When a furnace stops heating a home, many homeowners hope for the best. “I think the thermostat is broken,” they may say, hoping a quick calibration or rewiring will do the trick. Others jump to the worst-case scenario: “I think it may need to be replaced.”
These are both things that can and do happen. However, it’s often not what the homeowner expects. In fact, some of the things that cause a furnace to break down or function incorrectly may surprise you! Here are four things you may not realize could cause failures with your heating system.
Before we begin, we want to remind you that if you suspect a gas leak, vacate the home ASAP and call the gas company. If you don’t have the number on hand, call 911. For your family’s health and safety, it’s not worth staying indoors. You should also make sure the home is properly equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors that are regularly tested.
Leaky pipes are unfortunately quite common in the winter. The freezing and thawing of water in the pipes causes them to expand, which may force a pipe to burst open. Other factors can contribute to leaky pipes too, of course, such as corrosion or other means of excess pressure on the pipes.