Air Conditioner Tune Up St. Johns Portland Oregon

When to solve common heating and cooling problems



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


Its something if you just require to pull the cover. Its an entire different problem if your heating system is working badly or not operating at all.


With a little diy experience you can repair and fix your heater yourself. Your best choice though is to have an upkeep check list for your heating system to prevent the problem.


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the knowledge to deal with some heater repairs.



Whether you have a traditional gas furnace or a high effectiveness gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to comprehend the fundamental workings of the appliance so you know what to search for when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It may sound silly but check 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 many service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You may require to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system runs on batteries make sure you are altering them a minimum of when a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully 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.


Examine the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and examine the fuse for the heater.




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


Here are any variety of minor reasons this could occur. First validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to check if an obvious distinction is felt.


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



Go to your homes breaker panel and try to find the circuit that controls the heater. Youre looking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


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


Make certain 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 electrical wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The heater is not producing sufficient heat. Inspect and change a stopped up 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 does not heat up the home adequately very first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in good condition if not brand-new.


This is a simple however vital part of heating system maintenance. Among the most common reasons to have a heating system not working is a clogged filter. It also occurs to be the most convenient upkeep chore.


Replacing your heating system filter frequently is a quick and easy job and goes a long method in securing HVAC components and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the intake. This probably appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the furnace itself.



Examine your filter - You can tell if the time has actually concerned change it by holding it up to the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dusty unclean smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another great indication you must change your furnace filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is switched off. No air must be coming out. Check the direction 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 particles that constructs up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler need to work more difficult to compensate for the obstruction of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy bill the minimized air flow through your heating and cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the furnace and the heated air returned into your home. A filthy stopped up filter restricts the airflow eventually triggering heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective heating systems are delicate to the issue and will typically shut down before an unclean filter causes more difficulty. For other systems the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and lowered efficiency.




Security switch on a heating system door


If your heater is not running among the first things you must do is inspect the security switch on the heater door. A furnace door security switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door should be in place for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to operate.


If you find you need to set up a new security switch follow the action by action guidelines on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


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





Keep the area around your furnace clean and unblocked


This might appear like an obvious tip but sometimes property owners with hectic lives forget to focus on areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can lead to the area around the heating system being filled with various belongings and particles. Not just does a clean furnace function better it looks much better.


Avoid saving flammable compounds or materials near your heater. Crowding your heating system can lead to unforeseen fires considerable damage to your house and risk to your family and family pets.


Nevertheless convenient it might appear to just "keep it there" for the summer season think about the chance that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heating system. Do not take possibilities provide your furnace the room it needs to run safely.


In addition vacuum and clean regularly around your heater. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can construct up and develop a fire danger. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise cause your filter to end up being clogged up sooner than usual needing more regular replacement.