Furnace Company St. Johns Oregon

How to repair typical heating system issues



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


Its one thing if you just require to pull the conceal. Its a whole various problem if your furnace is working inadequately or not working at all.


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


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the understanding to tackle some heating system repairs.



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




Inspect your thermostat to make sure it is turned on.



It may sound ridiculous however inspect the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" which it is set at least 5 degrees above room temperature. You may be surprised the number of service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Inspect the battery on the thermostat. You may need to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your houses thermostat system works on batteries make certain you are changing them at least when a year or as needed.


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


Open the thermostat and carefully blow any dust or debris that may have blocked it.


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


Examine the breaker. If on turn off the breaker and check the fuse for the furnace.




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


Here are any variety of small reasons why this might take place. Initially validate that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a few degrees to examine if a visible distinction is felt.


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



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


Manually check the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


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 circuitry in the circuit or the breaker itself.



The heater is not producing sufficient heat. Check and change a stopped up filter.


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


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not heat the house sufficiently first make sure that the air filter is clean and in good condition if not new.


This is an easy however important part of heater upkeep. Among the most typical reasons to have a furnace not working is a stopped up filter. It also happens to be the simplest upkeep chore.


Replacing your heater filter frequently is a fast and basic task and goes a long way in securing HVAC elements and improving your inside air quality.


Find your filter - Some heating systems have their filter in the consumption. This probably appearances like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heater itself.



Examine your filter - You can inform if the time has concerned alter it by holding it up to the light. If no light shines through the filter requires changing. A dirty filthy odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another excellent indication you need to change your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air ought to 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 minimize its efficiency.


Cleaning the debris that constructs up on your filters will aid with the circulation of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler need to work harder to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to increasing your utility bill the lowered air flow through your cooling and heating system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut off too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into your house. A filthy clogged filter restricts the airflow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to develop in the heating system.


Newer more effective furnaces are delicate to the issue and will often shut down prior to a dirty filter causes more problem. For other units the heating system will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced performance.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heating system is not operating one of the first things you must do is check the security switch on the heater door. A heating system door security switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the gain access to panel is eliminated.


Furnaces have a security switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door needs to be in place for the switch to be activated and for the furnace to run.


If you find you require to install a brand-new security 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. Check and evaluate the installation.





Keep the area around your heating system tidy and unblocked


This might seem like an obvious pointer however often house owners with busy lives forget to take note of areas of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being chaotic which in turn can lead to the location around the heater being filled with various ownerships and debris. Not only does a clean heater function much better it looks much better.


Prevent saving flammable substances or products near your heating system. Crowding your heater can lead to unforeseen fires significant damage to your house and threat to your family and animals.


However practical it might appear to merely "keep it there" for the summer season consider the possibility that you might well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Do not take opportunities offer your heating system the room it requires to operate securely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy regularly around your heater. While you may have gotten rid of any and all combustible items from the area keep in mind that dust and lint can build up and create a fire danger. An excess quantity of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become blocked earlier than normal requiring more regular replacement.

St. Johns is a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States, located in North Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the Willamette River and the Columbia River.


Area: 11.02 mi²