Troubleshooting Your Furnace

If you are having issues with your furnace, there are a couple easy steps that you can follow to try to determine if there is a serious issue that will require service by one of our heating technicians.

1. Inspect the air filter: You can write off an air filter but cannot understate its usefulness to your furnace. Dirty air filters restrict airflow, decrease efficiency, and increase energy bills. Pull out the air filter and hold it to a light. If light passes through the filter, it means that it has been a while since your last tune-up service; you should replace the air filter. Remember to note the date of replacing to determine its age when it next requires replacing. Also, check its packaging to see the period of use.

2. Check the thermostat: This is among one of the easiest tasks to do as homeowner:

• Make sure the setting is at Heat, not Cool and the temperature is set above room temperature
• Change the battery especially if you cannot remember when you changed it last
• When switching to heat setting, set it a few degrees higher to ensure efficiency to provide warmth air in the home.

3. Open the air vents: Some people think that shutting air vents in under-utilized rooms saves money; this is a misconception. Restrict yourself from closing too many as it increases pressure in the furnace, which will make it work harder to heat your home. The result could be failed blower motors, compressor damage, mildew or mold in the ductwork, or a cracked heat exchanger, among other issues.

4. Is there electricity in the furnace? Turn the thermostat from 'auto' to 'on' to operate the fan. If the fan starts working, it means that there is enough power, but if it does not rotate, there is no power in the furnace.

5. Establish if the furnace switch is working: Every furnace is fitted with a power switch (similar to a light switch), which can be on an adjacent wall or directly on the furnace. Flip that switch and observe if the furnace turns on. You should also ensure that all furnace doors and access panels are completely shut.

6. Drainage condensation: A high-efficient furnace drains off many liters of water every day. The furnace shuts down when clogging of drain lines occurs.

7. Check vents for blockage: Furnaces that have vents outside the house should be assessed to determine if there is blockage on the exhaust and intake. Clear any animal nests, snow, or leaves.

8. Schedule a furnace tune-up: If you are still having issues with your furnace, it may be time to schedule a furnace tune-up . Our furnace tune-ups include:

• Complete inspection. This includes a complete point and visual examination to examine all working components of the furnace and the duct unit. This method lets the technician know of any components that are displaying signs of wear.
• Lubrication. Any type of mechanical equipment requires lubrication to minimize friction between the working parts. Therefore, tune-ups should include complete lubrication of all moving parts of the furnace.
• Evaluate pilot and gas pressure that will restore them to their original specifications.
• Replacing of filters. A comprehensive tuning up process should include replacing the filter with one that is one inch. Furnace filters require replacing every three months to avert operational glitches and improve efficiency.
• Adjustment of pulleys and drive belts
• Testing of safety devices and controls
• Testing, securing, and tightening all electrical terminals and connections
• Inspection of flue assembly, heat exchanger and blower compartments
• Adjustment of air dampers
• Activating HVAC system
• Testing starting capacitors, motors, potential relays, and run capacitors

After our complete inspection, we provide you with a written assessment of our findings and professional recommendations for the next year. This information will help you know your furnace's condition and what you need to do to reduce your electricity bills.

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