HVAC Contractor Mill Park Portland Oregon

Why to repair common heating & cooling breakdowns



There is nothing worse than waking up cold in the middle of the night.


Its one thing if you just need to pull the cover. Its an entire different issue if your furnace is working inadequately or not operating at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can repair and fix your heater yourself. Your best choice though is to have an upkeep check list for your heater to avoid the issue.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the understanding to tackle some furnace repair work.



Whether you have a conventional gas furnace or a high performance gas furnace comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is important. You require to understand the basic operations of the device so you know what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It might sound silly however check the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above space temperature. You might be stunned the number of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make sure you are changing them a minimum of once a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your houses electrical system while others utilize batteries. How is yours powered? Often those that utilize batteries will flash a low-battery symbol when they need a replacement.


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or particles that may have clogged it.


Ensure the date and time is right on electronic or programmable designs - the system may be on a timer.


Examine the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the heating system.




Heater is not producing heat - attempt to reset the Circuit Breaker


Here are any variety of small reasons this could occur. Initially verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to inspect if a noticeable difference is felt.


If there is no result check to see if perhaps a circuit breaker or fuse was tripped or blown.



Go to your houses breaker panel and try to find the circuit that manages the heater. Youre looking to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually test the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


Ensure it is remaining in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the technique you have a problem with either the wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The heater is not producing enough heat. Inspect and change a stopped up filter.


A heater that struggles to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually somehow quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing furnace that doesnt heat the home sufficiently very first ensure that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not brand-new.


This is a simple however crucial part of heating system upkeep. Among the most common reasons to have a furnace not working is a clogged filter. It also occurs to be the most convenient upkeep chore.


Replacing your heating system filter routinely is a fast and simple job and goes a long method in safeguarding HVAC components and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the intake. This more than likely looks like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the furnace itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has actually come to alter it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires changing. A dusty dirty odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another good indication you should change your heating system filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air ought to be coming out. Check the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can reduce its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that develops up on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler need to work more difficult to make up for the clog of air flow. In addition to increasing your utility costs the lowered air flow through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air sent out back into your home. A filthy stopped up filter limits the air flow eventually triggering heat and pressure to build up in the heating system.


Newer more efficient heaters are delicate to the problem and will frequently close down before a filthy filter causes more trouble. For other systems the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and reduced efficiency.




Security switch on a heating system door


If your heating system is not operating among the very first things you need to do is check the security switch on the heating system door. A heating system door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the access panel is removed.


Heating systems have a security switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door should be in location for the switch to be activated and for the heating system to run.


If you find you need to set up a brand-new safety switch follow the action by action guidelines on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Inspect and evaluate the setup.





Keep the location around your furnace clean and unblocked


This may appear like an obvious pointer but sometimes property owners with busy lives forget to pay attention to locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can become messy which in turn can result in the area around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous belongings and particles. Not just does a clean heater function much better it looks better.


Prevent keeping combustible compounds or products near your heating system. Crowding your furnace can cause unanticipated fires considerable damage to your house and threat to your family and family pets.


Nevertheless practical it may appear to just "store it there" for the summer think about the opportunity that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take opportunities offer your heater the room it needs to operate safely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy regularly around your heating system. While you may have eliminated any and all combustible items from the area bear in mind that dust and lint can develop and produce a fire danger. An excess amount of dust and lint can also cause your filter to become stopped up sooner than normal needing more frequent replacement.

Mill Park is a neighborhood in the outer Southeast section of Portland, Oregon, United States. It borders Hazelwood on the west, north and east, and Powellhurst-Gilbert on the south.

In addition to the park of the same name, the neighborhood includes Midland Park, Stark Street Island, and Floyd Light Park.


Area: 1.06 mi²








Address: 1720 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97233

Address: Portland, OR 97233

Address: 10428 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97216