If your furnace is malfunctioning, the problem might be with the capacitor. The capacitor affects the blower that sends heated air through the ducts, so if the combustion area seems to be working properly, but the blower is affected, that narrows down the cause of the furnace malfunction.

The furnace repair technician can test the capacitor to see if it's bad. They can also rely on furnace error codes, the symptoms of the malfunction, and the appearance of the capacitor to tell if it's bad. Here are signs you might notice when the capacitor isn't working properly and how a furnace repair technician can replace it.

Signs Of A Bad Furnace Capacitor

When the capacitor goes bad, the blower motor may not work in your furnace. When the blower stops working, air stops circulating and your home will get chilly. Sometimes, the furnace may give warning signs as the capacitor fails. You might hear clicking when the blower tries to kick on. You might also hear a humming sound coming from the motor.

Since a bad capacitor can cause the motor and your furnace to overheat, a safety mechanism might be triggered that shuts your furnace down, then even the combustion area won't work. In addition, a bad capacitor might cause a breaker to trip off in your home's electrical panel.

Repairs That Might Be Needed For A Bad Capacitor

The type of furnace repairs needed depends on whether the bad capacitor damaged other parts, such as the blower motor. Power passes through the capacitor to the motor, so when the capacitor malfunctions, the motor is affected. If the motor burns out, it might need to be replaced.

If no other parts are damaged, the only furnace repair needed might be to replace the capacitor. Bad capacitors are replaced rather than repaired. Fortunately, capacitors aren't too expensive and they're easy to access inside the furnace. They are also easy to replace since all the furnace repair technician has to do is remove the part from the bracket that holds it and take off the wires and exchange the part with a new capacitor.

If the bad capacitor activated a safety switch, the furnace repair technician may have to reset your furnace to get it going again. With the new capacitor in place, your home should warm up quickly. The new capacitor will send the extra power needed to the motor to start up the blower from a stopped position, and then warm air will start circulating through your home.

For more information on furnace repair, contact a company near you.