Air Conditioner Maintenance Brentwood-Darlington Portland Oregon

How to repair typical furnace issues



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


Its something if you just need to pull the covers up. Its an entire different problem if your heater is working improperly or not operating at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can fix and fix your heating system yourself. Your best choice 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 heating system repairs.



Whether you have a standard gas furnace or a high efficiency gas heater comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is important. You need to comprehend the standard operations of the device so you understand what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make sure it is turned on.



It may sound ridiculous however inspect the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" which it is set at least 5 degrees above room temperature level. You may be surprised the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You may need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit runs on batteries be sure you are changing them at least 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? Often 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 correct on electronic or programmable designs - the system might be on a timer.


Inspect the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and check the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any variety of small reasons why this could happen. Initially validate 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 outcome check to see if possibly a circuit breaker or fuse was tripped or blown.



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


By hand evaluate the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


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


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have a problem with either the electrical wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



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


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


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


This is a simple however vital part of furnace upkeep. Among the most typical factors to have a heating system not working is a stopped up filter. It also happens to be the easiest maintenance chore.


Changing your furnace filter frequently is a fast and easy task and goes a long way in protecting HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the furnace itself.



Inspect your filter - You can tell 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 filthy smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another excellent sign you ought to alter your furnace filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heater is turned off. No air needs to be coming out. Check the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can minimize its effectiveness.


Cleaning the debris that develops on your filters will assist with the flow of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler must work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your energy expense the lowered air flow through your heating & cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut off too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into your house. A dirty clogged filter limits the air flow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective heaters are sensitive to the problem and will frequently shut down before a filthy filter triggers more difficulty. For other units the heating system will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced efficiency.




Safety turn on a furnace door


If your heating system is not running among the first things you need to do is inspect the security turn on the heating system door. A heating system door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is gotten rid of.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door must remain in place for the switch to be activated and for the heater to run.


If you find you need to install a new safety switch follow the action by step guidelines on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and check the setup.





Keep the location around your heater tidy and unobstructed


This might appear like an obvious tip but in some cases property owners with hectic lives forget to take notice of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can result in the area around the heater being filled with various possessions and debris. Not only does a tidy heating system function better it looks better.


Avoid saving combustible compounds or products near your heater. Crowding your furnace can result in unexpected fires substantial damage to your home and threat to your family and animals.


However hassle-free it might seem to simply "store it there" for the summer season think about the possibility that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your furnace. Dont take possibilities provide your furnace the space it needs to run safely.


In addition vacuum and clean frequently around your heater. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible items from the location remember that dust and lint can build up and create a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to become clogged faster than typical requiring more regular replacement.