated air through the ducts and into each room.

Some signs that the blower motor is failing:

1. Weak airflow through the vents. This can be caused by a dirty filter; excessive moisture; a bad capacitor; an aging motor; or dirty or leaky ducts.
2. No airflow. The blower motor may be completely broken.
3. Higher electrical bills. If the blower motor is having to work harder to push air through, your bills will be higher. In this case, it’s probably time to replace this part.
4. Strange noises. Do you hear screeching, squealing, banging, rattling, or clanking? Screeching or squealing may mean there’s an issue with the bearings. Banging, rattling, or clanking may be more serious and could mean the blower motor needs to be replaced.
5. Overheating. Strange burning smells are a sign that the blower motor is overheating. Another sign is that the blower suddenly stops working.
6. Defective relay. When this happens, the fan may blow without turning off.

Other Common Heating Issues

These are other common winter issues:

1. Burner malfunctions. When a furnace fails to ignite, it’s most likely a burner issue. This can be caused because burners are dirty or there is a blocked gas supply.
2. Thermostat malfunction. A thermostat malfunction is most noticeable when the furnace can’t reach the temperature settings. It could be loose wiring, a dead battery, or thermostat failure.

For more on identifying a troublesome HVAC part, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning.