Most issues are about having a furnace too big for their home. The opposite (a furnace too small) is also possible. The reaction to an undersized furnace is to turn up the heat and add a second or third heating source to distant rooms. Neither solution solves the problem. Getting a unit suitable for the home solves the issue. Before you go shopping, find out if your furnace is too small.
1. The Furnace Runs Continuously
Most furnaces have an automatic off switch when they reach the desired temperature. It turns back on when it goes a few degrees below the temperature. A furnace running all the time is acceptable on exceptionally chilly days, but it should still shut off on less extreme days. An undersized furnace tries to heat a large room or home but never reaches the threshold. Therefore, it stays on. It works harder and harder to make up for it and never makes it. It’s a circle that never ends.
2.Your Home Never Gets Warm
If the furnace can’t reach the shutoff temperature at maximum speed, it will never warm the house. It does not have the design and capacity to heat large rooms and homes and can’t do more than it can handle. You always feel a chill or a little warmth, but never toasty warm. You can never feel comfortable in your home. It worsens when the temperatures hit extreme lows. Have a throw or blanket nearby when the furnace is on, but you should not bundle up like you are outside in your home.
3. Your Furnace Struggles to Reach the Desired Temperature
Your home is not warm because the unit struggles to reach the thermostat’s set temperature. The heating from a small furnace is more inadequate than uneven. There might be problems with furnace parts or your furnace size. A technician will decode and solve that issue. Some components failing may be the same ones stopping your heater from warming up the home:
- Dirty air filter
- Incorrect thermostat setting
- Faulty thermostat
- Dirty or leaky ductwork
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Dirty condenser
Contact Davis & Green in Virginia to fix your furnace or to assess your home for the correct size furnace.
4. There Are Cold Rooms in a Mostly Warm House
A properly sized furnace heats the entire home. Every room is at the same temperature. A small furnace heats the areas close to it. It doesn’t have the power to distribute heat throughout the home. Therefore, rooms or sections far from the furnace’s reach will be colder than the surrounding area. The exception to the rule is the kitchen’s cooktop, the bathroom shower and tub, and the laundry room dryer. They generate heat that alters the temperature in the house.
5. The Furnace Has a Premature Lifespan
A furnace in good condition has a 15-year average lifespan. When a new furnace runs constantly, it jeopardizes its lifespan. The repair person comes by more often to repair worn parts because they break apart faster than expected. Eventually, the new furnace stops working prematurely. You must contact a technician to buy and install a new one. That doesn’t apply to furnaces past their 15-year lifespan because they are nearing the end of their lives.
6. There’s Humidity in the Home
Indoor heat and outdoor cold air clash in the winter, creating moisture and condensation in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Expect condensation near the toilet, walls, windows, and plumbing. An adequate furnace can dry those wet spots up and keep them dry. An undersized furnace cannot dry those spots up, creating a haven for mold and mildew to grow. There shouldn’t be much moisture in the winter. A dehumidifier is the only exception.
7. Ductwork Size Doesn’t Match the Furnace
Sometimes, the furnace is too small because the ductwork inside the walls is smaller than the furnace. The ductwork distributes heat throughout the house, so it must match the furnace size. A small furnace with a smaller duct opening causes it to overheat and burn out. Large amounts of heat cannot squeeze through the duct opening, restricting airflow. The bursts of air that cram in may reach nearby rooms, but most of the heat goes back into the furnace, hence the burnout.
Air squeezing through the ductwork makes a lot of noise, too. You will know the furnace is the problem because the loud and distracting bumping and thumping noise will lead you to it. The noise is the resistance between the heat and the duct opening. If the small furnace connects to oversized ductwork, refer to numbers 1-4 above. In summary, the heat will not reach the rooms, so the room will always be too cold or not warm enough. It continues to aim for the desired temperature and never achieves it. A positive is that the air makes zero noise inside the vents. There’s enough space for the air to enter the duct opening.
Your ducts may need cleaning so the air has no blockages between the furnace and your home. If the ducts are clean and you still have issues, it may be the undersized furnace.
8. Routine Maintenance Happens More Than Twice a Year
The always-on furnace will run until it loses performance and efficiency. Parts like the motor, compressor, and coils will break down, and you will need a technician to come over and fix them. Generally, a technician performs routine maintenance twice a year. If a technician visits your home more than twice a year, there’s an issue. It’s acceptable for older heaters because they are closer to the end of their lives. You can replace them with an adequate furnace. Newer heaters in this situation are unacceptable.
9. The Energy Bills Are Always Costly
The nonstop operation of your furnace will affect your monthly utility payment. You will notice higher totals on the light or heating bill with no signs of decreasing. That rise is because the furnace uses too many resources. Since a small furnace doesn’t keep the home warm enough to justify the spike, you are shelling out money for a unit that isn’t worth the financial stress. It may be inexpensive, but an undersized furnace is more trouble than necessary long-term. A less common reason for the uptick is the humidity.
Go Big or Go Home? Go Home and Call Us
You may think a large furnace will solve the problem, but bigger is not always better. Instead, let Davis & Green assess the home and determine the appropriate size furnace. We select a furnace based on square footage, direct sunlight, insulation, ceiling height, occupancy, ductwork size, and construction material. The unit will be unique to your home’s specifications.
Keep us in mind for AC, electrical, air quality, and plumbing service maintenance, repair, or replacement. We also provide electrical services related to generators, power quality testing, data communications, and preventative maintenance for businesses. Contact Davis & Green for more information and to schedule an appointment to keep your Richmond, VA, home warm.
