Air Conditioner Tune Up Laurelhurst Portland Oregon

Why to repair common heating and cooling breakdowns



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


Its something if you just need to pull the covers up. Its an entire different problem if your heating system is working badly or not working at all.


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


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the understanding to deal with some furnace repair work.



Whether you have a standard gas heating system or a high efficiency gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You require to comprehend the standard operations of the device so you understand what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Examine your thermostat to make certain it is turned on.



It might sound silly but examine the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" which it is set at least 5 degrees above space temperature level. You might be surprised 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 need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system works on batteries make sure you are altering them a minimum of once a year or as required.


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


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


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


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




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


Here are any variety of minor reasons this might take place. Initially verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to examine if an obvious distinction is felt.


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



Go to your homes breaker panel and look for the circuit that manages the furnace. Youre looking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


By hand check the breaker. Flip it back and forth.


Ensure 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 adequate heat. Examine and alter a clogged filter.


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


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


This is an easy but important part of heating system upkeep. One of the most common reasons to have a heating system not working is a clogged filter. It likewise happens to be the most convenient maintenance task.


Replacing your heater filter regularly is a fast and simple task 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 most likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heating system itself.



Inspect your filter - You can tell if the time has actually concerned change it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dirty filthy smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another good indication you must change your heater filter.


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


Cleaning up the debris that develops on your filters will help with the circulation of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy expense the decreased 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 heater and the heated air returned into your home. A dirty stopped up filter limits the air flow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective heaters are delicate to the issue and will typically close down prior to a dirty filter causes more trouble. For other units the heating system will continue to run however with less heat output and minimized performance.




Security switch on a heater door


If your furnace is not running among the very first things you must do is examine the security switch on the furnace door. A heating system door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the access panel is gotten rid of.


Heaters have a safety switch that pops out when the door is removed. 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 new safety switch follow the action by step instructions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


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





Keep the area around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This might look like an obvious tip however sometimes house owners with busy lives forget to focus on areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can become cluttered which in turn can cause the location around the heater being filled with various possessions and debris. Not just does a tidy furnace function much better it looks better.


Prevent storing flammable compounds or products near your heater. Crowding your furnace can cause unexpected fires considerable damage to your home and danger to your household and family pets.


Nevertheless practical it may seem to simply "store it there" for the summertime consider the chance that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heater. Dont take opportunities offer your furnace the room it requires to run securely.


Furthermore vacuum and tidy frequently around your furnace. While you may have gotten rid of any and all flammable products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can construct up and create a fire risk. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being clogged up faster than usual needing more frequent replacement.