A control board failure is a major furnace problem. It may require replacing the appliance, depending on the unit's age and the severity of damage. The things to do when your heater won't turn on won't help if the furnace control board has gone bad. If it's not fixed, the entire system can malfunction.
Conclusion. Replacing a furnace control board is an essential aspect of maintaining the efficiency and safety of your home's heating system.
The average furnace circuit board, also referred to as its “motherboard,” will last anywhere between 10 and 15 years.
A heat exchanger replacement is often one of the most costly repairs in a furnace, and the expense can sometimes rival that of installing a new furnace. Typical replacement costs vary widely but can easily reach several thousand dollars, especially if labor costs are factored in.
Depending on how technologically advanced your current furnace is, replacement costs for a new circuit board can run from around $300 to $1,200.
Power Surges. Speaking of electrical discharge, another form of this can occur as a power surge. Power surges can come from faulty wiring, lightning strikes, or electrical overload. The energy from the surge can fry the furnace circuit board, making it unsalvageable.
Repair: If your furnace system is less than 15 years old and the cost of repair is less than half the cost of replacement. Replace: If your furnace system is more than 15 years old and requires a costly repair to maintain efficiency.
One of the most common furnace problems is a malfunctioning thermostat. A sure sign your thermostat isn't working properly is if your fan is constantly running. This will cause your thermostat battery to run, and cause your furnace to work inefficiently.
While there's no such thing as furnace or boiler replacement insurance, homeowners insurance may cover the cost to replace your furnace or boiler if it's damaged or destroyed by a covered peril.
By working on your HVAC system or undergoing important repairs on your own, you could void your unit's warranty or further damage the system. Leave HVAC repairs to the pros.
Start with a Visual Inspection
Often, circuit boards deployed in the field are damaged by electrical surges and there are telltale signs on the PCB. Look for a burnt spot, particularly on the power supply module or I/O and connectivity ports. Pay attention to cracked ICs, broken traces, and blown capacitors.
Faulty and loose wires can create electrical shorts that blow out a control board fuse. The furnace's vibrations can loosen control board wires over time and prevent them from sending information to the unit.
A circuit board replacements take 20 to 30 minutes. A furnace control board lasts 10 to 15 years on average.
Knowing how to reset the furnace control board requires you to find the reset button. However, not all furnaces have a reset button. If your electric furnace has one, you'll most likely find it next to the motor, located within the blower housing. If you own a gas furnace, you'll probably find it in the control panel.
If the flame sensor fails, your furnace may not be able to start or may shut down shortly after starting. Common causes of flame sensor failure include corrosion, dirt buildup, or a broken wire. The gas valve controls the flow of gas to the furnace. If the gas valve fails, your furnace won't be able to produce heat.
Lack of Routine Maintenance
When you ignore recommended maintenance, dirty buildup on heat exchangers, burners, fan blades can reduce you're the life of your furnace in a number of ways: Restricted airflow from dirty filters can make the system work harder. Imbalanced fans can affect the life of motors.
Installation Entails More than Just the Furnace
For a gas-powered furnace, a contractor must set up a gas connection and vent. Installing an electric furnace requires running wiring, adding a circuit breaker, or perhaps updating an electrical panel. Holes are often drilled for pipes and wires.
1. Replace your oil furnace or gas furnace as it approaches the end of its furnace life expectancy. Furnace life expectancy ranges from 15-30 years on average. A well-maintained furnace can last 15 to 20 years with proper care.
Even a slightly undersized furnace will accomplish the job the majority of the time. Taking things down a few sizes will more than likely solve some of your common heating problems like too high of a utility bill while half of your house is blazing and the other half is an icebox.
Visually inspect the circuit board for obvious problems such as overheated components or bad connections. Look for small brown burn marks indicating overheated components that should be replaced. Check for bulging components or dull-looking connections as indicators of error.
Overloading: When a PCB is overloaded with too much current, it can cause the board to overheat and lead to a burnt circuit board. Poor ventilation: A PCB that is not properly ventilated can also overheat and catch fire.