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 troubleshooting tips that can save you some time and money.
5 Heater Trouble Shooting Tips for Winter
1) 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) 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—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.
