A Cold Morning Doesn't Always Mean A Call For Heater Repair

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Waking up to a cold house is not a good way to start your day. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that your heater is to blame. Before you call an HVAC tech, check these items to see if you can avoid a service call. Your wallet will thank you.

Replacing a Broken Thermostat

A broken thermostat can easily masquerade as a different kind of problem. Depending on the issue at hand, your heater might not come on at all, it might only turn on it the wrong temperature or the blower might run without producing any heat. Since all these things could also be the symptoms of a failing heater, it can be hard to tell the difference without a little digging into what has really gone wrong.

1. The first step in this process is to ensure your safety. Go to the electrical panel and cut all power to your HVAC system, both heat and air conditioning. Once the electricity is off, you can pop off the front panel of the thermostat and remove the screws that hold it to the wall.
2. There should be four wires connected to the back—two for the heater and two for your air conditioner. Remove the two marked as being for the heater and twist the ends together.
3. Once you turn the power back on, the heat should come on if it is the thermostat that is causing the problem. OF course, you can leave the heat on for a bit and let things warm up a bit before you cut the power again to replace the thermostat.

Relighting a Pilot Light

If your thermostat isn't what is causing the issue, you can simply hook it back up again. For now, though, you should leave the electricity off and go check the furnace. Without the pilot light lit, your heater will be able to blow air but not heat it.

1. Since you already have the power off, you only need to flip the gas valve to safely complete the repair. The valve should have three options: on, off, and pilot. As you can probably imagine, the correct choice in this case is pilot.
2. The next step is going to take two hands. You need to hold a flame up to the light while you push the reset button on the control panel.
3. If you are having trouble, the pilot light might just be dirty. A bit of wire is all you need to clean out the top of the light. If you are still having trouble, it is time to get a professional involved.

Vacuuming Inside the Blower and Replace the Filter

Cleaning your furnace blower is a delicate process, but one you should be able to handle. If too much grime gets into the system, the drag can cause your heater to shut down to protect itself.

1. As with any repair to an electrically powered system, make sure the power is off at the breaker before you start your work.
2. Once you have the panel off the heater, you should be able to remove the screws that are holding the blower to the furnace and carefully lift it out.
3. Vacuum out the blower and carefully clean the fins with a brush.
4. Once you've reinstalled the blower, check your furnace filter. This should be replaced twice a year, but often gets overlooked in today's busy lives.

Once you've checked to make sure the problem is actually your heater, you can call the furnace repair service secure in the knowledge that it is the right decision. You can then focus your energy on making sure you and your family can stay comfortably warm while you wait for your appointment. 

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27 January 2016