Air Conditioner Maintenance South Portland Portland Oregon

Why to solve normal heating and cooling issues



There is absolutely nothing worse than awakening 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 heating system is working poorly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can troubleshoot and repair your heater yourself. Your best choice though is to have a maintenance check list for your heating system to avoid 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 traditional gas furnace or a high efficiency gas furnace understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to comprehend the fundamental operations of the appliance so you know what to search for when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make sure it is turned on.



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


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You might require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system works on batteries be sure you are changing them at least as soon as a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or debris 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.


Inspect the breaker. If on shut off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any variety of minor reasons that this could occur. Initially confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to examine if a noticeable difference is felt.


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



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


Manually check the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


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


This will reset the breaker. If this does refrain from doing the technique you have a problem with either the circuitry in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The heating system is not producing sufficient heat. Check and change a clogged filter.


A furnace that has a hard time to produce heat is a different matter from one that has somehow stopped working.


In the case of a poor-performing heating system that doesnt heat the home sufficiently first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in good condition if not new.


This is a simple but crucial part of heater upkeep. Among the most typical reasons to have a heating system not working is a clogged filter. It likewise takes place to be the most convenient maintenance chore.


Changing your heater filter routinely is a quick and simple 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 consumption. This probably looks like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heating system 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 requires changing. A dirty unclean odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another great indication you need to change your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air should 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 lower its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that develops up on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work more difficult to compensate for the clog of air flow. In addition to driving up your energy expense the lowered air circulation through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the furnace and the heated air returned into your house. A dirty clogged filter restricts the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to build up in the heating system.


Newer more effective heaters are delicate to the issue and will typically shut down prior to a filthy filter causes more problem. For other systems the heater will continue to run but with less heat output and lowered performance.




Security switch on a furnace door


If your heater is not operating one of the very first things you ought to do is inspect the safety switch on the furnace door. A heating system door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is removed.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door needs to remain in location for the switch to be triggered and for the furnace to run.


If you find you require to set up a brand-new security 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 check the installation.





Keep the location around your heating system clean and unblocked


This may appear like an obvious suggestion however sometimes house owners with hectic lives forget to focus on areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being messy which in turn can lead to the area around the heating system being filled with miscellaneous possessions and particles. Not only does a tidy heater function much better it looks better.


Avoid saving combustible substances or materials near your furnace. 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 might appear to just "keep it there" for the summertime think about the opportunity that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Do not take chances offer your heating system the space it requires to operate safely.


In addition vacuum and clean routinely around your heater. While you might have eliminated any and all combustible items from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can develop up and develop a fire hazard. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become blocked faster than normal requiring more regular replacement.