Man inspecting his HVAC system

Common Causes of Heater Failure During Winter

If you have ever been in Harrisburg on a cold winter day in December or January, then you will know it is not somewhere you would want to be without a working heater. Temperatures during winter average around 29.9 °F, with snowfall that can exceed 60 inches.

That is definitely not somewhere you would want your heater to conk out in. Here are some common ways your heater can fail in the winter, and their potential causes. Check with your local heating contractors in Harrisburg, PA, for additional tips on how to prevent heater problems, such as:

Thermostat Issues

Malfunctioning or perhaps improperly configured thermostats are one common reason why heating systems malfunction occur. The thermostat is responsible for regulating temperature and controls how much heat your heater produces.

Modern thermostats last, but they certainly are not indestructible. Given time, they wear down to the point of needing repair or replacement.

Mechanical Problems

As mentioned above, all mechanical and electrical devices will one day wear down enough to fail. Your heating system is composed of an array of mechanical and electrical components, which wear out over time.

Often, when one part of a system fails, other components follow sometime after, either due to increased wear and tear caused by the failed component, or a dependency on the failed part (imagine how one gear can stop running when a gear linked to it is broken).

Dirty Filters

Dirty filters reduce airflow, which forces your heater system to work harder to heat your home. Moreover, the increased workload on your heater causes greater-than-normal wear and tear on its components and drastically reduces the expected service life of your heating system.

If you are having problems with your heating system, your local HVAC expert can help you diagnose and fix issues before they escalate. Give your local expert a call now. You will not regret it come winter.

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