When it comes to keeping your family warm and cozy during the cold winter months, having a normally functioning home heating system is vital. Of course, the type of heating system favored for households across the U.S. varies by region.
If you're like the majority of American homeowners with HVAC ductwork already installed in their homes, you prefer the effectiveness of a ducted forced-air heating system. This heating system works by blowing heated air throughout your home via a series of air ducts and air registers.
If not properly taken care of, your ducted forced-air heater can develop problems that affect its usual effectiveness. Continue reading to explore some of the common issues that may arise with this type of residential heating system.
System Blowing Cold Air
When they're working properly, your residential heating and cooling systems should provide sufficient heat and cold respectively to ensure year-round thermal comfort within your home. If your heating system is turned on and the thermostat is set correctly but you're still getting cold air instead of hot air from your air supply registers, this is an obvious sign that your heater is not working properly. A variety of factors may cause this problem, depending on the type of forced-air system you have.
The ducted heating systems used in American homes are mostly electric or gas-powered systems. Each system has specific components that can become worn out and affect the heating output of your residential heater.
Increased Energy Bills
Although the energy efficiency of ducted forced-air home heating systems varies by brand and by manufacturer, your residential heater is supposed to operate at peak efficiency when it's working properly. If your heating bills are higher than the monthly average for the heating season, it's likely that your home heater is wasting energy.
A common culprit behind spiking heating bills is a dirty air filter. When the air filter in your heating system isn't replaced on time, it may hinder airflow into the system, causing it to run harder than it should to create a comfortable indoor environment. Broken or worn-out parts may also result in increased energy bills, so it's important to get your entire system checked and repaired.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
As the air inside your home gets pulled into your residential heating system, the air filter catches any airborne dirt and prevents it from entering the system. This helps to ensure that the heated air blowing out of your air supply registers is clean and safe for household members to breathe.
If the air that you're getting is hot but seems dusty, it's likely that your heating system's air filtration mechanism is failing. Fortunately, an air filter replacement should help to fix the problem. While you're getting your air filter replaced, consider if it's time to undertake a general cleaning of the entire heating equipment.
Having heating system problems is a normal part of homeownership. If you encounter any problem with your residential heating system, don't hesitate to ask an HVAC contractor for help. They can provide additional information regarding residential heating maintenance.
Share