A broken heater can be frustrating and disappointing during the winter cold. Additionally, it can be the last thing you want to experience during such a time. The comfort at your home could be lost, and scheduling a furnace repair can be a hassle.
If you value your heater, you should keep it from breaking down in winter. Otherwise, you’ll have to endure the cold season or spend more money to fix your heater at such a time. Thankfully, you can visit HVAC providers like the ones at https://www.callautumn.com/heater-repair-avondale-az/, Heater repair avondale azwho can affordably help you repair or replace your broken heater.
Besides seeking help from a reputable HVAC contractor, you can do many things to prevent your heater from breaking. However, in the event it does, there are many steps that you should follow to ensure it does not become a hazard. And that’s what this guide is all about.
What to Do When You Think You Have a Broken Heater
Nothing can be so disappointing than a broken heater during winter. Yet, during this time, you need to keep your home warm to escape the cold air outdoors. So, if you think you have a broken heater, there are certain things to do to avert the effects, including:
Turn off the central air
If your heater breaks, switch off the central system unit. Operate the heater from the installed thermostat. In case your thermostat is unresponsive, use the power breaker. Though it is not the most preferred way to control power, it protects sensitive units from overworking, as it prevents:
- Safety switches from tripping.
- The power from burning motors
- Dirty particles from circulating the house
- The condenser unit from failing
Call your HVAC contractor
The next and crucial step is to contact your heater personnel. An expert will diagnose the problem and repair the heater appropriately. If you find your heater broken, it is imperative to note what could have gone wrong. To do so, check out the following:
- Unusual noises
- Change in the run cycle
- Strange smells from the vents
The signs above will help your furnace expert diagnose the problem if you notice anything unique or different. Change of behavior in any appliance only depicts incoming trouble.
Choose regular heater maintenance to prevent repairs
Most technicians have depicted that quite a significant number of broken heaters are from negligence. Due to this, multiple furnace contractors recommend regular heater maintenance.
Conducting your heater maintenance twice a year will prevent costly and extensive repairs or permanent damage. Thankfully, you can do frequent heater maintenance through the following:
- Motors and wirework tightening
- Air filter care (changing filters regularly)
- Testing of actual operation and performance
- Thorough cleaning outside and inside the central air unit
A certified technician can diagnose any hitches pretty early. Additionally, they will sort out these problems before they affect the central air unit. The technician will also help adjust your heater’s usage habits to protect the central air system.
Make sure the gas is on
When your heater is not in frequent use, the gas valve can be switched off and forgotten. To check whether the gas valve is on, trace the gas line from the furnace back to the meter. If you notice a handle perpendicularly positioned to the gas pipe, tilt it to make it parallel.
Signs that your heater could not be working
So, how do you know that your heater is not working as it should? A broken heater won’t work as expected, which is an excellent strategy to determine that your heater is ineffective. The good news is that the following signs can help you know you have a failing heater.
The heater is blowing cold air
If you switch on your heater and your house is still cold after twenty minutes, there could be a problem. If you want to know that your heater is not working, try adjusting the temperature or the thermostat, and the heat is not present.
When heating your home, it should take your heater less than twenty minutes to produce heat. Sometimes, your home could not be getting heated because of a pre-set temperature on your heater and not changing it.
Your heating bill has risen
Have you all of a sudden noticed a hike in your heating bill? Well, your heater could not be functioning correctly. Like a clogged pipe takes more energy to operate, so does your heater. So if your heater breaks, it will use a surplus of excess power to work.
Some rooms lack heat
If you have noticed uneven heat distribution in your rooms, your heater could be faulty. If you have only one thermostat in your home, the heat should be even in all the rooms with a radiator. Moreover, if you switch on your heater and notice that only half of your home attains the desired temperature, your heater could be broken.
Reasons why your heater could not be working
Here are the possible reasons your heater is not working as expected
Poor maintenance
The primary reason why people call HVAC technicians during the winter cold is due to a lack of furnace maintenance. Your furnace won’t switch on because you probably have not operated it for a long time. Mostly, the heating unit could be dirty.
Modern residential and commercial heating systems are reliable and sophisticated. However, they can develop problems threatening your comfort and safety when not addressed.
The blower capacitor could be dead
Ever seen a blower capacitor on your HVAC system? It is the part that resembles a big battery. It is the work of the capacitor to start the furnace once the thermostat commands it to start.
Each capacitor has a certain tolerance level. If the tolerance level is low, it may block the blower from reaching the suitable RPM. If your capacitor dies, it will not start the blower.
The refrigerant levels are too low
Are you using a heat pump to chase away that disgusting cold? Unfortunately, the pump’s refrigerant level could be low. Consequently, making the heat strip frequently leads to a significant increase in utility bills.
When your heat pump’s refrigerant levels remain low for a long time, it may cause the compressor to overheat and eventually break down. Therefore, increasing the refrigerant recharge when the heat starts stripping is imperative to alleviate the problem.
Faulty ductwork installation
Your heater cannot work because of a problem. So, it’s essential to ensure the HVAC contractor installs the ductwork correctly. You can achieve that through close supervision.
Final Words
A broken heater can compromise your comfort during winter, which is a perfect reason to inspect your heater regularly to avoid such inconveniences. You must hire a reliable HVAC contractor to check your system whenever you have a broken heater.
