Air Conditioner Tune Up Alphabet Historic District Portland Oregon

How to solve common furnace issues



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


Its something if you simply need to pull the covers up. Its a whole various concern if your heating system is working improperly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can fix and fix your heater yourself. Your best bet though is to have an upkeep check list for your heating system to avoid the issue.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the understanding to take on some heater repair work.



Whether you have a traditional gas furnace or a high efficiency gas furnace understanding how your furnace/heating system works is important. You require to understand the basic operations of the home appliance so you know what to look for when there is something wrong.




Check your thermostat to make certain it is turned on.



It may sound ridiculous but inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature. You might be shocked the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You might require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make sure you are altering them a minimum of as soon as 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 use batteries will flash a low-battery sign when they need a replacement.


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


Make certain the date and time is correct on electronic or programmable models - the system might be on a timer.


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




Furnace is not producing heat - try to reset the Circuit Breaker


Here are any variety of minor factors why this might take place. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to check if a visible distinction is felt.


If there is no outcome check to see if maybe a breaker or fuse was tripped or blown.



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


By hand evaluate the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


Make sure it is remaining in the "On" position.


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



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


A heater that struggles to produce heat is a various matter from one that has somehow stopped working.


In the case of a poor-performing heating system that doesnt warm the home sufficiently first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in great condition if not brand-new.


This is an easy but vital part of heater upkeep. Among the most common reasons to have a heater not working is a stopped up filter. It also takes place to be the simplest upkeep task.


Replacing your heater filter frequently is a fast and basic job and goes a long way in safeguarding HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the intake. This more than likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heater itself.



Inspect your filter - You can tell if the time has come to alter it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty unclean odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another great indication you must change your heating system filter.


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


Cleaning the particles that builds up on your filters will assist with the circulation of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler need to work harder to compensate for the blockage of air circulation. In addition to driving up your energy costs the reduced air circulation through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air sent back into your house. A dirty blocked filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to construct up in the heating system.


Newer more efficient furnaces are delicate to the issue and will typically shut down before a dirty filter triggers more difficulty. For other systems the furnace will continue to run however with less heat output and decreased efficiency.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating among the first things you must do is inspect the security turn on the heater door. A furnace door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is gotten rid of.


Heating systems have a security switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door must be in place for the switch to be triggered and for the heater to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Examine and check the setup.





Keep the area around your furnace clean and unobstructed


This may appear like an obvious idea but in some cases property owners with busy lives forget to take notice of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being cluttered which in turn can cause the area around the furnace being filled with various belongings and particles. Not only does a clean heater function better it looks better.


Prevent keeping flammable compounds or products near your heating system. Crowding your heating system can cause unexpected fires considerable damage to your home and threat to your family and family pets.


However convenient it may appear to simply "keep it there" for the summertime consider the opportunity that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take opportunities offer your heater the space it requires to run securely.


In addition vacuum and tidy regularly around your heating system. While you may have eliminated any and all flammable products from the location bear in mind that dust and lint can develop and create a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to end up being stopped up earlier than typical needing more frequent replacement.