AC Company Parkrose Heights Portland Oregon

How to solve common heating and cooling issues



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


Its something if you simply need to pull the conceal. Its a whole various concern if your furnace is working badly or not working 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 heater to avoid the problem.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the knowledge to take on some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a traditional gas heater or a high efficiency gas heating system comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to comprehend the fundamental operations of the appliance so you understand what to look for when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make sure it is turned on.



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


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You might require to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit works on batteries make sure you are changing them a minimum of when a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully 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.


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




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


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


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



Go to your houses breaker panel and search for the circuit that manages the furnace. Youre looking to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually check the breaker. Flip it back and forth.


Make sure it is remaining 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 breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing enough heat. Examine and change a clogged up filter.


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


In the case of a poor-performing heating system that doesnt heat up the home sufficiently first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in excellent condition if not new.


This is a simple however crucial part of heating system maintenance. Among the most typical factors to have a heating system not working is a stopped up filter. It likewise occurs to be the easiest maintenance chore.


Changing your heating system filter routinely is a quick and easy job and goes a long method in protecting HVAC parts and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the intake. This probably appear like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heater itself.



Check your filter - You can tell if the time has actually concerned change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty unclean odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another great indication you need to change your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is switched off. No air ought to be coming out. Inspect the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can minimize its effectiveness.


Cleaning up the particles that develops on your filters will help with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler must work harder to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy costs the lowered air circulation through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and shut down too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air returned into the home. A filthy stopped up filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to construct up in the furnace.


Newer more efficient furnaces are delicate to the issue and will often close down prior to a dirty filter causes more difficulty. For other units the furnace will continue to run however with less heat output and lowered effectiveness.




Security switch on a heating system door


If your heater is not operating one of the very first things you need to do is check the security turn on the heating system door. A heater door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Heaters have a safety switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door needs to be in place for the switch to be activated and for the heater 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. Prep the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and check the setup.





Keep the location around your furnace clean and unobstructed


This might appear like an apparent tip however sometimes property owners with hectic lives forget to focus on areas of their home 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 just does a tidy heater function much better it looks much better.


Prevent saving combustible substances or products near your heater. Crowding your heater can result in unexpected fires substantial damage to your house and threat to your household and animals.


However practical it may seem to simply "keep it there" for the summertime consider the opportunity that you might well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities offer your heating system the space it requires to run securely.


Furthermore vacuum and tidy routinely around your furnace. While you might have gotten rid of any and all flammable products from the location bear in mind that dust and lint can construct up and develop a fire risk. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to end up being blocked sooner than usual needing more frequent replacement.