Air Conditioner Maintenance Madison South Portland Oregon

When to solve normal heating & cooling problems



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


Its something if you just require to pull the covers up. Its an entire various concern if your heating system is working improperly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can fix and fix your heater yourself. Your best option 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 understanding to take on some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a standard gas furnace or a high effectiveness gas heating system comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You require to understand the basic functions of the appliance so you know what to try to find when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It might sound ridiculous however inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature. You may be stunned how numerous service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit runs on batteries make certain you are altering them a minimum of once a year or as needed.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or particles that may have clogged it.


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


Check the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and check the fuse for the heater.




Heating system is not producing heat - attempt 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 few degrees to check if a noticeable distinction is felt.


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



Go to your houses breaker panel and try to find the circuit that controls the furnace. 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.


Make sure 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 electrical wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



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


A heater that struggles to produce heat is a various matter from one that has somehow quit working.


When it comes to a poor-performing furnace that does not heat the house sufficiently first make sure that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not brand-new.


This is an easy however necessary part of heater maintenance. Among the most typical factors to have a heater not working is a blocked filter. It also occurs to be the simplest maintenance task.


Changing your heating system filter frequently is a fast and easy task and goes a long method in protecting HVAC elements and improving your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the consumption. This most likely appearances like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heater itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has actually come to change it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty filthy smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent sign you ought to change your heating system filter.


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


Cleaning up the particles that develops on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler should work harder to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy costs the decreased air flow through your heating & cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into the home. A filthy blocked filter limits the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to develop in the furnace.


Newer more efficient furnaces are delicate to the problem and will often close down before a dirty filter causes more problem. For other systems the furnace will continue to run however with less heat output and reduced performance.




Security switch on a furnace door


If your heater is not running among the first things you need to do is inspect the security switch on the heater door. A heater door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a security switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door should remain in place for the switch to be triggered and for the furnace to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Inspect and test the installation.





Keep the area around your heating system clean and unobstructed


This might look like an obvious suggestion however sometimes house owners with hectic lives forget to take note of areas 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 miscellaneous possessions and debris. Not only does a clean heating system function better it looks much better.


Prevent storing flammable substances or products near your heater. Crowding your furnace can cause unforeseen fires considerable damage to your house and risk to your family and family pets.


However hassle-free it might seem to simply "keep it there" for the summer consider the possibility that you may well forget any products youve left on or near your heater. Do not take chances give your furnace the space it needs to operate safely.


In addition vacuum and clean frequently around your heating system. While you might have eliminated any and all combustible items from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can construct up and create a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also cause your filter to end up being clogged up faster than usual needing more frequent replacement.