Furnace Repair - Three Things That Could Go Wrong
When the cold winter months come and the Lakeport Furnace Repair, thousands of individuals call Portland furnace repair specialists for a problem with their furnace. Whether it's a residential or commercial setting, furnaces are hit with the same basic issues. But with a little knowledge, you can take more proactive steps to avoid them in your own home. Here are some of the biggest problems homeowners face with their furnaces that you can easily avoid.
A clogged air filter can create these problems as easily as a clogged washing machine drain. If you're experiencing problems with your furnace repair, first check the filter. If debris or dirt is getting through, change it right away. If not, remove the access panel and check the inside of the access panel for any clogs. Using an air compressor to blow air through the filter and into the filter housing will clear out the blockage and help it do its job again.
Over time, your heating system's efficiency can decrease by as much as 15 percent. This reduction in efficiency occurs because filters get clogged, air gets trapped and/or burned at high temperatures, and blades are damaged or bent. If you're having furnace repair or are planning on having one done soon, taking the following steps can increase the chances of increased efficiency:
Keep the Pilot Light On. If you turn on the pilot light during the cold part of the night, the pilot light flickers as well. Even if you don't see a flicker, however, you may still need a furnace repair or furnace installation. The flicker may mean that the combustion chamber is blocked, which causes inaccurate combustion and poor efficiency. To avoid having this occur, turn the pilot light on when you leave the room and remember to shut off the gas or propane fuel source before you go to bed.
Do You Need A Specialist? Sometimes, furnace repairs or equipment upgrades are needed by a technician who isn't familiar with your specific needs. For example, if the heat source is a wood stove, but the burner head is steel, your technician may suggest that you replace the entire unit. While this may provide noticeable benefits, this type of change is usually more costly than simply having the heating component replaced.
Do You Have Dirty Filters? Unfortunately, your furnace repairs or equipment upgrades aren't always able to pinpoint every single problem with your system. While you may have the worst possible unit, other areas could be completely functioning correctly but just not efficient enough to keep your home warm. Whether your system is working fine right now, but has issues such as dirty filters that need to be replaced, or your fuel pump is making loud noises, dirty filters can really detract from the overall efficiency of your system.
Are You Experiencing Fumes Or Smoke Leaking From Your Furnace? If your flames or smoke detectors are malfunctioning, it could be one of two things: either your flue gases are in extremely bad condition, causing your system to run inefficiently; or, there is something damaged inside your flue vents, causing your units to overheat. To fix the former, your technician might recommend a complete overhaul of your heat exchanger. The latter involves repairs to both your vent fans and monitors. It's highly likely that neither of these fixes will be sufficient to prevent the aforementioned malfunctions, so your furnace repair technician will likely recommend upgrading your units with high-end blowers and heat exchangers.
Are You Experiencing Any Other Problems With Your Furnace? Unfortunately, sometimes your furnace repairs are not able to identify potential problems with your equipment. In some cases, this can include notifying your technician of any odd smells coming from your system, no matter how slight. In other cases, your technician might locate a crack or other damage to an element, but cannot pinpoint exactly which element is damaged. In these cases, your contractor might suggest that you contact a local furnace repair company for furnace repairs instead of going it alone.