AC Company Fulton Portland Oregon

How to fix typical heater issues



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


Its something if you simply need 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 repair your heater 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 knowledge to deal with some heating system repairs.



Whether you have a standard gas heating system or a high efficiency gas furnace comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is very important. You need to understand the standard workings of the home appliance so you know what to look for when there is something incorrect.




Examine your thermostat to make sure it is switched on.



It might sound ridiculous however check the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above room temperature. You may be surprised the number of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You might need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit runs on batteries be sure you are changing them at least when a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or particles that might have blocked it.


Ensure the date and time is correct on electronic or programmable designs - the system might be on a timer.


Examine the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the furnace.




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


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


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



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


Manually test the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


Ensure it is staying in the "On" position.


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



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


A heater that has a hard time to produce heat is a various matter from one that has in some way quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not heat up the house adequately first make sure that the air filter is clean and in great condition if not brand-new.


This is a simple but important part of heater maintenance. One of the most common factors to have a furnace not working is a blocked filter. It likewise takes place to be the easiest maintenance task.


Changing your heating system filter routinely is a quick and simple task and goes a long way in protecting HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the intake. This probably appearances like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heating system itself.



Check your filter - You can inform if the time has come to alter 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 switches on is another good indication you must alter your heating system filter.


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


Cleaning up the particles that builds up on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your utility costs the reduced air flow through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and shut down too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heater and the heated air returned into the house. An unclean stopped up filter restricts the air flow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop up in the heater.


Newer more efficient heaters are delicate to the issue and will frequently close down prior to a filthy filter triggers more problem. For other systems the heating system will continue to run however with less heat output and minimized effectiveness.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating one of the first things you ought to do is examine the security turn on the furnace door. A furnace door security switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is gotten rid of.


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


If you discover you need to install a brand-new safety switch follow the step by step instructions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the security switch. Inspect and test the setup.





Keep the location around your heating system clean and unblocked


This might appear like an apparent idea however sometimes house owners with busy lives forget to focus on areas of their house like the basement.


A basement can become messy which in turn can result in the area around the heater being filled with various possessions and debris. Not only does a tidy furnace function much better it looks much better.


Prevent storing flammable compounds or products near your furnace. Crowding your heater can result in unforeseen fires significant damage to your house and risk to your family and family pets.


However convenient it might appear to just "store it there" for the summer consider the opportunity that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take chances offer your heating system the room it needs to run safely.


In addition vacuum and tidy frequently around your furnace. While you might have eliminated any and all flammable products from the location bear in mind that dust and lint can develop and develop a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to become stopped up quicker than normal requiring more frequent replacement.