If you are grappling with heating issues making winters unbearable, you might need a heater repair. Your furnace may have broken down, which is leaving you with a cold house and an unhappy family. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your heating systems in perfect condition, especially during this time of the year.
Here are seven common heating issues to look for so you can be prepared for the worst and know when to call a professional for immediate help.
1. Incorrect Thermostat Settings
Even though this sounds like a no-brainer, programmable thermostats are notoriously complicated. It is always worth looking at your thermostat to see if it is set correctly before assuming that the furnace might be broken.
Many times, Your switch for your thermostat can get moved by accident while you are cleaning. Before calling a professional, you should check to see that the temperature settings are correct to kickstart the furnace.
After setting your thermostat to the right temperature, wait a couple of minutes for the fan and heat to start automatically. If this does not happen, you should set the thermostat to 90-degrees Fahrenheit. This will prevent it from turning on and off on its own while you are troubleshooting the problem.
If the thermostat is still not working, you can follow the wires back to your furnace and check for breaks. When you find a wire break, you should splice it back together and use electrical tape to wrap it. Otherwise, you may also need to change the battery or consult with a professional for heater repair.
2. Unclean Furnace Filters
Clogged and filthy furnace filters cause a lot of heating issues and increase operating expenses. This is where the heat exchanger can shut off due to overheating, especially when the filters are clogged with dirt and dust. You may also notice soot buildup on your heat exchanger, and this is lowering the efficiency of your furnace.
Next, you should replace the filter if you can see or hear the blower running but do not feel any heat coming out. If you have an owner’s manual nearby, you should refer to it. This will help you locate where the filter is so you can remove and clean away the dust.
These flat filters should be changed at least once a month, and you should keep inspected them to ensure they stay clean. If you cannot see any light going through the filters, then it is time to clean them because it means there is a lot of dust buildup already.
Pleated filters can last for a good three months. However, you may have to change them more frequently if you have children and pets at home that generate more dust.
3. Is the Gas On?
Like your thermostat, your gas valve may also have been accidentally turned off and forgotten about. To check if your gas is on, you will need to trace the gas line from your furnace and back to the meter. You should see a handle that is perpendicular to your gas pipe, and you will need to turn this to turn it on.
If your furnace or boiler is much older, it may have a pilot light instead. In this case, you will need to remove both the burner cover and front panel to check if the gas is lit or not.
4. Debris in Chimney Exhaust Flue
If you are wondering, “what is wrong with my heater” and suspect that there is debris, dirt, or birds in the chimney exhaust flue, you will need to switch off both your furnace and thermostat all the way down to check.
Remove the cover duct and check if you have any debris. Then you need to put together these sections in the same order and direction before you had dismantled them. This is a tricky process when it comes to heater repair. You may need to call an expert to help, especially if you live alone and cannot do this yourself.
5. Debris in Exhaust Vents
A lot of leaves and debris can get inside your furnace if it is outside the house. These will accumulate over time and significantly block the exhaust or intake of your furnace. If you notice that the pipes are covered with a screen mesh, you should switch this with a half-inch mesh hardware cloth.
You could have severe ice clogging the pipes in the colder months instead of leaves or debris, which is much harder to clean. You will need a professional to come in and clear all the ice for you to kickstart your furnace.
You should hire HVAC technicians during summer or spring to perform an air conditioning tune-up. This will help you prepare your heating system for winter to avoid these problems when your family relies on warmth and comfort.
6. Mold in Drain Lines
Your furnace can drain down several gallons of water each day and will stop working if these drain lines have mold or sediments growing in them. If you have a dirty drain hose, you should take it out and fill it with a strong mixture of bleach and water. Let this mixture sit inside for a few minutes before flushing it out. This will clear up your clogged and moldy drain lines.
7. Blocked Air Ducts
If your furnace is warming up most of the house perfectly while some rooms are still freezing cold, it means that the air ducts to the colder areas are blocked.
You will need to examine the ductwork to check for gaps between the branching points or sections. Seal all gaps with metal duct tape. Avoid using the standard cloth tape because this results in duct leaks.
Say Goodbye to Heating Issues
If you have tried everything, but nothing seems to be fixing your heating issues, do not hesitate to contact us today. We can take care of all your heater repair needs and help you prepare for harsh winters with our expert cleaning and safety services.