Air Conditioner Tune Up Portland Oregon
How to solve common HVAC problems
There is nothing worse than awakening cold in the middle of the night.
Its something if you simply need to pull the cover. Its an entire various issue if your furnace is working improperly or not working at all.
With a little do-it-yourself experience you can fix and repair your heater yourself. Your best option though is to have a maintenance check list for your heater to prevent the problem.
Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the knowledge to take on some heating system repair work.
Whether you have a traditional gas heating system or a high efficiency gas heater understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to understand the standard functions of the appliance so you understand what to search for when there is something wrong.
Inspect your thermostat to ensure it is switched on.
It might sound silly but check the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature. You may be shocked the number of service calls are made without examining this!
Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:
Check the battery on the thermostat. You may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit operates on batteries be sure you are altering them a minimum of once a year or as needed.
Some thermostats are wired to your homes electrical system while others use batteries. How is yours powered? Often those that utilize batteries will flash a low-battery symbol when they require a replacement.
Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or particles that may have clogged it.
Make certain the date and time is appropriate on electronic or programmable designs - the system may be on a timer.
Inspect the breaker. If on shut off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the heater.
Heater is not producing heat - try to reset the Circuit Breaker
Here are any number of minor reasons this could happen. First verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to check if a noticeable difference is felt.
If there is no outcome check to see if maybe a circuit breaker or fuse was tripped or blown.
Go to your homes breaker panel and look for the circuit that manages the furnace. Youre seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.
By hand test the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.
Make certain it is staying in the "On" position.
This will reset the breaker. If this does refrain from doing the trick you have an issue with either the electrical wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.
The heating system is not producing enough heat. Inspect and change a blocked filter.
A heater that struggles to produce heat is a various matter from one that has actually somehow quit working.
When it comes to a poor-performing heating system that doesnt heat up the home adequately first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in excellent condition if not brand-new.
This is a basic however vital part of heating system maintenance. One of the most common factors to have a furnace not working is a clogged up filter. It likewise happens to be the most convenient upkeep task.
Changing your heater filter frequently is a fast and simple task 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 most likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the furnace itself.
Inspect 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 dirty 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 furnace is shut off. No air should be coming out. Examine the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can lower its efficiency.
Cleaning the debris that develops on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the clog of air circulation. In addition to increasing your utility expense the reduced 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 heater and the heated air returned into your house. A dirty clogged up filter restricts the airflow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.
Newer more efficient heaters are sensitive to the problem and will typically close down prior to a filthy filter triggers more problem. For other units the heater will continue to run but with less heat output and decreased effectiveness.
Security switch on a heating system door
If your furnace is not running among the very first things you ought to do is check the security switch on the furnace door. A furnace door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is removed.
Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door needs to remain in place for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to operate.
If you discover you require to install a brand-new safety 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. Check and check the setup.
Keep the location around your heating system tidy and unobstructed
This may appear like an obvious pointer but sometimes house owners with busy lives forget to pay attention to locations of their house like the basement.
A basement can become messy which in turn can result in the area around the heating system being filled with various belongings and particles. Not just does a clean heating system function much better it looks much better.
Prevent storing combustible substances or products near your heater. Crowding your furnace can cause unexpected fires substantial damage to your house and threat to your family and pets.
Nevertheless convenient it may appear to just "save it there" for the summer think about the opportunity that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your furnace. Do not take chances give your heating system the room it needs to operate securely.
Additionally vacuum and tidy frequently around your heating system. While you might have removed any and all flammable products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can build up and produce a fire threat. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to become clogged up quicker than normal requiring more regular replacement.