Furnace Company Mt. Scott-Arleta Portland Oregon

How to solve common heating system issues



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


Its something if you simply need to pull the cover. Its an entire different problem if your furnace is working badly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can repair and repair your heating system 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 tackle some furnace repair work.



Whether you have a traditional gas heating system or a high efficiency gas furnace understanding how your furnace/heating system works is very important. You need to comprehend the fundamental operations of the device so you know what to look for when there is something wrong.




Examine your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It might sound ridiculous however examine the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least 5 degrees above space temperature. You might be shocked how many service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You might need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit runs on batteries make certain you are altering them a minimum of once 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 sign when they require 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 designs - the system may be on a timer.


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




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


Here are any variety of small reasons why this could take place. First verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to check if an obvious difference 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 look for the circuit that controls the heater. Youre seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


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


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


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have an issue with either the circuitry in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The heating system is not producing enough heat. Check and alter a clogged filter.


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


In the case of a poor-performing furnace that doesnt heat up the home adequately first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in excellent condition if not new.


This is an easy but vital part of heating system maintenance. Among the most typical reasons to have a heating system not working is a clogged filter. It also takes place to be the simplest upkeep chore.


Changing your heating system filter routinely is a quick and simple job and goes a long method in protecting HVAC components and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appearances like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heating system itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has come to alter it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dusty dirty smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another good indication you must change your heating system filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heating system is switched off. No air needs 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 minimize its effectiveness.


Cleaning the particles that builds up on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler need to work harder to compensate for the obstruction of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy costs the minimized air flow through your heating and cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut down too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into the home. An unclean clogged up filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to develop up in the heater.


Newer more efficient furnaces are delicate to the problem and will frequently close down before an unclean filter causes more difficulty. For other systems the furnace will continue to run but with less heat output and lowered effectiveness.




Security turn on a furnace door


If your heating system is not running among the first things you should do is inspect the security turn on the furnace door. A heater door security switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


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


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


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Examine and check the installation.





Keep the area around your heater clean and unblocked


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


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can result in the location around the furnace being filled with various belongings and particles. Not just does a clean furnace function much better it looks much better.


Prevent saving combustible compounds or products near your heating system. Crowding your furnace can cause unforeseen fires significant damage to your house and danger to your household and animals.


However hassle-free it may seem to simply "keep it there" for the summer think about the possibility that you may well forget any products youve left on or near your furnace. Do not take possibilities offer your furnace the room it needs to run safely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy routinely around your furnace. While you might have eliminated any and all flammable products from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can develop and develop a fire risk. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also cause your filter to become clogged faster than normal requiring more frequent replacement.

The Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood of Portland, Oregon is located in the city's southeast quadrant. It is bounded on the north by SE Foster Road, west by SE 60th Avenue, east by SE 82nd Avenue, and south by SE Duke.


Area: 550 acres