Every time your thermostat calls for heat, the furnace works through a fixed checklist. The inducer motor starts and proves draft by closing a pressure switch, the hot surface igniter heats up, the gas valve opens, the burners light, and the flame sensor confirms there is fire. Only after all of that does the blower begin sending warm air into the house. Finding the step that fails is most of the job. Around Dover, NH, the usual failure points are a flame sensor fouled with oxide, an igniter cracked by years of heating and cooling, a pressure switch that stays open because of a weak inducer or a clogged condensate trap on a high-efficiency unit, and control boards with burned relays. Each one halts the startup, and from the hallway they all look alike.
For air conditioning breakdowns, see AC Repair.
When to Call for Furnace Repair in Dover
Catching these issues early helps you avoid costly problems. Keep an eye out for the following clues:
- Loud booms at startup caused by delayed ignition
- A pilot or burner flame that is lazy yellow instead of crisp blue
- Soot, rust, or moisture near the furnace cabinet or vent pipe
- Short cycling every few minutes without reaching the setpoint
- Squeals, scrapes, or grinding noises behind the blower door
- The furnace clicks and glows but the burners never light
- Flames that start, last a few seconds, and go out again and again
- Air moving through the vents that never gets warm
Don't Wait for a Total Failure
A failing capacitor, clogged condensate drain, or dirty flame sensor rarely fixes itself and usually gets more expensive to address the longer it runs. Don't wait, call (351) 345-9323 and we'll take a look right away.
