The thought of going even a single day without access to a reliable heat source is frightening for most homeowners. You rely heavily on your furnace to maintain the comfort and safety of your home during the cold winter months. 

Modern furnaces are made of many components that must work together to generate heat. There are a few small components that could cause major problems with your heating system when they fail. 

Take the time to become familiar with these components so that you can invest in the repairs needed to keep your furnace running efficiently.

1. Thermostat

Although the thermostat isn't part of the furnace itself, this component plays a central role in the performance of your home's heating system. The thermostat measures the ambient air temperature in your home and tells the furnace when to turn on and off in order to maintain your preferred temperature setting. 

If the thermostat malfunctions, your furnace will not function properly. An HVAC technician can evaluate your thermostat to determine if all wiring and electrical connections are intact. 

Replacing a faulty thermostat should allow your furnace to heat your home properly once again.

2. Flame Sensor

Furnaces that are powered by natural gas are equipped with a flame sensor. The primary purpose of the flame sensor is to prevent natural gas from leaking out into your home. 

As long as the flame inside your furnace is lit, the natural gas is burned as part of the heat-production process. If the flame goes out, carbon monoxide and natural gas can infiltrate your living space. 

Flame sensors can go bad over time. You will notice that your furnace shuts off suddenly before the heating cycle is complete when the flame sensor has gone bad. This sudden stop occurs because the faulty flame sensor thinks the flame has gone out when it really hasn't. 

You will need to have an HVAC technician replace the flame sensor before your furnace can properly heat your home once again.

3. Blower Motor

The blower is responsible for pushing the air heated inside your furnace through the air ducts and into your home. When the blower motor goes bad, this heated air becomes trapped within the furnace itself. 

You will hear your furnace kicking on, but you will not feel any warm air coming through the vents throughout your home when the blower motor is faulty. It's vital that an HVAC technician repair the blower motor if you want your furnace to continue heating your home properly.

To learn more about furnace repair, contact a local HVAC technician.