Air Conditioner Maintenance Glencullen Portland Oregon

How to fix normal heating & cooling problems



There is absolutely nothing 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 issue if your heating system is working badly or not operating at all.


With a little diy experience you can repair and repair your furnace yourself. Your best choice though is to have an upkeep check list for your heating system to prevent the problem.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the knowledge to deal with some furnace repairs.



Whether you have a traditional gas furnace or a high effectiveness gas heating system comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is essential. You require to understand the basic operations of the appliance so you know what to look for when there is something wrong.




Check your thermostat to make sure it is switched on.



It might sound silly however check the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You might be surprised the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit operates on batteries be sure you are changing them at least once a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to the homes electrical system while others use batteries. How is yours powered? Often those that utilize 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 obstructed it.


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


Check the breaker. If on switch off the breaker and examine the fuse for the heating system.




Heating system is not producing heat - try to reset the Circuit Breaker


Here are any variety of minor reasons that this could take place. First verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to inspect if an obvious distinction is felt.


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



Go to your homes breaker panel and search for the circuit that controls the heater. Youre seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


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


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


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have an issue with either the circuitry in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing adequate heat. Inspect and change a clogged up filter.


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


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


This is an easy but important part of heater maintenance. One of the most common factors to have a heater not working is a clogged up filter. It also takes place to be the most convenient maintenance task.


Changing your heater filter frequently is a quick and basic job and goes a long way in protecting HVAC components and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appearances like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heating system itself.



Examine your filter - You can tell if the time has actually pertained to alter it by holding it up to the light. If no light shines through the filter needs altering. A dirty dirty smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another excellent sign you need to alter your furnace filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heating system is shut off. No air must be coming out. Check 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 particles that builds up on your filters will help with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work harder to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your utility expense the lowered air circulation through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot 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 airflow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to construct up in the heater.


Newer more efficient heating systems are delicate to the problem and will often close down prior to an unclean filter causes more problem. For other units the furnace will continue to run however with less heat output and minimized performance.




Security switch on a furnace door


If your heating system is not operating one of the very first things you need to do is inspect the security switch on the heater door. A heating system door security switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is removed.


Furnaces 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 operate.


If you discover you require to set up a new safety 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 safety switch. Check and test the installation.





Keep the location around your heater tidy and unobstructed


This might appear like an obvious pointer but often house owners with hectic lives forget to pay attention to locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can lead to the area around the heating system being filled with various possessions and particles. Not just does a clean heating system function much better it looks much better.


Prevent storing flammable substances or products near your heater. Crowding your heating system can lead to unexpected fires considerable damage to your house and threat to your family and pets.


However hassle-free it may seem to merely "store it there" for the summertime consider the possibility that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities give your heater the space it needs to operate safely.


In addition vacuum and clean frequently around your heater. While you might have eliminated any and all combustible items from the location bear in mind that dust and lint can develop up and produce a fire danger. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to end up being blocked faster than typical needing more frequent replacement.