Air Conditioner Tune Up Sumner Portland Oregon

Why to repair common HVAC problems



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


Its one thing if you simply need to pull the cover. Its an entire different problem if your heating system is working poorly or not operating at all.


With a little diy experience you can troubleshoot and fix your furnace yourself. Your finest bet though is to have an upkeep check list for your heater to prevent the problem.


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



Whether you have a conventional gas heater or a high efficiency gas heater understanding how your furnace/heating system works is crucial. You need to understand the basic operations of the appliance so you understand what to look for when there is something incorrect.




Check your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It might sound silly but inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above space temperature. You might be stunned the number of service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You may need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system works on batteries make sure you are altering them at least as soon as a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your homes 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 debris that may have obstructed it.


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


Inspect the breaker. If on switch off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any variety of minor reasons that this could happen. Initially verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if a noticeable difference is felt.


If there is no result 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 controls the heater. Youre wanting to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually evaluate the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


Ensure 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 circuitry in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The heating system is not producing enough heat. Inspect and alter a blocked filter.


A furnace that struggles to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually somehow quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not warm the home adequately first ensure that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not brand-new.


This is a basic however vital part of furnace upkeep. One of the most common factors to have a furnace not working is a clogged filter. It likewise happens to be the most convenient upkeep task.


Changing your heater filter routinely is a fast and basic task and goes a long method in securing HVAC parts and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appear like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the furnace itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has actually come to change it by holding it up to the light. If no light shines through the filter needs altering. A dirty dirty smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another good sign you need to alter your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air needs to 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 reduce its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that builds up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the clog of air circulation. In addition to driving up your energy expense the minimized air flow through your cooling and heating system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heater and the heated air returned into the house. A dirty clogged filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to develop up in the heating system.


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




Security switch on a heating system door


If your furnace is not operating one of the first things you must do is inspect the safety switch on the heater door. A heating system door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from beginning while the access panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a security switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door should remain in location for the switch to be triggered and for the furnace to run.


If you discover you need 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 safety switch. Inspect and test the installation.





Keep the area around your heater tidy and unobstructed


This may look like an apparent suggestion however often property owners with busy lives forget to pay attention to locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can lead to the location around the heating system being filled with miscellaneous possessions and particles. Not just does a clean heating system function better it looks better.


Prevent keeping combustible substances or materials near your heating system. Crowding your heating system can result in unexpected fires considerable damage to your home and risk to your family and pets.


Nevertheless convenient it may appear to simply "keep it there" for the summertime consider the possibility that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities provide your heating system the space it needs to operate securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean regularly around your furnace. While you may have eliminated any and all flammable items from the area remember that dust and lint can develop up and create a fire danger. An excess amount of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become clogged up faster than normal needing more frequent replacement.