During the coldest months of the year, when the temperatures drop below freezing, the furnace in your home may provide your only refuge from the bitter chill of winter.
You rely on that furnace for both comfort and safety. Studies have shown that living in a cold house can exacerbate many health conditions and even increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
That’s why, when you discover that your furnace can’t keep up with cold temperatures outside, it’s a serious issue that should be addressed immediately.
Below, we’ll discuss a few of the most common reasons why your furnace may not be adequately heating your home.
Plus, we’ll provide a few troubleshooting tips to help you restore comfort and safety to your building, no matter how cold it gets outside.
Poor Insulation
One of the biggest reasons why your furnace may be struggling to provide adequate heating for the entire building may not, in fact, be the result of a problem with the furnace itself. It may be a consequence of poor insulation within the building.
The furnace is designed to produce heat, but it is not the only part of your home that keeps the cold at bay. The purpose of the insulation is to keep the heat energy your furnace produces in the building.
Without it, heat may escape through the roof of the home due to conduction or cold air may seep inside.
When this occurs, your heating system continuously cycles on in a futile effort to maintain your desired temperature, but in most cases, the only outcome is an increase in your energy costs.
If you regularly notice drafts in your home, especially near doors and windows, or if you discover that your ceiling is cold to the touch, even when your heater is running, then poor insulation may be to blame.
Close any gaps or cracks with Great Stuff or similar sealant. Improper or degraded insulation in the attic can be replaced with a fiberglass-based material.
Clogged Air Filters
Nearly all modern homes in the United States make use of a forced-air system for home heating. When this heating method is used, the furnace generates heat using a fuel source, such as natural gas, coal, or oil. A heat exchanger then transfers this heat energy into the surrounding air.
Finally, a large fan circulates the now-heated air throughout a network of ducts within the home, sending it to each room through vents located in the walls (and sometimes ceilings and floors).
The constant circulation of high volumes of air has the side effect of carrying with it dust, dirt, and pollen, which can negatively impact the indoor air quality. HVAC professionals address this issue by installing air filters in the furnace or ducts.
These filters capture impurities as they move through the system and are a vital component of a healthy HVAC system. However, they are susceptible to being clogged by a gradual buildup of dust and other debris.
When this occurs, the furnace can’t keep up with cold temperatures because the heated air is unable to pass through the filters and circulate through the building.
If the problems with your furnace are accompanied by a noticeable drop in indoor air quality, which may be indicated by an increase in allergies, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms, then it’s likely your air filters are dirty and should be replaced.
This should be done once every three months at minimum, and more often if you live in an area with poor air quality in general. It is possible to change soiled air filters yourself, although most homeowners opt to have it done professionally as part of a regular maintenance program offered by HVAC companies such as All Weather Heating & Cooling in Ohio.
A Faulty Thermostat
The furnace in your home is only as good as the control system used to operate it. That system is the thermostat, which, as the “brain” of your HVAC system, serves as the interface between the user and the furnace itself.
When you set the thermostat to your desired temperature, it interprets this information and automatically switches the furnace on and off as needed to achieve this temperature.
This is a task that thermostats perform extremely well, particularly modern smart thermostats, which can even learn your preferences and habits to heat your home more efficiently. However, even the most advanced systems can malfunction, preventing your furnace from performing its job effectively.
If your furnace is struggling to heat your home, check for signs of problems with the thermostat. Is the display dim or flickering? Faulty wiring may be the culprit. Does the temperature reading seem to be inaccurate? This could be the result of a software glitch.
In either case, you should contact an HVAC professional who has experience with the technology to perform the repairs for you.
Your Furnace May Need an Upgrade
It’s possible your furnace can’t keep up with the cold because it is too old or worn out. While a well-cared-for furnace can last for many years, over time, all furnaces eventually degrade to the point where they can no longer effectively warm your home on the coldest days of the year.
The issue could be that your furnace isn’t the best one for the specific needs of your home in the first place. It could be the wrong size for your house or simply not suited to the climate you live in.
In any of these cases, no amount of repairs or troubleshooting will truly solve your heating problems. If you have attempted all the troubleshooting steps listed above and still find that your furnace can’t keep up with the cold, it may be time to consider an upgrade.
If you believe you need a new furnace, contact your HVAC professional today. While the up-front cost of replacing a furnace may be intimidating, an upgrade is often worth it in the long term, due to the reduced energy costs that result from the added efficiency.
Homeowners now have more options than ever when it comes to home heating. Heat pumps, zoned HVAC systems, and smart thermostats can save you money on energy costs while also minimizing your environmental impact. If your furnace can’t keep up with the cold, contact your HVAC professional today to learn more about options for upgrading your home heating system.