Troubleshooting Your Home Heating System
Posted on May 31, 2018
A broken heating system is one of the nightmares that homeowners cannot afford to wake up to especially in cold weather. The home heating system consists of many different components which work together and are dependent on each other. The moment one component malfunctions, the entire system must be rechecked so as to bring it to order. Heating system repair specialists understand every kind of heating system in the market and can, therefore, perform a thorough repair and maintenance exercise so as to extend the life of your heating system.
When you suspect that your heating system has started developing issues, chances are that it is true and therefore you need to troubleshoot before even contacting a service technician. The following are some of the troubleshooting tips that you can follow.
Check the Thermostat
Where your heating system turns on but your home is still freezing, you need to inspect the thermostat to see whether it is set properly or has a problem. A thermostat is one of the most affected components in a heating system. You need to check its settings because they determine how your furnace works. Where the thermostat is set at very low temperatures, it may make the heating system not work as expected. Apart from the thermostat, other mechanical issues including closed vents, broken air handlers or air blowers, loose ducts and worn out motors can also prevent the system from heating your indoor environment as expected.
Check the Power to the Furnace
If your heating system does not turn on, the reason could be a mechanical or electrical failure. Worn out electrical connections, faulty switches, interruption of fuel source or power supply, extinguished pilot light, a broken thermocouple or even a flipped switch may be the cause why the system does not turn on. Check each of these components before concluding that the system has failed.
Inspect the Air Filter
Irrespective of the type of air filter that you install, you should regularly inspect it so as to confirm that it is working right. With time, air filters accumulate dust, debris, and grime making them inefficient in their operations. For disposable filters, you need to replace them while for the washable filters; you should clean them on a regular basis.
Listen to the Noise the Furnace is Making
Your heating system may produce some noise as a symptom of impending problems or concerns that require your attention. The common sounds include popping, grinding, rattling or even louder noise than normal. These sounds indicate a need for inspection, maintenance, and repair. The noise generated may be due to a mechanical problem such as a poorly lubricated motor, loose ductwork or a bent fan blade.
Once you finish troubleshooting, you can then contact an HVAC service professional to come and check the system for any further problem. In some cases, a heating system repair may just take a single visit to complete while in other circumstances you may need a slightly longer period of time to sort out the problem.