Furnace Company Old Town Chinatown Portland Oregon

How to fix typical heating & cooling problems



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


Its something if you simply require to pull the cover. Its a whole different issue if your furnace is working inadequately or not operating at all.


With a little diy 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 avoid the problem.


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



Whether you have a standard gas heating system or a high performance gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is necessary. You need to understand the standard functions of the device so you know what to look for when there is something incorrect.




Inspect your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It might sound silly however inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above space temperature level. You might be shocked the number of service calls are made without inspecting this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to conduct yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You may need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make sure you are changing them at least once a year or as needed.


Some thermostats are wired to your homes 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 may have blocked it.


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


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




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


Here are any variety of small reasons why this could occur. Initially verify that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if a visible 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 seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually evaluate the breaker. Flip it backward and forward.


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


This will reset the breaker. If this does refrain from doing the technique you have an issue with either the electrical wiring in the circuit or the breaker itself.



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


A heating system that has a hard time to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually somehow quit working.


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


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


Replacing your heating system filter routinely is a quick and simple job and goes a long way in securing HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the consumption. This probably appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the furnace itself.



Check your filter - You can tell if the time has actually come to change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter needs altering. A dusty unclean odor 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 furnace is switched off. No air ought to be coming out. Inspect 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 particles that builds up on your filters will assist with the flow of air. When your air filter is blocked your air handler must work more difficult to compensate for the obstruction of air circulation. In addition to increasing your energy bill the reduced air flow through your heating and cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off too rapidly.


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


Newer more effective heaters are delicate to the issue and will often close down before an unclean filter causes more trouble. For other units the heater will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced performance.




Security switch on a heating system door


If your heating system is not operating among the first things you should do is check the safety switch on the furnace door. A furnace door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door needs to be in place for the switch to be triggered and for the heater to operate.


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


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the security switch. Examine and test the setup.





Keep the location around your heating system tidy and unblocked


This might appear like an apparent pointer however sometimes property owners with busy lives forget to take notice of locations of their house like the basement.


A basement can end up being messy which in turn can result in the location around the heating system being filled with various possessions and particles. Not just does a tidy heating system function better it looks better.


Avoid keeping combustible compounds or materials near your heating system. Crowding your heater can cause unanticipated fires significant damage to your home and risk to your household and pets.


However practical it might seem to merely "keep it there" for the summer season think about the possibility that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take possibilities give your heater the room it needs to operate safely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean routinely around your heater. While you may have eliminated any and all combustible items from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can develop and produce a fire hazard. An excess amount of dust and lint can likewise trigger your filter to end up being stopped up faster than usual needing more frequent replacement.

Old Town Chinatown is the official Chinatown of the Northwest section of Portland, Oregon. The Willamette River forms its eastern boundary, separating it from the Lloyd District and the Kerns and Buckman neighborhoods.


Area: 128 acres