Air Conditioner Maintenance Corbett Portland Oregon

How to fix routine HVAC problems



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


Its something if you just require to pull the covers up. Its a whole various problem if your heating system is working poorly or not operating at all.


With a little diy experience you can troubleshoot and fix your heating system yourself. Your best option though is to have an upkeep check list for your heating system to prevent the issue.


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 standard gas heater or a high effectiveness gas heater understanding how your furnace/heating system works is crucial. You need to comprehend the standard operations of the device so you know what to look for when there is something incorrect.




Examine your thermostat to make certain it is turned on.



It may sound ridiculous however examine the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least 5 degrees above space temperature. You might be shocked the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit operates on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of once a year or as required.


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


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


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


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




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


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


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



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


Manually evaluate the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


Make certain 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 circuitry in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



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


A heater that has a hard time to produce heat is a various matter from one that has actually somehow stopped working.


When it comes to a poor-performing heater that does not heat up the home sufficiently very first make sure that the air filter is clean and in great condition if not new.


This is an easy but important part of heating system upkeep. One of the most typical reasons to have a heating system not working is a blocked filter. It likewise occurs to be the most convenient maintenance task.


Replacing your heater filter regularly is a quick and simple task and goes a long way in protecting HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the consumption. This probably looks like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heating system itself.



Inspect 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 requires altering. A dusty filthy odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another great indication you ought to change your furnace filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your furnace is switched off. No air must be coming out. Check the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can decrease its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that builds up on your filters will assist with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work more difficult to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your utility bill the reduced air circulation through your cooling and heating system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heater and the heated air sent back into your home. An unclean blocked filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to develop in the heater.


Newer more efficient heaters are sensitive to the problem and will often shut down before a filthy filter triggers more problem. For other units the heating system will continue to run but with less heat output and decreased performance.




Security turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating one of the first things you ought to do is check the safety switch on the heating system door. A furnace door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is gotten rid of.


Heating systems have a security switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door should remain in place for the switch to be activated and for the heater to run.


If you find you require to install a brand-new security 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 safety switch. Check and evaluate the installation.





Keep the location around your furnace clean and unblocked


This might seem like an obvious pointer but often house owners with hectic lives forget to focus on locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can become messy which in turn can result in the area around the heating system being filled with various ownerships and debris. Not just does a tidy heating system function much better it looks better.


Avoid storing combustible substances or materials near your furnace. Crowding your heater can lead to unanticipated fires considerable damage to your house and threat to your household and family pets.


However convenient it may appear to just "store it there" for the summer season consider the possibility that you might well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Do not take possibilities give your furnace the space it requires to operate securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean regularly around your heating system. While you might have eliminated any and all flammable products from the area bear in mind that dust and lint can develop up and create a fire risk. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise cause your filter to end up being stopped up sooner than usual needing more frequent replacement.