Furnace Company Northwest District Portland Oregon

How to solve typical furnace problems



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


Its one thing if you just require to pull the covers up. Its a whole different problem if your furnace is working inadequately or not operating at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can repair and fix 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 understanding to take on some heating system repairs.



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




Inspect your thermostat to make sure it is switched on.



It may sound silly however check the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You might be stunned how lots 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 may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system operates on batteries make certain you are changing them a minimum of as soon as a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your homes electrical system while others use batteries. How is yours powered? In some cases those that use batteries will flash a low-battery symbol when they require a replacement.


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


Make certain the date and time is proper on electronic or programmable models - the system may be on a timer.


Examine the breaker. If on shut off the breaker and check the fuse for the heating system.




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


Here are any variety of small factors why this could happen. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to check if a noticeable difference is felt.


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



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


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


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


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



The furnace is not producing adequate heat. Inspect and change a clogged up filter.


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


When it comes to a poor-performing heater that doesnt warm the house adequately very first ensure that the air filter is clean and in great condition if not brand-new.


This is a simple however crucial part of heating system upkeep. One of the most typical reasons to have a heater not working is a clogged up filter. It also happens to be the easiest upkeep task.


Changing your heating system filter regularly is a fast and simple task and goes a long method in securing HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the consumption. This most likely looks like a grate in a flooring ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heater itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has come to change it by holding it approximately the light. If no light shines through the filter needs changing. A dirty unclean odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent sign you should alter your heater filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air should 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 lower its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that develops on your filters will help with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler should work more difficult to make up for the obstruction of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy bill the lowered air flow through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too quickly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air sent back into your house. A filthy clogged filter restricts the air flow eventually causing heat and pressure to develop in the furnace.


Newer more effective heating systems are delicate to the issue and will often shut down before a dirty filter triggers more difficulty. For other systems the furnace will continue to run but with less heat output and lowered performance.




Security switch on a heater door


If your furnace is not running among the very first things you ought to do is examine the security switch on the heating system door. A heater door safety switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is eliminated.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door must remain in location for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Inspect and test the setup.





Keep the area around your heater tidy and unblocked


This may appear like an obvious tip but often house owners with hectic lives forget to focus on areas of their home like the basement.


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


Prevent saving combustible substances or products near your heater. Crowding your heater can lead to unexpected fires substantial damage to your house and risk to your family and pets.


However hassle-free it might seem to just "save it there" for the summertime consider the possibility that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heating system. Do not take chances offer your furnace the room it requires to operate safely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean regularly around your heating system. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible items from the area bear in mind that dust and lint can develop up and create a fire risk. An excess amount of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being blocked quicker than usual requiring more regular replacement.

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