Furnace Company Maplewood Portland Oregon

Why to fix typical heating & cooling issues



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


Its something if you just require to pull the cover. Its an entire various problem if your heater is working improperly or not working at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can troubleshoot and fix your heater yourself. Your best option though is to have an upkeep check list for your heater to avoid the issue.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the understanding to take on some heater repairs.



Whether you have a standard gas heater or a high effectiveness gas heater comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is essential. You need to comprehend the basic operations of the appliance so you know what to search for when there is something incorrect.




Examine your thermostat to make sure it is switched on.



It may sound ridiculous but check the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least 5 degrees above room temperature level. You might be surprised the number of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit runs on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of once a year or as needed.


Some thermostats are wired to the homes electrical system while others utilize batteries. How is yours powered? Sometimes 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 obstructed it.


Ensure the date and time is correct on electronic or programmable designs - the system may be on a timer.


Examine the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and examine the fuse for the heating system.




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


Here are any number of small reasons this could take place. First validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if an obvious difference is felt.


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



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


Manually test the breaker. Turn it backward and forward.


Ensure it is remaining in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have a problem with either the electrical wiring in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The furnace is not producing sufficient heat. Inspect and alter a clogged up filter.


A heater that struggles to produce heat is a different matter from one that has somehow quit working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not warm the house sufficiently very first guarantee that the air filter is tidy and in great condition if not new.


This is a simple however vital part of heating system upkeep. One of the most common factors to have a heating system not working is a blocked filter. It also occurs to be the most convenient maintenance task.


Changing your furnace filter routinely is a fast and basic job and goes a long way in protecting HVAC parts and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heating systems 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.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has concerned alter it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dusty dirty odor from the vents when the blower switches on is another good sign you must alter your furnace filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heating system is turned off. No air ought to be coming out. Examine the instructions your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can lower its effectiveness.


Cleaning the debris that develops on your filters will help with the circulation of air. When your air filter is clogged your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the obstruction of air circulation. In addition to driving up your utility costs the reduced air circulation through your heating and cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and turn off too rapidly.


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


Newer more effective heaters are sensitive to the problem and will frequently close down prior to a dirty filter triggers more trouble. For other systems the heating system will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced effectiveness.




Safety turn on a heating system door


If your furnace is not operating among the first things you must do is inspect the security switch on the heater door. A heating system door security switch avoids the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is gotten rid of.


Heaters have a security switch that pops out when the door is removed. The door must remain in location for the switch to be activated and for the heater to operate.


If you find you require to set up a new security switch follow the action by action directions 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 setup.





Keep the area around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This may seem like an obvious pointer but sometimes property owners with busy lives forget to pay attention to areas of their house like the basement.


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


Avoid saving combustible substances or materials near your heating system. Crowding your furnace can cause unanticipated fires substantial damage to your home and risk to your household and family pets.


However practical it may appear to just "keep it there" for the summertime consider the chance that you might well forget any products youve left on or near your heater. Do not take chances provide your heating system the space it needs to operate securely.


In addition vacuum and tidy regularly around your heater. While you may have eliminated any and all combustible items from the area bear in mind that dust and lint can develop and produce a fire danger. An excess amount of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become blocked sooner than normal requiring more frequent replacement.

Maplewood is a suburban neighborhood in Southwest Portland, Oregon, United States.


Area: 397 acres