HVAC Financing Cathedral Park Portland Oregon

Why to repair common heater problems



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


Its one thing if you just need to pull the cover. Its an entire various problem if your heating system is working improperly or not working at all.


With a little diy experience you can fix and repair your furnace yourself. Your best option though is to have an upkeep check list for your heater to prevent the issue.


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



Whether you have a standard gas heater or a high performance gas heating system understanding how your furnace/heating system works is very important. You require to comprehend the fundamental functions of the device so you know what to look for when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make certain it is switched on.



It might sound silly however check the thermostat to guarantee it is set on "heat" and that it is set at least five degrees above space temperature. You may be surprised the number of service calls are made without examining this!


Here are a few thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You may require to alter the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat system works on batteries make sure you are altering them a minimum of when a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your houses electrical system while others utilize 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 gently blow any dust or debris that might have clogged it.


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


Check the breaker. If on switch off the breaker and inspect the fuse for the heater.




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


Here are any number of minor reasons this might happen. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then try moving the dial up or down a few degrees to check if an obvious distinction 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 look for the circuit that manages the furnace. Youre looking to see whether its tossed to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


Manually check the breaker. Turn it backward and forward.


Ensure it is remaining in the "On" position.


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



The heater is not producing adequate heat. Inspect and change a blocked filter.


A furnace that has a hard time to produce heat is a various matter from one that has somehow stopped working.


When it comes to a poor-performing heating system that doesnt heat up the house adequately first guarantee that the air filter is clean and in excellent condition if not brand-new.


This is a basic but crucial part of furnace maintenance. One of the most common reasons to have a heating system not working is a stopped up filter. It likewise happens to be the simplest upkeep task.


Changing your heating system filter routinely is a quick and basic task and goes a long method in protecting HVAC elements and improving your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some heaters have their filter in the consumption. This more than likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters reside in the heater itself.



Inspect 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 requires altering. A dirty unclean odor from the vents when the blower turns on is another good sign you ought to alter your heater filter.


Change your filter - Make sure your heating system is switched off. No air needs to be coming out. Check the direction your filter points. Filters are made to trap matter blown from one direction. Installing your filter upside-down can lower its effectiveness.


Cleaning the particles that develops 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 blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your energy bill the reduced air flow through your heating and cooling system can trigger your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut off too rapidly.


Filters clean the air headed into the heating system and the heated air returned into your home. A dirty clogged filter limits the airflow eventually causing heat and pressure to build up in the heater.


Newer more effective heating systems are delicate to the problem and will often shut down before a filthy filter triggers more difficulty. For other systems the heater will continue to run however with less heat output and reduced performance.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating among the very first things you must do is check the security turn on the furnace door. A heating system door security switch avoids the fan and burner from coming on while the access panel is gotten rid of.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door must remain in place for the switch to be triggered and for the furnace to run.


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


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





Keep the area around your furnace clean and unblocked


This might look like an apparent pointer but in some cases homeowners with busy lives forget to focus on areas of their home like the basement.


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


Prevent keeping combustible compounds or products near your furnace. Crowding your heating system can result in unexpected fires considerable damage to your house and risk to your family and family pets.


Nevertheless practical it may seem to just "store it there" for the summertime consider the opportunity that you may well forget any items youve left on or near your heater. Dont take possibilities give your heating system the room it requires to run securely.


Additionally vacuum and tidy routinely around your furnace. While you might have removed any and all combustible products from the location remember that dust and lint can develop and create a fire threat. An excess quantity of dust and lint can likewise cause your filter to end up being clogged up quicker than typical needing more regular replacement.