Why Your Furnace Keeps Struggling in January: Common Winter Heating Issues in Tacoma

January in Tacoma often brings the lowest temperatures, amplified by high humidity to create a teeth-chattering, wet cold. Thanks to increased strain on heating equipment, the chilliest days also tend to correlate with the most calls for emergency furnace repairs in Tacoma. Understanding the common furnace problems during winter and the signs to watch for helps you know when to call Kliemann Brothers for professional furnace repairs near you.

Top Reasons Furnaces Struggle in Cold Weather

Winter in Tacoma can test your furnace and increase the likelihood of a breakdown. Consider these top reasons behind winter HVAC issues when working on furnace troubleshooting.

Heavy Demand

Cold spikes during Tacoma’s winters make it harder for your home to retain heat and can put sudden heavy demand on your furnace. When your furnace strains to keep up with more intensive heating demands, it accelerates wear on various components, and problems that previously appeared minor can escalate quickly.

Aging or Worn Components

Depending on fuel type, maintenance history, and other factors, furnaces typically last 15 to 20 years. Even with proper maintenance, furnaces experience declines in efficiency and performance as their internal components degrade and they near the end of their operating lives.

Undersized or Oversized

Your furnace’s sizing or BTU rating should match your home’s heating load, which depends on its size, layout, insulation, and other factors. Too small, and your furnace won’t be able to keep up with your thermostat settings and may run continuously, accelerating wear and driving up utility costs without properly heating your home. An oversized unit is also unable to efficiently heat your home because it works too quickly and prevents warm air from distributing properly.

Faulty Thermostat

If your thermostat isn’t working in the winter, its faulty operation may stem from miscalibration, damaged sensors, worn-out wiring, or power supply problems. When your thermostat misreads indoor temperature or fails to communicate accurately with the furnace control board, your furnace may not turn on or off when it should.

Clogged Filters

Clogged air filters restrict airflow, preventing your furnace from warming enough air as it passes through the heat exchanger and potentially tripping safety sensors to stop overheating. Clogged filters can also put extra wear on blower motors and cause uneven heating in your home.

Leaky Ductwork

Duct leaks become more obvious during cold periods because of the greater temperature differences between indoor air and unconditioned spaces. Gaps, cracks, and other ductwork leaks allow warm air to escape into crawlspaces or attics, significantly impacting heating efficiency and forcing your furnace to run longer without achieving even heating.

Signs Your Furnace Is Failing to Keep Up

Watch for signs that your furnace is struggling to match your heating needs and may need professional heating services:

• Short cycling: Frequent starts and stops often result from restricted airflow, oversizing, or improper thermostat placement.
• Hot and cold spots: Uneven heating in your house may point to duct leaks or blocked vents.
• High utility bills: Short cycling, continuous operation, and other underlying causes reduce furnace efficiency and drive your utility bills up, even when heating performance doesn’t improve.
• Error codes: Modern furnaces often have indicator lights or error codes that flag abnormal or problematic operations.
• Strange odors: It’s normal to smell dust burning off in your furnace system after long periods of disuse, but persistent odors require further inspection. If you smell rotten eggs, evacuate your home and call for emergency heating repairs in Tacoma.
• New or loud sounds: Note any popping, banging, or squealing from your furnace machine, since these sounds can indicate combustion or mechanical problems.

Common Winter Heating Repairs We See in Tacoma

Most winter heating repair calls in Tacoma involve several common fixes. Depending on your furnace’s underlying problem, you can expect one of these common repairs when you call for professional HVAC assistance:

• Ignition repairs
• Gas line repairs
• Clogged air filter replacement
• Thermostat replacement
• Blower motor repair
• Heat exchanger leaks
• Ductwork repairs

Repair or Replace? When It’s Time to Make the Call

Deciding between furnace replacement and repair depends on system age, condition, efficiency, and other factors. If your furnace experiences a minor, isolated breakdown with a simple fix, repair is likely the best option — especially if your repair is eligible for warranty coverage.

Furnace replacement may be more practical and cost-effective than repair if your furnace is more than 10 years old, particularly if you face increasingly frequent or costly breakdowns. Many homeowners also find cost benefits by upgrading to a more energy-efficient furnace sized accurately for their home’s current heating needs.

At Kliemann Brothers, our HVAC can provide expert insight to help inform your choice between repair and replacement in Tacoma. If you opt for repair, we’ll provide a solution that restores proper performance. If you choose replacement, our technicians carefully calculate your home’s heating load to determine the right furnace model and size for your upgrade.

Tips to Help Your Furnace Perform Better This Winter

Homeowners use several strategies to prepare their furnaces for the arrival of winter in Tacoma. In addition to preventing breakdowns, these tips can also enhance energy efficiency and performance:

• Schedule annual maintenance to address wear before cold weather intensifies.
• Keep vents open and unobstructed to maintain balanced airflow across rooms.
• Replace air filters regularly to prevent airflow restrictions and overheating.
• Check thermostat settings to confirm accurate temperature control and proper scheduling.
• If you notice warning signs from your furnace, address them promptly by calling a pro who can prevent small issues from escalating.

Why Tacoma Winters Require a Reliable Heating Partner

Although basic upkeep can keep many furnace problems away, the performance, efficiency, and longevity of your furnace depend on professional maintenance and repair services. Here’s how professional heating technicians keep your furnace running at peak performance:

• Local knowledge: When your heating partner has extensive history with installation and repair services in Tacoma, you can trust them to tailor your HVAC services to the local climate.
• Accurate and straightforward diagnosis: Technicians test your system and confirm the cause, so the repair addresses the source of the problem and provides a lasting solution.
• Code-compliant workmanship: Proper repair and tune-up methods ensure compliance with local HVAC codes and your system’s manufacturer’s warranty.

Schedule Furnace Repairs in Tacoma With Kliemann Brothers

If your furnace is struggling to keep up during January’s coldest temperatures, rely on Kliemann Brothers to restore comfort and safety to your home. Contact us to schedule heating repair and inspection in Tacoma.