As the winter months approach, it’s important to make sure your heating system is in top working condition. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, you want to ensure that your heating system is running efficiently and effectively. At Langhorne HVAC, we understand the importance of a functioning heating system and have put together some tips to help you with your heating repair needs. From simple maintenance to identifying and addressing common issues, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about how you can keep your heating system running smoothly this winter.
The Heating Unit in Your House Will not Switch off
If the heating unit in your home carries on running and blowing warm air, you should first ensure that it is set to ‘auto,’ instead of ‘on.’ This way, it will stop running once it achieves the programmed temperature.
In the event that it carries on running after this, you might have a thermostat that is wired wrongly or broken. Also, there might be a problem with the blower on your heating unit. Your first action should be to check that the wiring is properly plugged into the thermostat. Then, you should program it to the settings advised by the manufacturer, to test how the unit runs. If you get no joy with this, you might have to get a new thermostat.
In the event that the blower is causing the problem, you should get in touch with a heating repair contractor to diagnose and rectify the issue.
Parts of Your Home are not Heating Correctly
If your house is getting different levels of heating in different areas, you might have an air filter that is dirty or problems with your ductwork. Alternatively, the heating unit’s bearings, belts or fan motor could be causing the problem. Getting a new air filter is simple; however, if there are issues with your unit or ductwork, you ought to contact a heating repair contractor.
Cold air is Emanating From Your Vents
If you have a furnace or heat pump, your home’s central heating unit distributes warmth throughout your property via a network of air ducts. While leaking ducts might impact the temperature of air that emanates from the vents, there are a few easy fixes that you should try initially.
The Thermostat — Firstly, look at your thermostat to check that it is set to the correct temperature. If it is, turn it up slightly to see if you notice the temperature difference. Furthermore, the thermostat ought to be set to ‘auto,’ instead of ‘fan on.’ Otherwise, the fan will simply emit cool air. Assuming that this all seems fine, you need to move on to examine your air filter.
The Air Filter — You should get a replacement air filter every few months, or sooner because they accumulate lots of debris and dirt. As a result, it becomes harder for your heating unit to work correctly, which might be why it is emitting cold air.
The Pilot Light — Look at the pilot light on your heating unit, to see whether it is lit. If it isn’t, then gas may not be reaching it. The problem could be that the gas valve isn’t on. If not, you ought to contact a Plano heating unit contractor to rectify the issue.
The Fuel — Irrespective of whether your heating unit runs on oil, electric or gas, it should have sufficient fuel to operate correctly, and it will not be efficient otherwise.
The Air Ducts — Leaking ducts might be responsible too. A simple way to find out is to switch your fan on, then visit your loft or crawl space. Tread on the ductwork to see whether any air is blowing. If nothing is noticeable, you can light some incense carefully, and hold this close to a junction point joint (do this for each one), to discover whether any smoke blows out of the ductwork. If it does, then you know there’s a leak problem.
The Heating Unit in Your House Will not Ignite or Remain Ignited
If you have a fairly new heater, it probably uses electronic ignition, with a pilot light that is intermittent, instead of a conventional pilot light. Occasionally, the sensors that check gas is not flowing if the heater is off become dirty, and have to be replaced or cleaned.
The Controls on the Thermostat do not Work.
If you are having problems with temperature setting or altering the unit controls, the thermostat might be the cause once again. Use the troubleshooting advice detailed above. And, if your thermostat is digital, try getting some new batteries. If these measures are ineffective, you could try resetting the thermostat to the settings recommended by the manufacturer.
If the issue persists, you should check whether a tripped circuit is the cause. Lastly, you can reexamine the wiring, although a trusted HVAC contractor will be better able to identify the issue.
The fan on Your Heating Unit Doesn’t Work
If the fan on your heating unit doesn’t work, you ought to first examine the thermostat to check that it is in the proper setting. Then, look at the air filter to check that it is clean; occasionally, a filthy air filter will cause your fan to malfunction.
Lastly, turn your circuit breakers on, if they are not on already, but do not turn them off and on frequently, because this might cause a fire. If these troubleshooting techniques are ineffective, get in touch with a qualified heating unit contractor.
Your Heating Unit is Moldy
In Florida, the climate is fairly moist, so dampness can accumulate in your property’s heating unit, especially if the ductwork or insulation is faulty or substandard. In this situation, mould can develop in the heating unit.
The most effective way to address this is to hire a knowledgeable heating unit contractor to clean the unit, and if required, correctly seal and insulate your ducts to prevent moisture from gathering.
As already stated, it is wise to replace the air filters every few months, or sooner, and get the air ducts cleaned professionally every three years.
Your Heating Unit Smells Like it is Burning.
Over the winter, when the heating is first turned on, there may be a smell of burning, because the unit is burning off any dirt and dust that has collected since the previous time it was used.
Also, the smell might be due to a filthy air filter; although, it could indicate a more severe issue. If the burning smell doesn’t go away, switch off and unplug your unit immediately. Then, clean any dirt or dust that has collected and put a new air filter on, if required.
If the issue still arises, then get in touch with a heating repair technician