Forced Air Systems & Furnaces

Forced air systems are the most traditional heating & cooling systems. They use ducts and vents to move warm or cool air through your home. Forced air systems are also called central air systems when they are connected to AC equipment. In the winter, furnaces heat air that is distributed through your home using the ducts in your walls – the air is “forced” through the ducts, which is why they call it a forced air system!

If you’re thinking about putting in a new forced air system, consider how much you’re willing to spend and what your priorities are. Different systems come with different trade offs, such as noise level, energy efficiency, comfort level, and overall convenience.

Types of Furnaces

The furnaces that provide heat to forced air systems come in different models depending on where they will be installed.

• “Upflow” furnaces, installed in your basement, use natural convection to move warm air through your home. Warm air rises, so by putting your furnace in the basement, the warm air produced by the furnace moves naturally upwards. 
• A “downflow” furnace, typically installed in the attic, pushes warm air downwards into your home – but can be less efficient since warm air naturally wants to rise.
• A horizontal furnace lies on its side and can be installed in tighter spaces. Horizontal furnaces pull cool air in from one side and push warm air out the other.

Furnace Maintenance

GEM’s licensed team members are experts at maintaining your furnace. To keep your furnace working well for many years, we recommend having your furnace tuned up once a year. 

When you have GEM come to your home to tune-up your furnace, you can expect our technician to:

• Clean and inspect your full furnace, checking operation of the full system
• Test your condensate pump and inspect the blower motor and housing
• Inspect gas lines and connections at furnace, gas valve, and burner
• Check high limit and adjust if needed
• Check temperature rise – how well it heats – and adjust as needed
• Inspect burner ignition system and assembly
• Inspect and clean flame sensor 
• Check and adjust manifold gas pressure as needed 
• Inspect heat exchanger for soot, corrosion, cracks and deformities
• Inspect wires and electrical assembly for loose connections and corrosion
• Inspect flues and venting for blocks and leaks; test to ensure clear air flow 
• Test all electrical, safety circuits, and controls for proper operation
• Test and adjust furnace to improve operation and efficiency
• Check carbon monoxide emission levels
• Change filter and humidifier pads as needed

Common Furnace Problems

When the cold weather hits, we all know how important it is to have a working furnace. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, call GEM at 877-902-1000 to get your furnace checked out.

Gas Odor

• If you smell gas, you could have a gas leak – a serious and potentially dangerous problem
• Turn off your gas, leave the house, and call a professional right away

No Gas Flame

• If your pilot light won’t stay lit, the thermocouple could be loose or faulty
• The pilot could be clogged
• The pilot’s flame may be set too low
• Or the safety valve could be defective

Not Warm Enough

• If your furnace turns on and produces some warmth, but not enough to heat your whole house, the problem could be with your furnace or with how heat is moving through your home
• Make sure that nothing is blocking your vents 
• Check that the thermostat is in “heat” mode
• If your home still isn’t warm, call GEM to take a look at your furnace

Furnace Won’t Turn On

• If your furnace won’t turn on at all, the problem could be with your thermostat or your electrical circuit breaker
• Try resetting both your thermostat and the circuit breaker
• If your furnace still won’t turn on, GEM’s team can come locate and fix the problem

Furnace Cycles On And Off Often

• This is often caused by an improperly sized system or by your thermostat 
• Try resetting or replacing your thermostat, or have a GEM technician adjust the settings on your furnace

Furnace Does Not Blow Air

• If your furnace is turned on and heating but the air isn’t moving, you probably have a broken belt between your furnace motor and the blower 
• Gem’s technicians can replace the belt quickly and easily to get your furnace up and running again

Special financing available every day!

No matter the furnace issue, Gem’s team is here to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give GEM a call at 877-902-1000 or book online to schedule your furnace repair today. 

Learn more about other HVAC systems