Furnace Company Glenfair Portland Oregon

When to solve typical heater problems



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


Its one thing if you just need to pull the cover. Its a whole different problem if your heater is working badly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can repair and repair your heating system yourself. Your best bet though is to have an upkeep check list for your heating system to avoid the issue.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the knowledge to take on some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a conventional gas furnace or a high performance gas furnace comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You require to comprehend the basic workings of the appliance so you understand what to try to find when there is something incorrect.




Check your thermostat to make certain it is turned on.



It might sound silly but examine the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You might be stunned the number 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 may require to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system works on batteries make certain you are changing them at least as soon as a year or as required.


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


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


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


Inspect the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and examine the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any variety of minor reasons this could take place. Initially verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if an obvious distinction is felt.


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



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


Manually check the breaker. Flip 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 wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The heating system is not producing enough heat. Check and change a blocked filter.


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


When it comes to a poor-performing furnace that doesnt warm the house sufficiently very first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in great condition if not new.


This is a basic but important part of heating system maintenance. One of the most typical factors to have a heater not working is a blocked filter. It also occurs to be the simplest upkeep task.


Replacing your heater filter routinely is a fast and easy task and goes a long method in safeguarding HVAC parts and enhancing your inside air quality.


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



Inspect your filter - You can inform if the time has pertained to change it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dusty dirty odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another good sign you need to change your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heating system is turned off. No air must 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 minimize its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that develops on your filters will assist with the circulation of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler must work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your utility bill the lowered air flow through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and turn off too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the furnace and the heated air returned into the house. An unclean clogged up filter limits the air flow eventually triggering heat and pressure to develop in the heater.


Newer more efficient heating systems are sensitive to the problem and will typically close down before a dirty filter causes more trouble. For other units the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and decreased effectiveness.




Security switch on a heating system door


If your heating system is not running one of the very first things you should do is check the safety turn on the heater door. A heating system door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a security switch that pops out when the door is gotten rid of. The door must be in place for the switch to be activated and for the heating system to run.


If you discover you need to set up a new safety switch follow the action by action guidelines on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and check the setup.





Keep the location around your heating system tidy and unblocked


This may look like an apparent suggestion but sometimes property owners with busy lives forget to take note of locations of their house like the basement.


A basement can become chaotic which in turn can result in the location around the furnace being filled with miscellaneous ownerships and debris. Not only does a clean furnace function much better it looks better.


Avoid saving flammable substances or materials near your furnace. Crowding your furnace can lead to unexpected fires significant damage to your home and threat to your family and family pets.


However hassle-free it might appear to simply "save it there" for the summer consider the chance that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take possibilities offer your heating system the space it needs to run safely.


In addition vacuum and clean frequently around your heater. While you may have removed any and all flammable products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can construct up and develop a fire risk. An excess amount of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become clogged quicker than typical needing more regular replacement.

Glenfair is a small neighborhood spanning the Northeast and Southeast sections of Portland, Oregon, on the city's eastern border with Gresham. It is bordered by the Wilkes, Hazelwood, and Centennial neighborhoods in Portland, as well as the City of Gresham to the east.


Area: 218 acres