Winter is when you're at home more often, and a time when you want to be warm and cozy. A breakdown of your furnace is going to leave you in the cold, so if your furnace does break down, you should know what to do. Read on for a few common furnace breakdowns and what you can do about them.

Furnace Won't Turn On

If your furnace won't turn on, it may be due to a dirty air filter or general dirtiness. Turn off the power to your furnace and open it up to take a look inside. If it's dirty inside, clean your furnace thoroughly by removing as much dirt and debris as possible.

Clean up the surrounding area to remove debris and objects that could potentially hinder your furnace performance and block air flow. Use a shop vacuum or vacuum cleaner with the attachment to clean the interior. Check the air filter by removing it and holding it up to the light. If it's dirty, and you cannot see any light through it, toss it and replace it with a new one. After the air filter is replaced, you will also need to hit the reset button. Turn your furnace back on and test out your handiwork.

Furnace Over-Cycles

If your furnace is turning on and turning off right away, it may be due to a problem with your temperature setting, or it could be an issue with the size of your furnace. If it's your furnace size, you should have your furnace replaced. A furnace that is too large or too small for your home will tend to either over-cycle in order to either keep up with the temperature, or reach the temperature too quickly and shut off right away.

If your furnace is over-cycling due to the temperature setting, try to make an adjustment to your thermostat. Change the temperature setting and see if this helps. If your setting is too high, your furnace may be struggling to get to that temperature. Lower the temperature in your home. If this doesn't help, call a professional HVAC technician to have your furnace inspected.

These are just a few common issues you could have with your furnace over time. You should know what to do if these happen to you, and how to handle them, as well as what to do to prevent the breakdown or issue in the first place. If you are having any problems with your furnace, call a professional technician to provide furnace repair.