Furnace Company Cathedral Park Portland Oregon

When to solve typical heating & cooling complications



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


Its one thing if you just need to pull the conceal. Its an entire various issue if your furnace is working badly or not operating at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can repair and repair your furnace yourself. Your finest bet though is to have a maintenance check list for your heating unit to prevent the problem.


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



Whether you have a standard gas furnace or a high efficiency gas heating system comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is important. You need to comprehend the standard functions of the appliance so you understand what to search for when there is something wrong.




Check your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It may sound silly however examine the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above space temperature. You might be surprised the number of service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system runs on batteries make certain you are altering them at least when a year or as required.


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


Open the thermostat and gently blow any dust or particles that might have obstructed it.


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


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




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


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



Go to your homes breaker panel and try to find 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 certain it is remaining in the "On" position.


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



The heater is not producing adequate heat. Examine and change a clogged up filter.


A heating system that struggles to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually in some way quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that doesnt heat the home adequately very first make sure that the air filter is tidy and in excellent condition if not new.


This is a simple however essential part of furnace upkeep. Among the most common factors to have a heater not working is a blocked filter. It also takes place to be the easiest upkeep task.


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


Find your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appearances 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 actually come to alter it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter needs altering. A dirty filthy odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another good sign you need to alter your heater filter.


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


Cleaning the debris that builds up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the clog of air circulation. In addition to driving up your utility expense the decreased air circulation through your heating and cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and turn off too quickly.


Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air sent out back into your home. A filthy clogged filter restricts the air flow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop in the heater.


Newer more effective heating systems are delicate to the problem and will frequently shut down before a filthy filter triggers more difficulty. For other systems the heating system will continue to run however with less heat output and lowered efficiency.




Safety switch on a heating system door


If your heater is not operating among the first things you must do is check the security switch on the heater door. A heater door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door must be in place for the switch to be triggered and for the heater to run.


If you find you need to install a new security switch follow the step by action instructions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


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





Keep the area around your heater tidy and unblocked


This may look like an obvious idea but sometimes house owners with busy lives forget to take notice of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can become messy which in turn can cause the location around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous belongings and particles. Not only does a clean heater function much better it looks better.


Avoid storing flammable substances or products near your heater. Crowding your heater can lead to unforeseen fires substantial damage to your house and danger to your family and pets.


Nevertheless convenient it may appear to simply "keep it there" for the summertime consider the chance that you may well forget any products youve left on or near your heater. Do not take chances give your furnace the room it requires to run securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean frequently around your heater. While you may have gotten rid of any and all flammable items from the location keep in mind that dust and lint can develop and create a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can also cause your filter to become stopped up earlier than normal needing more frequent replacement.

Cathedral Park is a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. It is situated on the North Portland peninsula and lies on the east shore of the Willamette River.


Area: 1.02 mi²