Air Conditioner Maintenance Oregon City Oregon

How to repair common heating system problems



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


Its one thing if you simply need to pull the cover. Its an entire different concern if your furnace is working inadequately or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can fix 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 seem like you have the knowledge to take on some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a conventional gas heating system or a high efficiency gas heater comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is essential. You need to comprehend the fundamental operations of the device so you understand 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 5 degrees above space temperature level. You might be shocked how lots 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 might need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system works on batteries be sure you are changing them at least when a year or as required.


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


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


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


Inspect the breaker. If on shut off the breaker and examine the fuse for the heating system.




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


Here are any variety of small reasons that 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 check if an obvious 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 homes breaker panel and search for the circuit that controls the furnace. Youre looking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


By hand evaluate the breaker. Flip it back and forth.


Ensure it is staying in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does refrain from doing the trick you have an issue with either the wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing adequate heat. Check and alter a clogged up filter.


A heating system that struggles 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 first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in excellent condition if not brand-new.


This is a basic but crucial part of heater maintenance. Among the most common reasons to have a furnace not working is a stopped up filter. It likewise happens to be the easiest maintenance task.


Changing your heating system filter regularly is a quick and easy job and goes a long method in safeguarding HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the intake. This most likely appearances like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the furnace itself.



Check your filter - You can tell if the time has actually pertained to alter it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty dirty smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another good indication you must change your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heating system is switched off. No air ought to be coming out. Inspect 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 up the particles that builds up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler must work harder to make up for the clog of air circulation. In addition to driving up your energy costs the minimized air circulation through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut down too quickly.


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


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




Safety switch on a heating system 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 safety switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is gotten rid of.


Heaters have a safety switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door should remain in location for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to operate.


If you discover you require to set up a brand-new safety 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. Inspect and evaluate the setup.





Keep the location around your furnace clean and unobstructed


This might look like an obvious idea but sometimes homeowners with hectic lives forget to take notice of locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can cause the location around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous possessions and particles. Not only does a clean furnace function better it looks better.


Avoid storing flammable substances or materials near your furnace. Crowding your heater can lead to unexpected fires significant damage to your house and threat to your household and family pets.


However practical it may seem to just "save it there" for the summer think about the chance that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your furnace. Dont take chances provide your furnace the room it requires to run safely.


Additionally vacuum and clean regularly around your furnace. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible products from the location keep in mind that dust and lint can develop and produce a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can also cause your filter to end up being clogged sooner than typical needing more frequent replacement.