What to do when your heater won’t heat
When you turn on the furnace in your Sacramento home, the last thing you want is to get hit with a blast of cool air. This inconvenience is actually pretty common and might be simpler to fix than you think. Before you call a heating and air conditioning technician to come out and inspect your Sacramento furnace, try a few of these troubleshooting tips.
- Check your thermostat
Just as easy as it sounds. Check to make sure that your system is set to “auto” and not “on”. If the thermostat is set to “on” it will continuously blow air into your house, regardless of whether or not the air is being heated. The “auto” setting will kick on your system only when the furnace is actually heating the air to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. After that adjustment, make sure that the desired temperature is set to be warmer than the current temperature in your house. If your thermostat does not seem to be responding, then it might be time to replace the thermostat batteries.
- Air Filter
If an air filter has not been replaced recently, there is a good chance it has become dirty and clogged. A clogged filter will restrict the airflow into your furnace and can actually overheat your system, which initiated a safeguard in which the system stops heating altogether. Filters should be changed monthly, to best avoid this problem and others.
A clogged air filter will soon cause other problems as well as inefficient heating, such as increased energy bills. As your system struggles to take in air, it will have to work much harder to heat your home, and you will pay extra for it. Air blowing through a dirty filter can also pump harmful allergens throughout your home. In other words, it is well worth your time to check your air filter and make sure it is performing properly.
- Duct Work
If you are still experiencing trouble with your heater, the culprit might likely be your air ducts. According to the National Comfort Institute, the average duct system in the U.S. is only 57% effective because of a wide variety of potential problems. The greatest problem is a poorly designed duct system that cannot deliver the proper airflow, even if the equipment is functioning properly. Lots of air ducts experience leakage, which can quickly become a great expense to you as the system overworks itself to make up for the leaked air. By getting your ducts sealed, you will lose less warm air and bring your bill down.
Flexible, plastic air ducts are now common in many homes and can be found often in the attic. These insulating materials can easily be kinked or torn which will also leak warm air. Also, If your air filter was dirty, likelihood is that your air ducts are dirty too; so to keep the air in your home clean and comfortable, keep your air ducts clean.
These are the simplest ways to ensure that your furnace is working at its full potential and keeping your family nice and warm.