Air Conditioner Maintenance Multnomah Portland Oregon

When to solve common heating system issues



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


Its something if you simply require to pull the cover. Its an entire various problem if your heating system is working improperly or not working at all.


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


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the knowledge to deal with some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a standard gas furnace or a high effectiveness gas heater understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You require to understand the standard operations of the home appliance so you know what to search for when there is something incorrect.




Inspect your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It may sound ridiculous however check the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above space temperature. You may be surprised the number of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You may require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of 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 particles that might have clogged it.


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


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




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


Here are any number of small reasons this might occur. First verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to examine if a visible difference is felt.


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



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


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


Ensure 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 wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



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


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


When it comes to a poor-performing furnace that doesnt heat up the home sufficiently very first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in good condition if not new.


This is a basic however necessary part of heating system maintenance. Among the most typical factors to have a heating system not working is a blocked filter. It likewise happens to be the simplest upkeep chore.


Replacing your heating system filter frequently is a quick and basic job and goes a long method in protecting HVAC elements and improving your inside air quality.


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



Examine your filter - You can tell if the time has concerned change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dirty dirty odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent sign you should alter your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your furnace is turned off. No air needs to be coming out. Examine the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can reduce its efficiency.


Cleaning the particles that develops on your filters will help with the flow of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler must work more difficult to compensate for the obstruction of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy expense the decreased air circulation through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut down too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heater and the heated air returned into your home. A filthy clogged filter restricts the airflow eventually triggering heat and pressure to develop in the furnace.


Newer more efficient heaters are delicate to the issue and will frequently shut down prior to a dirty filter triggers more trouble. For other systems the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and lowered performance.




Security turn on a heater door


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


Furnaces have a security switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door must be in place for the switch to be activated and for the heater to run.


If you find 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 security switch. Check and check the installation.





Keep the area around your furnace clean and unobstructed


This might look like an apparent tip however in some cases house owners with busy lives forget to take note of locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can lead to the area around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous ownerships and particles. Not just does a clean heater function much better it looks better.


Avoid keeping flammable substances or products near your furnace. Crowding your heater can lead to unanticipated fires considerable damage to your home and risk to your family and family pets.


Nevertheless practical it might appear to merely "save it there" for the summer think about the chance that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take possibilities provide your heating system the space it needs to run safely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy routinely around your heater. While you may have removed any and all combustible items from the area remember that dust and lint can develop and create a fire danger. An excess amount of dust and lint can also cause your filter to become clogged up earlier than typical requiring more frequent replacement.