Air Conditioner Tune Up Portsmouth Portland Oregon

Why to solve normal heating and cooling breakdowns



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


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


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


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



Whether you have a traditional gas furnace or a high efficiency gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is very important. You require to comprehend 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 turned on.



It might sound silly however check the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You might be surprised the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a few 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 unit works on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of once a year or as needed.


Some thermostats are wired to your homes electrical system while others utilize batteries. How is yours powered? In some cases those that utilize batteries will flash a low-battery sign when they need a replacement.


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or debris 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.


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




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


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


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



Go to your houses breaker panel and search for the circuit that controls the heating system. Youre wanting to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually check the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


Ensure it is remaining in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does refrain from doing the technique you have an issue with either the electrical wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing enough heat. Check and alter a stopped up filter.


A heating system 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 adequately very first make sure that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not new.


This is an easy however important part of heating system maintenance. One of the most common reasons to have a heating system not working is a blocked filter. It also occurs to be the easiest maintenance chore.


Replacing your heater filter routinely is a quick and basic task and goes a long method in protecting HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the intake. This most likely appearances 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 pertained to alter it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dirty unclean odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent sign you should alter your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heating system is shut off. No air ought to be coming out. Check the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can reduce 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 compensate for the obstruction of air flow. In addition to driving up your energy costs the minimized air flow through your cooling and heating system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air sent out back into the house. A filthy blocked filter limits the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective heating systems are delicate to the problem and will frequently close down before a dirty filter triggers more difficulty. For other units the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and reduced effectiveness.




Security turn on a furnace door


If your heating system is not operating among the very first things you need to do is examine the security switch on the heating system door. A heater door security switch prevents 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 gotten rid of. The door needs to remain in place for the switch to be activated and for the heating system to operate.


If you discover you require to install a new security switch follow the step by step instructions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the security switch. Examine and test the setup.





Keep the area around your heater tidy and unblocked


This may seem like an apparent idea but often property owners with hectic lives forget to take notice of locations of their house like the basement.


A basement can end up being cluttered which in turn can result in the location around the heating system being filled with various ownerships and debris. Not only does a clean furnace function much better it looks better.


Avoid storing flammable substances or materials near your heater. Crowding your furnace can lead to unforeseen fires considerable damage to your home and risk to your household and animals.


Nevertheless practical it may appear to just "save it there" for the summer consider the opportunity that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your furnace. Do not take opportunities provide your furnace the space it needs to run safely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy routinely around your heating system. While you may have removed any and all flammable products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can develop and create a fire risk. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to end up being stopped up quicker than usual requiring more regular replacement.