Air Conditioner Tune Up Arbor Lodge Portland Oregon

When to solve common heater issues



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


Its one thing if you simply require to pull the covers up. Its an entire various concern if your heater is working inadequately or not working at all.


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


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



Whether you have a traditional gas heating system or a high performance gas furnace comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is important. You need to understand the standard workings of the home appliance so you know what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Examine your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It may sound silly however 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 how lots of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit runs on batteries be sure you are changing them a minimum of once a year or as needed.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or debris that might have obstructed it.


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


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




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


Here are any number of minor reasons this could take place. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if an obvious difference is felt.


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



Go to your houses breaker panel and search for the circuit that controls the furnace. Youre aiming to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


By hand test the breaker. Turn it backward and forward.


Ensure it is staying in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have an issue with either the wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing adequate heat. Examine and change a blocked filter.


A heating system that has a hard time to produce heat is a various matter from one that has actually somehow quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not heat up the house sufficiently very first make sure that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not new.


This is a basic but vital part of furnace upkeep. One of the most common reasons to have a furnace not working is a clogged up filter. It likewise takes place to be the simplest maintenance chore.


Replacing your furnace filter regularly is a quick and simple task and goes a long way 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 appearances like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heater itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has come to change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires changing. A dirty filthy smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another good indication you must change your heater filter.


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


Cleaning up the particles that develops on your filters will assist with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work harder to make up for the blockage of air circulation. In addition to driving up your energy expense the minimized air flow through your heating & cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the furnace and the heated air sent out back into your house. A filthy clogged filter limits the airflow eventually triggering heat and pressure to develop in the furnace.


Newer more effective heaters are sensitive to the issue and will typically shut down prior to a filthy filter causes more difficulty. For other units the heating system will continue to run however with less heat output and decreased effectiveness.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating one of the first things you must do is check the safety switch on the furnace door. A furnace door security switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Heating systems have a security switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door needs to remain in location for the switch to be activated and for the heater to run.


If you discover you require to set up a new safety switch follow the action by step guidelines on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and check the installation.





Keep the location around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This might appear like an obvious pointer but sometimes homeowners with busy lives forget to take notice of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can become cluttered which in turn can result in the area around the furnace being filled with various ownerships and particles. Not just does a tidy heating system function better it looks much better.


Prevent storing combustible compounds or materials near your heating system. Crowding your furnace can lead to unanticipated fires significant damage to your home and threat to your family and animals.


Nevertheless practical it may seem to merely "save it there" for the summer season consider the chance that you might well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities give your heater the space it needs to run securely.


In addition vacuum and clean routinely around your heating system. While you might have removed any and all flammable products from the area remember that dust and lint can develop and create a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being clogged sooner than typical requiring more frequent replacement.