Our technicians are always happy to help when someone in our service area needs furnace repair. But sometimes, we get calls from homeowners who, quite frankly, could’ve saved themselves the trouble!
It’s so important to call a technician as early as possible for heating repair. That way, you can feel confident that you’re paying as little as possible to repair the issue, since it will not have a chance to get any worse. Before you call a qualified HVAC professional, though, there are a few things you may want to check, depending on whether the system has broken down completely or if you’re just experiencing some problems here and there.
For a Complete Heating Breakdown
When the furnace has completely stopped working, many components within the heating system could be to blame. Even the smallest failure in the electrical system—a failed capacitor, for example, one of the least expensive parts to replace—could cause the entire system to stop running. Of course, there are also major components that could lead you to heating replacement. If, for example, a cracked heat exchanger activates a safety switch that shuts off the system, you’ll need to replace the furnace for safety reasons.
But before you assume the worst, check around the home for these signs that it’s something you can resolve yourself—and fast.
- Check the circuit breaker – Even gas furnaces rely on electricity to run. Something may have caused the heating system to trip the circuit breaker. Try resetting the switch. However, if you find you have to reset the circuit breaker often, call in a technician to find out what’s going on.
- Check the temperature – It’s worth checking again that the thermostat is on and that the temperature setting is higher than the temperature of the room.
- Change the thermostat batteries – No display on the thermostat at all? It may just be time to change the batteries.
For Temperature Troubles
Many people assume that minor issues with the temperature or airflow are due to problems with the thermostat. They try to solve this by adjusting the thermostat settings even higher. But this only makes the issue worse, causing the furnace components to become overworked.
Instead, check specific settings, and try these quick fixes. If these don’t resolve the problem, it’s time to call in a technician.
- Make sure the thermostat is not in “fan only” mode – This setting causes the fan to circulate without actually heating the air.
- Change the filter – A dirty filter blocks airflow resulting in poor air distribution along with operational issues. This could lead to other problems like short cycling.
- Seal air leaks – Close doors and windows around the home and seal minor leaks to resolve minor temperature discrepancies.
When to Call an Heating Repair Technician
We recommend calling for heating maintenance 1-2 times a year. This way, a technician can check for potential problems sooner and help the system to run more efficiently. Most local HVAC companies offer an AC and heating maintenance plan to make this easy and help you save, allowing for monthly or annual payments in exchange for 1-2 annual tune-ups and savings throughout the year.
Otherwise, be sure to call in an HVAC repair service at the first sign of trouble. This includes issues like short cycling, hard starting, odd noises from the furnace, airflow trouble, and, of course, any safety concerns that you may have.
Call the heating professionals at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace services in Colorado Springs, CO.
