Winter in Richmond might not last as long as it does up north, but when cold fronts push through, we feel it. Temperatures can drop fast, and that’s when heating systems get put to the test. Unfortunately, it’s also when a lot of homeowners discover their heater isn’t working the way it should.
After years of working on heating systems around Richmond, I’ve seen the same problems pop up over and over again. Most of them are preventable, and all of them are fixable if you catch them early. Let me walk you through the most common heating failures we see in Richmond homes during winter and what you can do about them.
Ignition or Pilot Light Problems
One of the most common calls we get is from homeowners whose furnace won’t start at all. You turn on the heat, hear the system try to kick on, but nothing happens. No warm air. Just cold disappointment.
A lot of times, this comes down to ignition issues. Modern furnaces use electronic ignition systems, and older ones have pilot lights. Both can fail for different reasons.
With electronic ignition, the igniter itself can wear out over time. It’s a part that heats up to extremely high temperatures every time your furnace cycles, and eventually it just burns out. When that happens, your furnace can’t light the gas, so it won’t produce heat.
Pilot lights can go out because of drafts, dirt buildup, or problems with the thermocouple. If the pilot light won’t stay lit, your system has no way to ignite the burners.
Either way, you’re left without heat until someone fixes the ignition system. The good news is that these are straightforward repairs for an experienced technician. The bad news is that if you wait until the coldest night of the year to discover the problem, you’re in for an uncomfortable evening.
If your heating system is having trouble starting or you notice it’s taking multiple tries to get warm air, don’t ignore it. That’s your system telling you the ignition components need attention.
Thermostat Malfunctions
Sometimes the problem isn’t with your heating system at all. It’s with the thermostat that controls it.
I’ve been on service calls where homeowners were convinced their furnace was broken, only to find out the thermostat was giving the system bad information or not communicating with it at all.
Thermostats can fail for all kinds of reasons. Dead batteries are the simplest fix. Wiring issues are more complicated. Sometimes the thermostat just wears out after years of use, or it gets knocked out of calibration and starts reading temperatures incorrectly.
When your thermostat isn’t working right, your furnace might not turn on when it should, or it might run constantly even after your home reaches the set temperature. You could have a perfectly good heating system that’s just not getting the right signals.
Before you panic about a major repair, check your thermostat. Make sure it’s set to heat mode. Replace the batteries if it’s battery powered. If that doesn’t solve it, you might need a new thermostat or professional troubleshooting to figure out what’s going on.
Dirty or Clogged Air Filters
This one seems too simple to cause real problems, but trust me, it does. A dirty air filter is one of the most common reasons heating systems fail or run inefficiently.
Your furnace pulls air through the filter, heats it, and pushes it back into your home. When that filter gets clogged with dust, pet hair, and debris, airflow gets restricted. Your system has to work harder to push air through, and in severe cases, it might overheat and shut down completely as a safety measure.
I’ve seen furnaces that wouldn’t run at all, and the only problem was a filter that hadn’t been changed in six months. Twenty dollars and five minutes later, the system was back to normal.
Most filters should be changed every one to three months depending on your home. If you have pets, kids, or a lot of dust, you’re on the shorter end of that timeline. During winter when your heating system is running regularly, checking your filter monthly is a good habit.
It’s the easiest maintenance task you can do yourself, and it prevents a lot of headaches down the road.
Blower Motor Issues
The blower motor is what pushes heated air through your ductwork and into your home. When it starts failing, you’ll notice weak airflow or no airflow at all even though your furnace is running.
Blower motors can fail because of worn bearings, electrical problems, or just age. You might hear squealing or grinding noises before it quits completely. Or you might notice that some rooms aren’t getting heat while others are fine.
A failing blower motor needs to be repaired or replaced by a professional. It’s not something you can DIY, and it’s not something you want to put off. Without proper airflow, your furnace can overheat, and you’re not getting the heat you’re paying for.
If your system is running but you’re barely feeling any air coming out of the vents, your blower motor probably needs attention. Getting heater repair in Richmond sooner rather than later will save you from a complete breakdown when you need your heat the most.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
This is one of the more serious problems we see, and it’s also one of the most dangerous. The heat exchanger is the part of your furnace that heats the air before it’s distributed through your home. Over time, it can develop cracks from the constant expansion and contraction caused by heating and cooling cycles.
A cracked heat exchanger is a safety hazard because it can allow carbon monoxide to leak into your home. Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly, so this isn’t something to mess around with.
Signs of a cracked heat exchanger include a yellow or flickering burner flame instead of a steady blue one, strange smells when the furnace runs, or soot buildup around the furnace. If you have a carbon monoxide detector and it goes off, shut down your furnace immediately and call for help.
Heat exchanger replacement is expensive, and in many cases, it makes more sense to replace the entire furnace if the unit is older. But it’s a repair that absolutely must be done. You can’t ignore a cracked heat exchanger and hope it gets better.
Ductwork Leaks and Problems
Sometimes your furnace is working perfectly fine, but you’re still not getting enough heat in certain rooms. The problem might not be with the furnace at all. It could be your ductwork.
Leaky ducts waste a huge amount of energy. Heated air escapes before it ever reaches the rooms you’re trying to warm. You’re paying to heat your attic or crawl space instead of your living room.
Ductwork can develop leaks at joints and seams over time. It can also get damaged by pests or settle in ways that create gaps. Poorly designed duct systems can have airflow issues that make some rooms too hot and others too cold.
If you’re noticing uneven heating or your energy bills are high even though your furnace seems fine, have someone inspect your ductwork. Sealing leaks and improving duct design can make a massive difference in comfort and efficiency.
Why Local Heating Service Matters
When your heater breaks down in the middle of a Richmond cold snap, you need someone who can respond fast and actually fix the problem. Not someone who shows up three days later or tries to sell you things you don’t need.
That’s where working with a local heating service in Richmond makes all the difference. We know the systems in this area. We understand the specific challenges Richmond homeowners face. And we’re invested in doing quality work because our reputation depends on it.
At Temper Mechanical Air & Heat LLC, we’ve built our business on being the heating repair company Richmond TX residents can actually count on. No runaround. No unnecessary upsells. Just honest diagnoses and repairs that solve the problem the first time.
We’ve seen every heating failure you can imagine, and we know how to fix them quickly and correctly. Whether it’s an ignition problem, a failing blower motor, a thermostat issue, or something more complex, we’ll figure it out and get your system back to keeping you warm.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Freezing
Most heating failures happen at the worst possible time because that’s when your system is under the most stress. Cold weather pushes your furnace to work harder, and that’s when weak components finally give out.
The best thing you can do is pay attention to warning signs before they turn into full breakdowns. Strange noises, weak airflow, inconsistent heating, higher bills, or trouble starting are all signals that your system needs professional attention.
If you’re noticing any of these issues, don’t wait. Call for heating repair now, while it’s still a manageable problem. Because once your system quits completely on a 30 degree night, you’re dealing with an emergency instead of a simple repair.
Your comfort matters. Your safety matters. And taking care of heating problems before they escalate is the smartest way to protect both.
