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 start pushing warm air into the house. Finding the step that fails is most of the job. Around Little Rock, AR, 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.
When the AC quits in summer, see AC Repair.
Warning Signs for Furnace Repair
The sooner you notice these red flags, the easier and cheaper the fix. Watch for these telltale signs:
- Air moving through the vents that never gets warm
- Loud booms at startup caused by delayed ignition
- Squealing or grinding from the blower compartment
- Water, rust stains, or black soot around the flue or cabinet
- Flames that start, last a few seconds, and go out again and again
- A flame that burns soft and yellow rather than steady blue
- Short cycling every few minutes without reaching the setpoint
- Clicking and a glowing igniter with no burner flame
Act Before It Gets Worse
Most HVAC failures start small, a weak capacitor, a squealing blower, a system that runs a little longer each week. If you notice any of these signs, call (501) 272-1569 for a prompt inspection.
