Air Conditioner Tune Up Mt. Tabor Portland Oregon

When to fix routine heating & cooling problems



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


Its something if you just need to pull the conceal. Its a whole various problem if your heating system is working poorly or not working at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can troubleshoot and repair your heater yourself. Your best bet though is to have a maintenance check list for your heater to avoid the problem.


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the understanding to take on some heater repairs.



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




Examine your thermostat to make sure it is switched on.



It might sound ridiculous but inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least 5 degrees above room temperature. You might be shocked 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 require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit operates on batteries make certain you are altering 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? Sometimes those that utilize batteries will flash a low-battery symbol when they require a replacement.


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or debris that may have obstructed it.


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


Inspect the breaker. If on shut off the breaker and check the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any number of minor reasons that this could occur. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to examine if a noticeable distinction is felt.


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



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


Manually test the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


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


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



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


A furnace that has a hard time to produce heat is a different matter from one that has somehow stopped working.


In the case of a poor-performing furnace that does not warm the house sufficiently very first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in great condition if not brand-new.


This is a simple but vital part of heater upkeep. Among the most typical reasons to have a furnace not working is a clogged up filter. It also takes place to be the easiest upkeep chore.


Replacing your heating system filter frequently is a quick and easy job and goes a long way in protecting HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some furnaces 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 furnace itself.



Inspect your filter - You can inform if the time has come to alter it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dirty filthy odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another great sign you need to alter your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your furnace is turned off. No air should 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 decrease its efficiency.


Cleaning up the debris that develops on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler must work harder to compensate for the clog of air circulation. In addition to increasing your energy bill the lowered air flow through your cooling and heating system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air returned into your house. An unclean stopped up filter limits the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more efficient furnaces are sensitive to the problem and will frequently close down prior to an unclean filter causes more trouble. For other units the furnace will continue to run but with less heat output and lowered efficiency.




Safety turn on a heating system door


If your heating system is not running one of the first things you ought to do is inspect the safety switch on the heating system door. A heater door security switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is removed.


Furnaces have a safety 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 operate.


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


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the security switch. Inspect and test the installation.





Keep the location around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This may look like an obvious suggestion however sometimes homeowners with busy lives forget to focus on locations of their house like the basement.


A basement can become messy which in turn can lead to the location around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous belongings and particles. Not only does a tidy heating system function much better it looks better.


Prevent keeping combustible compounds or products near your furnace. Crowding your furnace can cause unanticipated fires significant damage to your house and danger to your family and family pets.


However hassle-free it may seem to simply "keep it there" for the summertime think about the chance that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your furnace. Do not take opportunities give your heating system the space it requires to run securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean routinely around your furnace. While you may have eliminated any and all combustible products from the area remember that dust and lint can develop and create a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also cause your filter to end up being clogged earlier than usual requiring more frequent replacement.