Furnace Company Parkrose Heights Portland Oregon

When to solve common heater problems



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


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


With a little diy experience you can fix and fix your heater yourself. Your best choice though is to have a maintenance check list for your heating system to prevent the problem.


Today I have something that will make you seem like you have the understanding to deal with some heating system repair work.



Whether you have a conventional gas heater or a high effectiveness gas furnace comprehending how your furnace/heating system works is essential. You require to understand the fundamental operations of the device 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 silly however inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You may be surprised how lots of service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Check the battery on the thermostat. You may need to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat unit operates on batteries make sure you are changing them at least as soon as a year or as needed.


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


Open the thermostat and gently 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 switch off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the heating system.




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


Here are any number of minor reasons this might occur. Initially validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to inspect if a visible difference is felt.


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



Go to your homes breaker panel and look for the circuit that controls the heater. Youre seeking to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


By hand test the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


Make sure 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 circuitry in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The heater is not producing sufficient heat. Inspect and change a clogged up filter.


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


In the case of a poor-performing heating system that does not heat the house sufficiently very first ensure that the air filter is tidy and in good condition if not new.


This is an easy but vital part of heater upkeep. One of the most common reasons to have a heater not working is a stopped up filter. It also happens to be the most convenient maintenance chore.


Replacing your furnace filter frequently is a quick and basic job and goes a long way in safeguarding HVAC parts and enhancing your inside air quality.


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



Inspect your filter - You can tell if the time has come to change it by holding it up to the light. If no light shines through the filter requires changing. A dirty unclean smell from the vents when the blower switches on is another great sign you ought to change your furnace filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your furnace is shut off. No air must be coming out. Inspect the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one instructions. Installing your filter upside-down can decrease its efficiency.


Cleaning up the debris that builds up on your filters will assist with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler must work more difficult to make up for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your energy expense the decreased air flow through your heating & cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and turn off too rapidly.


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


Newer more efficient furnaces are sensitive to the issue and will often close down prior to an unclean filter triggers more trouble. For other units the furnace will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced effectiveness.




Safety switch on a heating system door


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


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


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


Shut the power off. Prep the blower door. Wire the safety switch. Check and test the setup.





Keep the area around your furnace tidy and unblocked


This may appear like an obvious suggestion but in some cases homeowners with busy lives forget to pay attention to locations of their home like the basement.


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


Avoid keeping flammable compounds or products near your heating system. Crowding your heating system can cause unanticipated fires substantial damage to your home and risk to your household and family pets.


However convenient it may appear to just "store it there" for the summer think about the chance that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Do not take chances offer your heater the room it requires to operate securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean regularly around your heating system. While you might have eliminated any and all flammable products from the location bear in mind that dust and lint can build up and develop a fire threat. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise cause your filter to become clogged up earlier than usual requiring more frequent replacement.

Parkrose Heights is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon.


Area: 621 acres