With winter right around the corner, we know we will get a lot of home owners calling and asking about a furnace repair. Our technicians are ready to help diagnose any problems homeowners may have with their furnace. The first step in any diagnosis is to look for simple things first. Here are some of the most common problems we find when troubleshooting. Dirty or clogged filters. The single most important thing you can do to ensure adequate heat in cold weather is to change filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict air flow. This means your furnace has to work harder to circulate warm air throughout your home. This puts unnecessary strain on your furnace and may result in a breakdown, along with excessive utility bills and diminished equipment life. Ignition problems. Today’s heating systems typically have one of two types of ignition systems: hot surface ignition or intermittent pilot. Hot surface ignition uses a heating element, kind of like a filament in a light bulb, which is controlled electronically to ignite the gas burner. This element wears out over time. The intermittent pilot also is controlled electronically but uses a high voltage electric spark to ignite the gas pilot and then the main burners. A pilot may burn out due to drafts or clogs in the heating equipment, as well as problems with the thermocouple. Other mechanical issues. Modern heating systems are complicated machines with a variety of electro-mechanical moving parts, including belts, bearings, fans and motors. Over time all…
With winter setting in soon, this is the time to make sure your family will be able to stay warm and comfortable in the months ahead. Now is the time to schedule your furnace maintenance. You may know it as our Safety and Performance Tune-Up. Your furnace has had a good long rest over the warmer months, but that also means it’s had a chance to collect dust, rust and gunk. None of that will help on a cold winter’s night. The number one reason for your system failing isn’t age, brand, lightning or that you play with your thermostat too much – it’s dirt. That’s right, a furnace that isn’t regularly cleaned and tuned will most likely be the reason the heat doesn’t come on one night. If you are wondering why a Safety and Performance Tune-Up is important for your furnace think of it like an oil change for your car. You would not drive your car without regularly changing the oil and you should not run your furnace year after year without regular maintenance. There are a lot of other reasons seasonal maintenance is a good idea – like saving energy dollars, increasing the life of your system and protecting yourself and your family from dangerous problems like carbon monoxide poisoning. Call us today and schedule your furnace maintenance.