The Most Common Winter Furnace Repairs in Huntington Homes

Nov 4, 2026

Most furnace breakdowns are not mysteries. The same parts tend to wear out, and they tend to go when the furnace is working hardest, which in Huntington, Roanoke, Andrews and Markle means the stretch from late November through February.

Here are the central heating repairs we see most, what each one looks like from your side of the thermostat, and what usually fixes it. If you recognize your furnace in here, our furnace repair team can take it from there.

One safety note before anything else: if you smell gas or your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone out of the house and call your gas utility and 911 from outside.

Ignitor problems

What you notice: The furnace tries to start. You might hear the small inducer fan run, but the burners never light, and after a few tries it gives up.

Most modern gas furnaces use a hot surface ignitor, a small part that glows red-hot to light the gas. They are fragile and wear out over time. When one cracks or burns out, there is no flame. Replacing one is typically a fairly quick repair.

Dirty or failing flame sensor

What you notice: The burners light, run for a few seconds, then shut off. The furnace may repeat this several times before locking out.

The flame sensor is a thin metal rod that confirms there is a flame. If it does not “see” one, it shuts off the gas as a safety measure. A thin coat of buildup on that rod is enough to fool it. Often cleaning it fixes the problem. Sometimes the sensor needs to be replaced.

This is one of the reasons a yearly tune-up matters. Cleaning the sensor is part of our furnace maintenance visit.

Blower motor and capacitor issues

What you notice: You can hear the burners running, but little or no air is coming out of the vents. Or you hear a hum, a squeal, or nothing at all from the blower.

The blower moves warm air through your ducts. Its motor relies on a capacitor to start, and the capacitor often fails before the motor does. Worn bearings or a failing motor can also cause squealing or grinding. If the blower is not moving air, the furnace will often overheat and shut itself off.

Short cycling

What you notice: The furnace turns on and off every few minutes and never seems to run a full cycle. The house might feel warm in one room and cold in another.

Short cycling is a symptom, not a part. Common causes include:

A clogged filter that lets the furnace overheat
A dirty flame sensor
A thermostat in a bad spot, like near a supply vent or in direct sun
A furnace that is too large for the house

Start by changing the filter. If it keeps happening, it needs a diagnosis, because constant starts and stops are hard on the parts.

Limit switch and overheating

What you notice: The furnace runs for a while, shuts off, then starts again later. Sometimes there is a faint hot or burning smell.

The high limit switch shuts the burners off if the furnace gets too hot inside. That is a safety feature doing its job. The real question is why it is overheating. Usually it is restricted airflow: a dirty filter, closed vents, a weak blower, or a dirty coil. Sometimes the switch itself is failing.

Is it the thermostat or the furnace?

Before you assume the furnace is broken, rule out the thermostat. It is a common cause of “no heat” calls in Huntington and everywhere else.

Quick checks

Is it set to HEAT and a few degrees above room temperature?
Are the batteries fresh, if it uses them?
Is a schedule, vacation, or “eco” mode holding it back?
Is the breaker or furnace power switch off?

If all of those check out and the furnace still is not heating, it is time for a technician.

When repair stops making sense

Most of the repairs above are routine and do not mean you need a new furnace. But if you are calling for repairs every winter, the furnace is well up in years, or a major part like the heat exchanger has failed, it may be time to talk about furnace replacement. A tech can lay out both options so you can decide.

We have been serving Huntington since 1969, and we would rather help you make that call on your terms than in the middle of a cold snap.

Schedule furnace service or call us at (260) 200-4011.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common furnace repair in winter?

Ignitor and flame sensor problems are often behind winter no-heat calls. Both keep the burners from lighting or staying lit.

Why does my furnace keep shutting off?

A dirty filter, a dirty flame sensor, an overheating furnace or a thermostat issue can all cause the furnace to shut off early. If changing the filter does not help, have it diagnosed.

How do I know if it is the thermostat or the furnace?

Check that the thermostat is set to HEAT, has fresh batteries and is not in a schedule or eco mode. If those are fine and there is still no heat, the problem is likely the furnace.