AC Company Hayhurst Portland Oregon

Why to repair common HVAC complications



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


Its something if you just require to pull the conceal. Its a whole different issue if your heating system is working badly or not operating at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can repair and fix your heater yourself. Your best choice though is to have a maintenance check list for your heater to avoid the issue.


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the understanding to tackle some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a traditional gas heating system or a high performance gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to comprehend the basic operations of the home appliance so you know what to try to find when there is something incorrect.




Inspect your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It might sound silly but examine the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You might be shocked how many service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system operates on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of as soon as a year or as needed.


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 symbol when they require a replacement.


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or debris that may have clogged it.


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


Examine the breaker. If on turn 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 factors why this might occur. Initially validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to inspect if a visible 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 try to find the circuit that manages the heating system. Youre aiming to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually evaluate 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 trick you have an issue with either the wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing sufficient heat. Inspect and change a stopped up filter.


A heating system that has a hard time to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually in some way quit working.


When it comes to a poor-performing heater that doesnt heat the house adequately first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in great condition if not brand-new.


This is a basic but crucial part of heating system maintenance. One of the most common factors to have a heater not working is a stopped up filter. It also happens to be the simplest maintenance task.


Replacing your furnace filter routinely is a quick and simple job and goes a long method in safeguarding HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the consumption. This probably looks like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heater 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 requires changing. A dusty dirty odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent sign you should change your furnace filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your furnace is switched off. No air should be coming out. Examine the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can reduce its effectiveness.


Cleaning the debris that builds up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler need to work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your utility expense the minimized air circulation through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into your house. A filthy clogged filter limits the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to build up in the heater.


Newer more effective heaters are sensitive to the problem and will typically close down before an unclean filter triggers more problem. For other units the furnace will continue to run however with less heat output and reduced effectiveness.




Safety turn on a heating system door


If your heating system is not running among the first things you must do is check the security switch on the furnace door. A heating system door security switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is removed.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door needs to be in location for the switch to be triggered and for the furnace to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the security switch. Inspect and evaluate the installation.





Keep the area around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This might appear like an obvious pointer however sometimes house owners with busy lives forget to take notice of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can cause the area around the furnace being filled with various ownerships and debris. Not only does a tidy furnace function much better it looks much better.


Prevent saving flammable compounds or materials near your heating system. Crowding your furnace can cause unforeseen fires significant damage to your home and risk to your household and animals.


Nevertheless convenient it might appear to simply "keep it there" for the summertime think about the chance that you might well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities offer your furnace the room it needs to operate securely.


In addition vacuum and clean frequently around your furnace. While you might have eliminated any and all flammable items from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can construct up and produce a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to become blocked sooner than usual needing more regular replacement.