Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.
You are viewing the Arizona site
You are viewing the Utah site

Top 5 Reasons A Furnace Fails: the Most Common Culprits

During the cold winter months, very few things can be worse than the furnace going out. It works quietly in the background of our lives--until suddenly the house starts getting colder and we realize just how vital this system can be. However, most often, furnaces don’t fail catastrophically. In fact, sometimes the fix to most common furnace issues are inexpensive, can be fixed with very few tools, and you can even do it yourself.

Here is a list of the most common components that lead to furnace failure. Some of them are simple; others are complex. But one thing is certain: most of these can be diagnosed with routine maintenance. Staying on top of your annual maintenance can ensure that small problems are corrected before they become big ones, and small issues can be remedied before the furnace fails. Here are our top 5 reasons a furnace fails:
1. DIRTY FLAME SENSOR
The flame sensor is a safety feature that allows your furnace to know whether the flame in your furnace is consistent and that there are no problems with the fuel source. The flame sensor tells your furnace to shut off if it doesn’t sense a flame. This way, you don’t have gas spilling into your house that isn’t being burned. The flame sensor is a metal bar that the flame burns onto directly. It can get dirty over time from soot, dust, or other elements in your house. If your furnace seems to be kicking off and on, putting out a little heat but not being consistent, it could be that you have a dirty flame sensor.

Flame sensors can be cleaned relatively easily with few tools. However, be careful when cleaning your sensors. It is a delicate part that takes some care to clean. Also, make sure you’re actually looking at and cleaning the correct part.

 Click here for a video explaining where the flame sensor is and how to clean it

Sometimes flame sensors fail as well. They are meant to sense electricity from the flame the furnace produces, if the sensor shorts out or goes bad, it may also need to be replaced. Stray voltage in the house can cause a flame sensor to malfunction, wear out, and eventually break. Here is a video explaining how to replace a flame sensor if it has failed:

  Click here for a video explaining how to replace a flame sensor if it has failed

2. IGNITER
Due to normal wear and tear, often the igniter will go out. This is a component that endures constant expansion and contraction and really high heat, failure is pretty common. They are also susceptible to power surges, which can also cause them to fail.

The average furnace turns on 4-5 times per hour, that means over the course of a season, the igniter is undergoing a lot of stress. We recommend getting a diagnosis from a licensed HVAC technician to know that the igniter is the culprit first before attempting to replace it yourself.
3. INDUCER MOTOR
The inducer motor draws air through the combustion area, through the heat exchanger, and out the exhaust pipe. It has an essential role to play in the overall function of your furnace. This is the first thing to activate when the furnace kicks on. This motor makes sure the pathways are clear in your system and also ensures adequate airflow.

There are many reasons why this motor will fail. For one, there are many bearings in the motor that make it run and these bearings can go out for myriad reasons. Oftentimes birds, for example, can get into the motor, causing big problems. But really, our techs have seen all kinds of things in the motor from golf balls to racoons and squirrels. The inducer motor is only used in the winter when the house needs to be heated so all kinds of critters and things can get in there during the summer that you don’t know about until you run the furnace. While new codes and flue styles will keep most things out, blockages can still occur.

If you hear a high-pitched squeal, this could be the bearings or could be the housing the motor is in--indicating trouble with the inducer motor.

Keeping your furnace clean will go a long way in ensuring you don’t have trouble in the winter.
4. BLOWER MOTOR
The blower motor is the big motor that forces air throughout the house. When it comes to this motor, there are myriad things that could go wrong: the capacitor, the motor itself--both the bearings or the electrical components. The capacitor going out is fairly common. It most commonly goes out because of wear and tear on the motor. A dirty motor can also cause imbalances in the fan, which will cause the bearings to wear and make strange noises. Again, this is a part that will benefit greatly from keeping the furnace clean.

Unfortunately, this part is expensive to replace. Routine maintenance is your best strategy for making sure you don’t have a costly blower motor repair down the road! Be sure to clean the furnace frequently and stay on top of filter replacements so you can protect the blower motor and its components.
5. CIRCUIT BOARD
A failed circuit board is another costly repair. As the “brains” of the furnace, or the computer that tells the furnace how to function, it’s incredibly vital. However, many things can impair its functionality. Voltages and surges can affect the function of the circuit board. Dirt can also cause a circuit board to fail--as dirt and dust build up and cause an insulated layer on the board, creating heat which will cause the board to overheat and burn out.

Additionally, the presence of water could also cause the circuit board to short. A leaking humidifier could be a culprit to a failed circuit board, as could any other water, condensation, or leaks. Water wreaks havoc on the copper components and causes them to fail. So make sure to keep any water sources or leaks away from the furnace!
In all cases, refer to your owner’s manual to see your manufacturer’s recommendations for annual maintenance. Most furnaces get neglected; yet, the best way to make sure your furnace continues to run effectively for years to come is through regular maintenance and cleaning. Additionally, changing the furnace filter is the most important step you can take to ensuring the continued health of your unit. 
 
For additional information on this topic, watch this episode of our podcast - 043: Most Common Furnace Problems
Join our email list to get access to weekly emails with helpful videos, educational articles, and DIY home maintenance guides.
Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.

Any Hour Services

1374 West 130 South, Orem, UT 84058

© Copyright 2024 Any Hour Services LLC
© 2024 Any Hour Services LLC

Pricing FAQ

A:

The prices you are quoted come out of our pricing guide. We have looked at the most common tasks we are asked to perform and figured out the average time to perform the task, the cost of the materials, and the cost associated with running a drain business that is able to stand behind that work.

To calculate the cost of your drain project, your plumber will determine the tasks needed. Each task has a price associated with it, which your plumber will add together to arrive at your total. This method allows us to identify and rule out unnecessary tasks, prioritizing fairness and transparency (while saving you money).

Our pricing method is not influenced by the neighborhood someone lives in but is designed to be fair and transparent. When we designed our pricing guide, we asked ourselves, “What does it take to perform this task?” NOT, “How much can we get a person to pay?” This commitment to honest, clear pricing reflects our respect for our clients.

Call Now

A:

When you charge by the hour, you can only give a price after the job is finished. We don’t want you to have to wait until the end of the job to find out how much it costs.

We believe there are too many variables that make “charging by the hour” more of a win for the company than for the homeowner. There are the things that a homeowner has no control over but ends up paying the price for anyway: if a technician has to leave the job to get a part, if technicians work more slowly, if the job takes longer than expected, etc. With “charging by the hour,” there’s no accountability on the plumbing company to have their trucks stocked better, train their technicians better, or run their business more efficiently.

Our commitment to a fair and transparent pricing model is unwavering. We believe in doing right by everyone involved: the homeowner, the technician, and the company. This is not just a business decision, but a moral one, ensuring that everyone is treated with the fairness and respect they deserve.

Call Now

A:

The staff answering our phones and scheduling appointments are not technicians. They do not understand how the plumbing in your home works or how to price the work you need help with.

Our process involves a comprehensive on-site assessment by our technicians to ensure no crucial details are missed. This thorough approach that looks at all variables is how we can provide you with a price that remains unchanged from the start to the completion of the work: the price we give you before the begins is what the cost will be after the work is performed. Here at Any Hour Services, we believe in honest pricing.

Call Now

A:

Requesting a quote is simple. Contact Any Hour Services, and we will assess your needs, providing a transparent estimate for the repairs.

Call Now

A:

Yes, you can request a quote online, and our team at Any Hour Services strives to respond promptly to all inquiries.

Call Now

A:

It costs $269 to inspect your sewer main line with our sewer camera equipment. If you’d like to see what the inside of your sewer line looks like, our sewer supervisors have high-definition cameras to show you a live video of the inside your sewer main line.

Residential, owner occupied special:
$29 drain clear / rooter service. Unclog any drain, including the sewer mainline, as long as it has an easily accessible cleanout.

Call Now

A:

It costs $269 to inspect your sewer main line with our sewer camera equipment. Below you will find a couple internet specials to help you save. If you’d like to see what the inside of your sewer line looks like, our sewer supervisors have hi definition cameras to show you a live video of the inside your sewer main line.

Residential Special:
$149 live camera inspection. High-definition camera is set down your drain so you can inspect the condition of your sewer mainline. Need an easily accessible clean-out.

Call Now

A:

If you are looking to replace your sewer main line, one of our sewer supervisors will come to your home and inspect your sewer main line with a high-definition camera and show you what options are available. The visit doesn’t cost you anything, so call us if you have questions about replacing your sewer main line.

Call Now

A:

Yes, in addition to our coupons, we offer senior discounts and military discounts. You can receive 5% off or any special promotions we may be running, whichever is greater. You can ask your drain technician to show you your savings.

Call Now

A:

No, as long as you live in our service area, our drain technicians can come to your home and help. We service homes from North Ogden, South to Nephi. West from the Tooele/Grantsville area, east to the Park City Heber area.

Call Now

A:

No, our drain technicians don’t quote a price until they have seen your drain issue. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time you want to add more tasks, your drain technician will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

When it comes to our drain clearing specials, if we can not clear your clogged drain, you don’t pay us.

Call Now

A:

You can pay for the the drain work we perform with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your drain technician can talk to you about your options.

Call Now

Pricing FAQ

A:

Our pricing is fair and transparent. It’s based on a fixed-price guide that considers the time, materials, and costs of running a reliable home services business. We don’t charge by the hour or inflate prices based on your neighborhood. We ask ourselves, “What does it take to get the job done?,” not “How much can we charge?”

Before we price your plumbing job, our licensed plumber will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

Call Now

A:

Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

Call Now

A:

We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

Call Now

A:

Water heater replacements vary. Often, older units require updates to meet safety standards. Common items missing from many water heaters are flexible gas lines, expansion tanks, earthquake straps, gas sediment trap, upgrade exhaust venting, etc.

For an accurate quote, one of our licensed plumbers will inspect your existing system and provide a FREE estimate.

Call Now

A:

Our phone staff are not licensed plumbers, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained plumber needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

Call Now

A:

Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a licensed plumber can assess the job properly.

Call Now

A:

We have a small dispatch fee to send our plumber to your home. Our plumbers will arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts. They’ll have everything they need to start your plumbing project while they’re at your home, unless the situation is unusual. They’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your plumbing system and explain what they’ll need to do to complete the work you called for. They’re not going to charge you by the hour, they will give you a total price, with options, before any of the work begins.

Call Now

A:

There are several large plumbing projects that we are willing to show you what options are available and the visit doesn’t cost you anything; basement finishes, water heater install/replacements, water softener installs/replacement, repiping, tankless water heater install/replacement etc. This is not a complete list so call us if you have questions about your project.

Call Now

A:

You will pay a little more to get a plumber to your home after hours but they do not charge more for the work you want them to perform. Our prices come directly from our pricing guide. We do not have a different set of plumbing prices for doing work in the evenings or on weekends. The price for the plumbing work you need done will be the same regardless of the time of day.

Call Now

A:

No, our plumbers run calls on Saturdays and charge the same price as they would any other day of the week. We do not have a different set of plumbing prices for work performed on Saturdays. We are closed on Sundays.

Call Now

A:

No, as long as you live in our service area, our plumbers can come to your home and help. We service homes from North Ogden, South to Nephi. West from the Tooele/Grantsville area, east to the Park City Heber area. Here is a full list of Utah Cities we service.

Call Now

A:

No, our plumbers don’t quote a price until they have seen your plumbing project. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time, you want to add more tasks to your plumbing project, your plumber will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

Call Now

A:

Yes, in addition to our coupons, we offer senior discounts and military discounts. You can receive 5% off or any special promotions we may be running, whichever is greater. You can ask your plumber to show you your savings.

Call Now

A:

You can pay for your plumbing service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your plumber can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the HVAC work you want completed.

Call Now

Let's text you
that offer!

Enjoy these money-saving offers from Any Hour Services!
consent*