Our Oklahoma winters are unpredictable, changing from mild to wild in a matter of hours and keeping you and your heater in limbo. Most homeowners don’t think about their furnace until it stops working, and deep in the middle of record-breaking cold temperatures is the worst time to find out your furnace has quit on you.
Furnace repairs can be expensive and inconvenient, but many are preventable with routine maintenance and inspections. Suntech Heat and Air has been committed to the health of Oklahoma heaters for more than 32 years, and we want to make sure you and your family don’t get caught in the cold. Our professionals are ready 7 days a week to help repair your system, but here are a few heater troubleshooting tips that can save you some time and money.
5 Common Heating Issues
1. Dirty Filters
Dirty filters cause your system to work overtime, and that strain on your furnace can lead to costly breakdowns and repairs over time. If your filter is too clogged, the fan cannot run properly and eventually the unit itself will overheat. If the fan is running without blowing out heat, try replacing your filter first. Regardless of any problems, you should replace your filters every 60-90 days to help keep your heater running efficiently.
2. Dirty Outdoor Unit
Check to see the area around your condenser unit is clear. There may be debris, like grass or dirt, clogging it up, or tall weeds or grass blocking the airflow around it. Rinse off any debris and trim back vegetation.
3. Gas Furnace Not Heating
First make sure the gas is on. Make sure the pipe’s handle is parallel to the pipe, not perpendicular, and check to be sure the pilot light is on. If the light is off, follow your owner’s manual instructions for resetting it.
4. Broken Thermostat
Your thermostat regulates the temperature inside your home, but a malfunctioning one can lead to issues with the fan. Before you panic about, first make sure the thermostat is on “heat,” not “cool,” and set the temperature about five degrees higher than the current setting to see if the furnace kicks on. If it is a programmable thermostat, check the time settings as well as the battery; a dead battery can cause you to lose all your programmed settings. Bypassing the settings—by entering the desired temperature and pushing “hold”—can also help you determine if the problem is a programming one.
5. Circuit Breaker Not Working
Check your circuit breaker box to make sure the furnace switch is on. Recent power outages or a heating system that is working too hard may have thrown a breaker switch. If your switches are not labeled, look for one that may be out of place or incompletely positioned. Push the switch all the way off, then back into the “on” position.
Contact Suntech Heat and Air
If you continue to have problems with your heater, our professionals at Suntech Heat and Air are standing by and ready to help. We are always on call and pride ourselves on responding within 24 hours. Don’t spend your winter with a finicky furnace. Call Suntech Heat and Air today.
Ready For a Vacation? Your Home Should Be Too
Your home should be too! Careful planning can not only help protect your home and your belongings while you travel but also provide your family with some energy savings to spend on souvenirs! Follow these five simple tips to prepare your home for your absence. Whether it’s a weekend road-trip or a stay at the lake house, remember to follow some of these energy-saving tips to avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re away.
Important Things To Do Before You Leave
1. Turn off the lights.
If you decide to keep any of your lights on as a security measure, invest in an automatic timer. It can be programmed to turn on your lights during late evening and early morning hours while preventing wasted energy during the day.
2. Turn down your air conditioner.
While it’s important to keep the air circulating in your home while you’re gone, you can drastically cut down on energy usage by turning your thermostat up to 85 degrees. If you have a programmable thermostat, simply use the “vacation” feature to maintain safe and efficient indoor temperatures while you’re gone.
3. Unplug appliances and electronics.
Even when they’re turned off, anything that’s plugged into the wall can continue to consume energy. By unplugging your devices or using a smart power strip, you’ll avoid wasting standby power. Don't forget to unplug your washer and dryer, too.
4. Adjust your water heater(s).
Turn your water heater down to "low" or to "vacation” mode. If your pool also uses a heater, consider purchasing a pool cover that will help minimize heat loss so that you can avoid the cost to reheat it.
5. Take care of your refrigerator.
If you’ll only be gone a few days, turn your refrigerator’s thermostat up a few degrees. If you’ll be gone more than two weeks, clean and empty the refrigerator, prop the door open, and unplug the unit.
Whether it’s a weekend road-trip or stay at the lake house, remember to follow some of these energy-saving tips to avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re away.
Need a Professional? Call Suntech
To set up an appointment with one of our Experts who check your current systems for efficiency improvements!
Is a Whole House Air Purifier Right For You?
Whole-house air purifiers are becoming an increasingly popular component of the heating and cooling systems in many homes. Wondering why? Check out the benefits below!
The Benefits of a Central Air Purification System
Fewer allergy symptoms.
Unlike standard air filters, whole-house air purifiers can catch potential allergens down to .3 microns in size, removing up to 99.97 percent of particles from the filtered air.
Compact size.
Whole-house air purifiers are conveniently installed within the HVAC air handler system, eliminating the unsightly portable units in different rooms throughout the house.
Cost-effectiveness.
Whole-house air purifiers save you the expense of having to purchase both air purifier filters and HVAC filters.
Less Noise.
Because whole-house air purifiers eliminate the noise associated with some portable units, they can create a more comfortable and healthier indoor environment with little noise.
Low Maintenance.
While standard HVAC filters must be changed at least every 90 days, whole-house air purifiers last 3 to 5 years with little to no maintenance. These units can be incorporated into your existing HVAC system.
Keeping your eyes and ears open for warning signs can prevent that scenario where the system quits in the middle of night or for businesses, during work hours on the coldest day of the year,” said Michael Flag, president of AirPro Inc., a leading HVAC serving company in New York. “Simple maintenance during the year will prevent this problem and keep your home or business warm during the cold winter weather
Contact Suntech to a schedule a no-cost analysis of the benefits of whole-house air filtration.
Call 405-785-0950 today
