What Causes Furnace Repairs?

The winter season is already here. Millions of homeowners will be using their home heating systems to enjoy a favorable and habitable indoor environment. One of the dreaded experiences is switching on your heater only to find out that it is not working as expected. This may prompt you to make frantic efforts to repair your furnace. Here are some common repair signs to watch for so you can avoid a heater emergency. Failure to Warm Air If your furnace is blowing as expected but no hot air is coming out, there could be a serious mechanical issue. The first area to check should be your thermostat as it may fail to capture the correct temperature settings. An additional cause of this problem is when the ductwork is blocked or when the air filter is dirty and clogged. Frequent Cycling If your furnace is functioning but frequently switching on and off, you are a victim of short-cycling. Unfortunately, this could be an indication that your furnace is on its way to a complete malfunction. Two of the common causes of frequent cycling are clogs within the airflow system and a malfunctioning thermostat. Loud Noises Nothing can be more nuisance than...

View Article

How to Maintain Great Indoor Air Quality During the Winter Months

As the winter months set in, getting cozy in a warm home is what most people look forward to. Even if you have a decent central air or heating system installed, your home’s heating comfort potential may not be as high as you thought. When was the last time you checked for leaks? How much electricity or fuel are you using? As you ask these questions and check your home, here are a few details to help you understand what it takes to maintain a comfortable, efficient heating system in the winter. Is Your Home Properly Sealed? In order to heat (or even cool) efficiently, a home needs to be well-sealed. This means covering up as many cracks, gaps, holes or other openings that can’t be sealed as easily as opening or closing a door or window. This doesn’t mean your home needs to become a sealed-off laboratory or hermetically sealed container — although you could make that happen with remodeling and the right materials. You just need to get rid of any gaps that allow outside air to critically interfere with inside air. What does critically interfere mean? The rate varies, but as a consumer, it means enough to...

View Article