Short cycling. Clicking with no flame. Cold air out of the vents. A squeal, a boom or a smell you can’t place. Those are the five complaints we hear most on Randallstown furnace repair calls, and each one points to a fairly short list of causes. Below we break them down one by one, explain what a technician checks, and tell you which ones you can safely look at yourself before calling anyone.
Furnace repair is the diagnosis and fix of a gas or electric furnace that won’t heat, heats unevenly or runs unsafely. For Randallstown, MD families, Bruce Solomon Plumbing, Heating & Air technicians have taken on furnace breakdowns since 1984, and our furnace techs are long-time pros whose vans carry igniters, sensors, motors and controls.
Symptom 1: The Furnace Short Cycles
Short cycling means the burners light, run for a minute or two, then shut off, over and over. The house never quite warms up and the system sounds busy all day.
What it usually means:
- A dirty flame sensor. This thin metal rod proves the flame is lit. When it’s coated with residue, the control board can’t “see” the flame and shuts the gas off for safety.
- An overheating heat exchanger tripping the high limit switch. The usual cause is a clogged filter or restricted airflow.
- A thermostat placed near a supply register or in direct sun, so it’s satisfied too quickly.
- An oversized furnace that heats the space too fast.
Cleaning a flame sensor takes a technician a few minutes. If restricted airflow is the root cause, leaky or undersized ducts may be part of it, and our ductwork sealing and repair page explains how we track that down.
Symptom 2: Clicking, But No Ignition
You hear the inducer motor start and maybe a click, but the burners never light. After a few tries, the furnace locks itself out.
Likely causes
- A cracked or worn hot surface igniter. These glow orange before the gas opens. They wear out and are one of the most common parts we replace.
- A pressure switch that won’t close because of a blocked vent, a cracked hose or water in the line.
- A gas supply issue, such as a closed valve after other work was done in the house.
- A failing control board.
Most furnaces have a small window or blinking LED that flashes a code. If you can count the blinks and tell us, it helps us bring exactly the right part.
Symptom 3: Blowing Cold Air
Cold air from the registers is alarming, but the cause is often simple.
- Check the thermostat. If the fan is set to “On” rather than “Auto”, the blower runs constantly, even between heating cycles.
- Check the filter. A packed filter can trip the limit switch, which shuts off the burners while the blower keeps running.
- Check the condensate drain on a high-efficiency furnace. A clogged drain or full condensate pump can shut the burners down.
- Call if none of that helps. Then it’s likely an ignition failure, a bad flame sensor or a control fault.
Symptom 4: New or Loud Noises
Furnaces make some sound, but a change in the sound is worth noticing.
Squealing or grinding
Usually the blower motor bearings or, on older units, a worn belt. Grinding means metal on metal and should be looked at soon before the motor fails.
A boom when the burners light
Delayed ignition. Gas builds up for a moment before it lights. Dirty burners and a weak igniter are common causes. Don’t ignore this one.
Rattling or banging in the ductwork
Loose panels, a loose blower wheel, or ducts expanding and contracting. Usually not dangerous, but it’s a sign something has shifted.
Symptom 5: A Smell You Can’t Place
A dusty, burning smell for the first few minutes of the season is normal: it’s dust burning off the heat exchanger. A burning plastic or electrical smell that lingers is not. Turn the furnace off and call.
If you smell gas (rotten eggs), leave the house right away and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Don’t flip switches or try to find the leak.
Carbon Monoxide: The Part Nobody Should Skip
Carbon monoxide has no smell or color. A cracked heat exchanger, blocked flue or failed inducer can let it into your living space. Every home with a gas furnace needs working CO alarms on each level and near the bedrooms. If an alarm sounds, or your family has headaches or nausea that ease when you leave the house, get everyone outside and call for help.
On every furnace repair visit, our technicians inspect the heat exchanger, check the flue and venting, and test the safety controls. If we find a crack, we’ll show you and explain your options clearly. We won’t leave a furnace running that isn’t safe to run.
Furnace Repair in the Village of Deer Park and Old Court Colony
The Village of Deer Park started going up in 1997, which means a lot of those homes still have their original furnaces. A furnace from the late 1990s is well into its third decade, and parts like inducer motors, igniters and control boards tend to fail in a cluster around this age. Old Court Colony homes vary, with some on second or third furnaces and others on very old equipment.
Age alone doesn’t mean you need a new furnace. We’ll repair what makes sense to repair. But if you’re looking at a cracked heat exchanger or a string of failures on an older unit, we’ll lay out the tradeoffs of repair versus replacement and help you think through furnace replacement options in Randallstown without pressure.
How We Handle Gas Furnace Repair Calls in 21133
Our family business has worked out of Reisterstown since 1984, and Randallstown is a regular part of our route. When your furnace call comes in:
- We ask about the symptom so the technician arrives prepared.
- The tech shows up when we said, puts on booties and lays down runners.
- We test before we replace, so you never end up with parts you don’t need.
- Common furnace parts ride along in the van, so a second trip is rare.
- Before leaving, the tech sweeps up and shows you the old part and the new one.
The furnace is one part of your whole home heating setup, which our full heating repair page for Randallstown homes covers in full. After a repair, it’s also a good moment to look at filtration and humidity, since a clean-running furnace pairs well with better indoor air in your home. And when summer comes around, the same blower and coil feed your AC, so we also handle air conditioner repair in Randallstown.
Curious what working with us is like? Browse homeowner reviews of our team.
Furnace Trouble? Quick Answers
Why does my furnace shut off after a minute or two?
A furnace that stops right after lighting is usually held back by a dirty flame sensor, a clogged filter causing overheating, or a poorly placed thermostat. Replace the filter first. If it keeps happening, a technician can clean the sensor and check airflow.
Is it safe to run my furnace if it smells like burning?
A light dusty smell for the first few minutes of the season is normal. A strong burning, plastic or electrical smell that doesn’t fade is not, so shut the furnace off and call for service.
Can you repair a furnace the same day in Randallstown?
In many cases, yes, provided the day isn’t already full. Since igniters, sensors and motors travel with the tech, the fix often happens during that first stop.
How old is too old to repair a furnace?
There’s no single cutoff, but furnaces past 20 years old with repeated failures or a cracked heat exchanger are usually better replaced. We’ll give you an honest recommendation based on your furnace’s condition, not just its age.
Call Before a Small Furnace Problem Turns Into a Cold Night
A weak igniter or dirty sensor today can be a lockout at 2 a.m. next week. If your furnace is acting strange, pick up the phone now and dial (410) 833-2188. You can also request service through our contact page and we’ll reach back out to set a time.
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