Why Two Heating Shortcuts Can Backfire in Springfield, MO
Read time: 3 minutes
Furnace advice for Springfield, MO, homeowners.
A video tells you to buy a furnace part online and install it yourself. Another says to cover the vents in your spare bedroom so you don’t pay to heat a room nobody uses. Both sound like easy ways to save money. But there’s a detail the videos leave out: the advice has to fit your furnace and your home.
Here’s what to know before you try either shortcut.
1. Buying a Furnace Part Before You Know What Failed
It’s easy to see the appeal of ordering a cheaper part online. But even if the part fits, it won’t solve the problem if you’re replacing the wrong thing.
Take a furnace that starts heating but shuts off before the house warms up. If a clogged filter, too many closed supply vents, or crushed or undersized ductwork restricts airflow, the furnace can overheat. The high-limit switch then shuts off the burners to protect the furnace. Replacing the switch won’t fix the airflow problem. That’s why a technician checks what caused the shutdown before recommending a part.
Think about what changed around the time the furnace started shutting off. Did you cover vents in a room you rarely use? Did you move a bookcase in front of a return grille? Has one room had weaker airflow since a remodel? These details can help a technician know where to start looking, even if the filter is clean.
If a part does need replacing, it has to match your furnace’s specifications. Some universal replacements are designed to work with specific furnace models, but a part that looks like the old one isn’t necessarily compatible. Leave work on gas valves, ignition controls, wiring, and safety switches to a qualified technician.
2. Covering Vents in Rooms You Rarely Use
Putting a magnetic cover over a spare bedroom vent seems like it should send more heat where you want it. You may feel more air at another vent, but that doesn’t tell you whether you’re using less energy or whether enough air is moving through the furnace.
Closing or covering several supply registers can increase pressure in parts of the ductwork and reduce overall airflow. In some homes, that extra pressure can also push more heated air out through existing duct leaks, as research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found. If airflow through the furnace drops enough, it can overheat and shut off its burners. How much the system is affected depends on the ductwork and which registers are blocked.
If one room is always warmer than the others, start by checking that your supply registers and return grilles are clear. If the temperature difference persists, an airflow check can help determine whether the ducts need balancing or whether something else is going on. Our fall HVAC guide explains why both supply and return airflow matter.
What’s Worth Doing Instead?
If your goal is a lower heating bill, start where your home loses heat. Weatherstripping a drafty exterior door is a better starting point than covering a heating vent. Check your filter regularly, too, and follow your equipment’s instructions for replacing it. The U.S. Department of Energy’s winter energy tips offer more ways to get started.
If your furnace keeps shutting off or can’t keep the house warm, find out why before spending money on parts. At SS&B Heating & Cooling, our technicians aren’t paid on commission. We start with a diagnosis, explain what we find, and give you a repair quote when a repair makes sense. If you’re weighing a bigger repair, our guide to the $5,000 HVAC rule explains what to consider before deciding whether to repair or replace.