Beyond a Breakdown, Which Heater Issues Are Most Urgent?

Your heater isn't broken, but it's definitely acting strange. You don't want to call your HVAC technician for something minor, but you also don't want to ignore potentially urgent heater issues. Here's a brief rundown of which are the truly urgent heater issues and which ones are no big deal.

Identifying Urgent Heater Issues

Pay attention to how your furnace sounds, smells, and feels. Screeching noises may mean a pressure problem or a loose belt. Popping and buzzing indicate electrical problems. Loud banging may mean a delay in the gas ignition. All of these are urgent heater issues that should be dealt with immediately.

If you smell burning the first time you turn on your furnace at the beginning of winter, it's probably not a big deal. It's dust that has accumulated in the offseason, which is now burning off. However, if the smell doesn't go away after a few minutes or reappears every time you turn on the furnace, then it's more serious. Call your HVAC technician.

Likewise, if you smell gas, it's a serious problem. Get out of the house and call your gas company — and 911. Once you're sure everyone's safe, call your HVAC technician as well.

Finally, if you don't feel air coming from your vents, even though your furnace is on, you should call for a repair. It could be indicative of several different issues, but the bottom line is, your house isn't getting warm the way it should be, so your furnace needs fixing.

Minor Issues

So which ones aren't urgent heater issues? If your heater causes the power to go out in your home, it may seem dire, but in fact, it's probably just an overloaded circuit. This tends to happen more as systems get older and use more energy. Make sure you're not running any other major appliances on the same circuit.

Similarly, if the thermostat stops working, the most likely culprit is a dead battery. Try replacing it rather than calling for repairs.

For help with your urgent heater issues, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide Broken Arrow with quality home-comfort solutions.

Air Conditioning Season Is Ahead: Don't Skimp on Maintenance

Spring in Broken Arrow means that cooling season is around the corner, and now is the time to schedule preventive maintenance on your air conditioning unit. Annual preventive maintenance by a qualified HVAC technician isn't expensive, and it's an investment that will extend the life of your air conditioner, lower your energy costs and prevent breakdowns and expensive repairs. Your air conditioner tune-up will include these essential tasks:

• Lubricating the motor to prevent friction.

• Testing the controls to ensure your air conditioner cycles on and off properly.

• Adjusting the refrigerant level and testing for leaks.

• Flushing the condensate drain to prevent overflow.

• Checking the blower motor and belts for wear.

• Checking the voltage and amperage for efficiency.

• Cleaning and tightening the electrical connections.

• Cleaning the outdoor condensing unit.

• Recording the operating pressures and temperatures.

• Checking and adjusting the thermostat for accuracy.

• Checking the ductwork for cracks and loose joints.

Air conditioning maintenance doesn't end with your annual tuneup. Throughout the cooling season, there are several things you should do to keep your air conditioner operating efficiently:

• Inspect your air filter each month, and replace it when it's dirty. Your air filter is your first defense against dust buildup in your system, which can inhibit efficiency and cause expensive damage. A clean air filter will also improve your indoor-air quality.

• Keep your outdoor unit clean. Remove debris such as grass and weeds that can restrict airflow, and hose down the unit regularly to remove dirt.

• Keep the area around your indoor unit clean and free of obstructions.

• Make sure your supply and return registers aren't blocked by furniture or drapes, and don't close off more than 20 percent of your registers to save money on energy costs. Blocked registers impede airflow to your system and can cause overheating.

For more expert advice on air conditioning maintenance or to schedule a tune-up with an expert technician, contact Air Assurance. We have proudly served the Broken Arrow area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock