Furnace Company Arbor Lodge Portland Oregon

When to fix routine heating system breakdowns



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


Its something if you simply require to pull the cover. Its a whole different problem if your heater is working inadequately or not working at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can repair and repair your heating system yourself. Your best choice though is to have a maintenance check list for your heater to avoid the problem.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the understanding to tackle some furnace repair work.



Whether you have a traditional gas furnace or a high effectiveness gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to comprehend the basic operations of the appliance so you understand what to search for when there is something incorrect.




Examine your thermostat to ensure it is turned on.



It might sound silly however check the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least 5 degrees above space temperature. You may be stunned the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You might require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system runs on batteries make sure you are altering them a minimum of as soon as a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or debris that may have blocked it.


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


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




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


Here are any number of minor factors why this might happen. First validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to check if a visible difference is felt.


If there is no result check to see if maybe 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 seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


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


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



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


A furnace 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 heating system that does not heat up 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 essential part of heating system upkeep. Among the most common factors to have a heater not working is a stopped up filter. It likewise occurs to be the most convenient maintenance chore.


Replacing your furnace filter regularly is a quick and simple task and goes a long method in securing HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the intake. This probably appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the heating system itself.



Check your filter - You can inform if the time has concerned change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty dirty smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent indication you should change your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heating system is switched off. No air must be coming out. Inspect the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can reduce its effectiveness.


Cleaning the debris that develops up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work harder to compensate for the blockage of air circulation. In addition to increasing your energy costs the decreased air flow through your heating & cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and shut down too quickly.


Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air sent out back into your house. An unclean stopped up filter limits the air flow ultimately causing heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective heaters are delicate to the problem and will often close down prior to an unclean filter causes more difficulty. For other systems the heater will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced effectiveness.




Security turn on a heating system door


If your heater is not running one of the first things you need to do is examine the safety turn on the heating system door. A furnace door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from beginning while the access panel is removed.


Heaters have a security switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door should be in location for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the security switch. Inspect and evaluate the installation.





Keep the area around your furnace tidy and unobstructed


This might appear like an apparent tip however in some cases house owners with busy 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 heater being filled with various ownerships and particles. Not only does a clean heater function much better it looks better.


Avoid saving combustible compounds or products near your furnace. Crowding your heater can result in unanticipated fires significant damage to your house and threat to your household and family pets.


However practical it may seem to simply "keep it there" for the summer season consider the opportunity that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your furnace. Do not take chances give your furnace the room it needs to run safely.


In addition vacuum and tidy routinely around your furnace. While you might have removed any and all combustible products from the location keep in mind that dust and lint can develop up and develop a fire danger. An excess amount of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being blocked quicker than normal requiring more regular replacement.

Arbor Lodge is a neighborhood in the North section of Portland, Oregon. Interstate 5 forms the eastern boundary of the neighborhood.


Area: 557 acres