Furnace Company Powellhurst-Gilbert Portland Oregon

When to repair routine HVAC complications



There is nothing worse than awakening cold in the middle of the night.


Its something if you simply need to pull the covers up. Its an entire various concern if your heating system is working poorly or not working at all.


With a little do-it-yourself experience you can troubleshoot and fix your heating system yourself. Your best option though is to have a maintenance check list for your heater to prevent the problem.


Today I have something that will make you feel like you have the knowledge to deal with some furnace repairs.



Whether you have a standard gas heating system or a high efficiency gas furnace understanding how your furnace/heating system works is essential. You need to understand the standard operations of the home appliance so you know what to search for when there is something wrong.




Inspect your thermostat to make certain it is turned on.



It might sound ridiculous however inspect the thermostat to ensure it is set on "heat" which it is set at least five degrees above room temperature level. You may be shocked how numerous service calls are made without checking this!


Here are a couple of thermostat checks to perform yourself:


Examine the battery on the thermostat. You may require to change the batteries on your thermostat. If your homes thermostat unit works on batteries make certain you are altering them a minimum of once a year or as required.


Some thermostats are wired to your homes electrical system while others use batteries. How is yours powered? Often 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 may have blocked it.


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


Examine 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 that this could happen. First confirm that the thermostat is set to "Heat." Then attempt moving the dial up or down a couple of degrees to inspect if a visible difference 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 controls the furnace. Youre seeking to see whether its thrown to the "Off" position or whether its in the middle.


By hand check the breaker. Turn it back and forth.


Make sure it is staying in the "On" position.


This will reset the breaker. If this does not do the trick you have an issue with either the circuitry in the circuit or the circuit breaker itself.



The heater is not producing enough heat. Check and change a clogged filter.


A heating system that has a hard time to produce heat is a different matter from one that has actually somehow stopped working.


In the case of a poor-performing heater that does not warm the home sufficiently first guarantee that the air filter is clean and in good condition if not new.


This is a basic but necessary part of furnace maintenance. Among the most typical factors to have a heating system not working is a stopped up filter. It also occurs to be the easiest maintenance task.


Replacing your heater filter frequently is a quick and basic task and goes a long method in securing HVAC elements and enhancing your inside air quality.


Locate your filter - Some furnaces have their filter in the intake. This more than likely appear like a grate in a floor ceiling or wall. Other filters live in the furnace itself.



Check your filter - You can tell if the time has concerned change it by holding it as much as the light. If no light shines through the filter requires altering. A dirty unclean smell from the vents when the blower turns on is another great sign you ought to change your heater filter.


Replace your filter - Make sure your heater is shut off. No air must 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 decrease its efficiency.


Cleaning up the particles that develops on your filters will aid with the flow of air. When your air filter is obstructed your air handler must work harder to compensate for the blockage of air flow. In addition to driving up your energy bill the minimized air flow through your heating & cooling system can cause your heat exchanger to get too hot and shut down too rapidly.


Filters clean up the air headed into the heater and the heated air sent out back into the house. A filthy clogged up filter limits the air flow ultimately triggering heat and pressure to develop in the heater.


Newer more effective heating systems are sensitive to the problem and will often shut down before a dirty filter causes more trouble. For other units the heating system will continue to run but with less heat output and reduced efficiency.




Safety turn on a heater door


If your heater is not operating one of the first things you need to do is examine the security turn on the furnace door. A furnace door safety switch prevents the fan and burner from beginning while the gain access to panel is removed.


Heating systems have a safety switch that pops out when the door is eliminated. The door needs to be in location for the switch to be triggered and for the heating system to run.


If you discover you need to install a brand-new security switch follow the action by step directions on How to Install a Furnace Door Safety Switch.


Shut the power off. Preparation the blower door. Wire the security switch. Check and check the setup.





Keep the area around your heater clean and unblocked


This might appear like an apparent tip but sometimes homeowners with busy lives forget to take notice of locations of their home like the basement.


A basement can end up being cluttered which in turn can cause the location around the heating system being filled with miscellaneous ownerships and particles. Not just does a clean furnace function better it looks much better.


Avoid saving combustible substances or products near your heater. Crowding your heating system can result in unforeseen fires substantial damage to your home and risk to your household and pets.


Nevertheless hassle-free it might seem to merely "store it there" for the summer consider the opportunity that you may well forget any products youve left on or near your heating system. Dont take opportunities provide your heater the space it requires to run securely.


Furthermore vacuum and clean routinely around your heater. While you might have gotten rid of any and all flammable products from the area bear in mind that dust and lint can develop and develop a fire threat. An excess amount of dust and lint can also trigger your filter to become clogged up earlier than usual requiring more regular replacement.

Powellhurst-Gilbert is a neighborhood in the Southeast section of Portland, Oregon. It borders the neighborhoods of Montavilla, Hazelwood, and Mill Park on the north, Centennial on the east, Pleasant Valley on the east and south, and Lents and South Tabor on the west.


Area: 3.44 mi²