Furnace Tune Up South Tabor Portland Oregon

When to repair typical heating & cooling problems



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


Its one thing if you simply need to pull the conceal. Its a whole various issue if your furnace is working badly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can troubleshoot and repair your heating system yourself. Your best option 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 knowledge to take on some heater repairs.



Whether you have a conventional gas heating system or a high performance gas heater understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You require to comprehend the fundamental functions of the device so you know what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Check your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It might sound ridiculous 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 how many service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make sure you are changing them at least once a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your houses electrical system while others use batteries. How is yours powered? Sometimes those that use batteries will flash a low-battery sign when they need a replacement.


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or particles that might have clogged it.


Make certain the date and time is proper on electronic or programmable designs - the system may be on a timer.


Check the breaker. If on switch off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the heater.




Heating system is not producing heat - try to reset the Circuit Breaker


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


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



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


By hand check the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


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


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



The heating system is not producing sufficient heat. Check and change a clogged up filter.


A heating system that struggles to produce heat is a various matter from one that has actually in some way stopped working.


When it comes to a poor-performing heating system that doesnt warm the house sufficiently very first ensure that the air filter is clean and in good condition if not brand-new.


This is a basic but essential part of heating system maintenance. One of the most common reasons to have a heater not working is a stopped up filter. It also happens to be the easiest upkeep chore.


Replacing your furnace filter routinely is a quick and simple job and goes a long method in protecting HVAC parts 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.



Examine your filter - You can tell if the time has actually come to alter it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty dirty smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent indication you need to change your furnace filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air should be coming out. Inspect the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can lower its effectiveness.


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 should work more difficult to compensate for the obstruction of air circulation. In addition to increasing your energy bill the lowered air circulation through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heater and the heated air returned into the home. A filthy stopped up filter restricts the airflow eventually causing heat and pressure to construct up in the heater.


Newer more efficient heaters are sensitive to the issue and will often shut down before an unclean filter causes more trouble. For other units the furnace will continue to run but with less heat output and lowered efficiency.




Security switch on a furnace door


If your heating system is not running one of the first things you must do is inspect the safety switch on the furnace door. A heating system door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is removed.


Heaters have a safety switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door must remain in location for the switch to be activated and for the heating system to run.


If you find you require to install a brand-new safety switch follow the action by action instructions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and test the setup.





Keep the location around your heating system tidy and unblocked


This may appear like an obvious idea however in some cases homeowners with busy lives forget to take note 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 furnace being filled with miscellaneous ownerships and debris. Not only does a tidy furnace function better it looks better.


Avoid saving flammable substances or materials near your heating system. Crowding your heater can lead to unanticipated fires substantial damage to your house and risk to your household and pets.


Nevertheless convenient it might appear to just "store it there" for the summertime consider the chance that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Do not take possibilities offer your furnace the room it needs to operate safely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean frequently around your furnace. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible products from the location keep in mind that dust and lint can build up and produce a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being blocked earlier than normal needing more regular replacement.

South Tabor is a neighborhood in southeastern Portland, Oregon in the United States. The neighborhood is bounded by SE Division, Powell, 52nd, and 82nd Avenues. Its neighborhood association is a member of the Southeast Uplift coalition, which serves as its link to Portland's Office of Neighborhood Involvement.


Area: 512 acres