If you spend most of the winter fighting to keep your gas furnace up and running, ask an HVAC contractor to diagnose it for you. Furnaces can experience many issues over time, including fuel problems. If you don't diagnose your furnace properly, you won't have the tools you need to repair it. Learn more about diagnosing your furnace and how to do so below.

Why Should You Diagnose Your Furnace?

You may already know something about medical diagnostic tests and how physicians use them to locate and treat health problems in their patients. Furnace diagnostic tests are similar to medical diagnostic tests. But unlike medical diagnostic tests, furnace diagnostic tests look for issues in furnaces that could prevent the appliances from working properly, including the fuel delivery system.

Fuel delivery systems ensure furnaces receive the natural gas they need to function during the cold season. Without a good fuel source, furnaces wouldn't warm up enough to heat homes. One of the main components in your furnace's fuel delivery system is the pilot light. The pilot light uses a flame to ignite the fuel system in your furnace. If the light goes out or deteriorates, it won't signal the furnace to turn on and burn fuel.

A diagnostic test can examine the pilot light as well as many other parts in the fuel delivery system for issues. You can run a diagnostic test on your furnace yourself. However, you must know exactly what to look for in your fuel delivery system. The best way to diagnose your appliance properly is to have an HVAC contractor run the test for you.

How Should You Diagnose Your Furnace?

An HVAC contractor will complete a full diagnostic test on your gas furnace. The test not only examines the appliance's fuel delivery system for problems, but the test also looks for problems in the furnace's blower motor compartment and air handler. A contractor can also run diagnostic tests on the appliance's ventilation pipes and air duct system.

If a contractor diagnoses your appliance with a fuel delivery problem, they'll clean or replace the pilot light. If the furnace fails to ignite or run properly after the repairs, a contractor will service the blower motor and clean out the air handler. If necessary, a contractor will clear out the ventilation pipes and air ducts connected to your furnace. Your furnace should run properly after the services above.

Contact an HVAC contractor for more information about furnace diagnostics.