The short answer is this: if you had to search for it, there’s probably an issue with your heater. That fantastic machine has been keeping you and your family warm for years, but now it’s running into a snag. Either it’s not heating your home enough, or there’s something else going on with it. Let’s get to the bottom of it and figure out if you need heating repair in Frederick, MD.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating System Repair’
When Is It Time to Call for Heater Repair?
Monday, November 14th, 2022A Reminder: Don’t Allow Any Heating Repairs to Linger at the End of the Season
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
You’re probably quite to shut down your heating system for the season and transition to warmer weather. As we move into the second half of spring, you’ll start to focus on getting your air conditioning system ready for the summer. (Make sure you don’t forget to schedule a regular maintenance tune-up and inspection for your AC with our team!)
We recommend you still give some thought to your heating system as the season winds down. For example, has your heater shown recent signs it has a malfunction that needs to be fixed? This might be something seemingly small, like odd noises or the heater shutting off earlier than normal. You might notice that you have to fiddle with the thermostat to get the proper comfort levels, or that the heater seems to have to stay on longer to reach the temperature you want.
Please don’t brush these warning signs aside just because warm weather will soon settle in. Scheduling heating repair in North Potomac, MD is something you should arrange for promptly, no matter the time of the year.
Five Top Furnace Problems Homeowners Run Into
Monday, April 4th, 2022
Did you know that your furnace can last from 15 to 20 years? But, to make a furnace last longer, it must have regular inspections and proper maintenance.
Your furnace is a necessary fixture, especially during the cold winter months. If it suddenly stops working, do you know what to do? Here are the top five furnace problems residential homeowners run into. This will give you an idea of what to look for and when to call for professional help.
Can Using a Space Heater Help Me Save on Heating?
Monday, March 21st, 2022
Space heaters can be an effective way of warming up a small part of your house or keeping your feet toasty and warm during the cold evenings. However, they aren’t created to be the primary source of heat. Most people attempt to save some cash on their home energy costs by heating a room or two using a space heater then decreasing the temperature of the furnace thermostat. But does doing so make any financial sense? The answer to this question will depend on your circumstances.
This post will discuss whether or not a space heater can help you make some savings on your heating costs. Keep reading to find out more.
5 Important Tips for Gas Furnace Safety You Need to Know
Monday, February 7th, 2022
Gas furnaces offer comfort to us when we need them the most, but the same gas furnaces could quickly turn into mayhem if they break down. Although many people are often worried about the loss of heat in case there is a gas furnace malfunction, there are other hazards to consider like a carbon monoxide leak or a fire. It’s critical to ensure safety and hazard precautions to avoid such issues and feel comfortable with your gas furnace.
This post will discuss five important tips that every homeowner should know about to make their gas furnaces safer and more durable.
How Long Should You Keep Repairing Your Furnace?
Monday, January 24th, 2022
The majority of homeowners often wonder when they should stop repairing their furnace and replace it with a new one instead. While it’s impossible to generalize all furnaces, there are several tips you can use to help you determine when to stop repairing your heating system. From rising heating costs and the age of the furnace to temperature fluctuations and loud noises, there are multiple signs to watch out for that will tell you it’s time to replace the old furnace with a new eco-friendly one.
This post will discuss how long you should keep repairing your furnace and the signs to look out for. If you want to make an informed decision about replacing your furnace, get in touch with Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing technicians to discuss the most recent eco-friendly heating systems in the market.
My Furnace Is Making a “Boom!” Noise—Is This Dangerous?
Monday, November 15th, 2021
If you’re listening to your furnace for odd sounds, you’re already off to a good start when it comes to ensuring you have a heating system that runs safely and effectively. Gas furnaces have numerous safety features and aren’t normally dangerous for a household. (Let’s be honest: if they were, they would never be permitted into homes in the first place!) But malfunctions can happen, and the best way to prevent them from turning into potential safety issues for your household is to pick up early on warning signs and call for heating repair in Frederick, MD.
So we’re glad you noticed this boom noise from your furnace and want to know more about it. We’ll get into details about this below, but remember that if you’re ever in doubt about anything regarding your furnace, it’s always safest to look to professionals for assistance.
The Cause of the Startling Noise
Nobody wants to hear a gas-burning appliance go “boom!” Just writing that sounds scary. If you’re near your furnace when it makes this sound, it can make you jump with alarm.
What you’re hearing is the sudden combustion of a large amount of natural gas within the furnace’s combustion chamber. If you listen to the furnace coming on during normal operation, you’ll hear a small whoosh sound as it starts up: this is the same sound but on a smaller scale. The ignition system in the furnace ignites the gas from the burners, and as the flames consume oxygen to light, there’s a sound of air displacement.
When this noise becomes louder to the point you worry about it, what’s occurring is a delay with igniting the burners. When the furnace is running normally, the igniter lights the burners soon after the gas valve opens to allow natural gas to flow into the burner assembly. If the igniter delays lighting the gas, a large amount of unburned gas will build up in the combustion chamber, and when it does ignite, the oxygen displacement is large enough to create a startling boom sound.
Is This Something to Concern You?
Yes. It may not pose an immediate danger, but it means a malfunction in the furnace’s start-up. Several different issues could cause this.
A common one is a failing electronic ignition system. These igniters often fail years before the furnace does and will need a replacement—this is a simple job for technicians. It could also be a failure in the control board, a more serious problem that can start to affect other parts of the furnace. A more serious possibility is a failing flame sensor. This device registers if the burners have ignited; if they don’t, it will shut off gas flow to prevent the build-up of unburned gas in the combustion chamber.
You don’t need to worry about finding out the cause yourself. Leave that to our team. We recommend you shut off the gas to the furnace, then call us to come check on the heating system and find out what parts need to be repaired or replaced.
At Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing, we pledge to exceed expectations at every turn. Call us when you need fast and effective heating repairs.
Ending the Season With Your Heating System
Monday, March 8th, 2021
March isn’t the end of the winter. Spring won’t officially end until the third week of the month, and of course, the actual weather doesn’t pay attention to what’s on the calendar. You can expect cold weather to pop up through April as well.
However … the end of the season is in sight, as well as the time when you’ll turn off your heating system for a long mid-year hiatus. Before you do that, consider what the heater may need in these last days, as well as what your future heating plans are.
Why Does My Furnace Start and Stop So Much?
Monday, February 8th, 2021
If you’ve used the same furnace for at least a few years, you’ll have an idea how long it stays on each time it fires up to start a heating cycle. You may not pay special attention to it, but you’ll have a subconscious concept of how long it usually runs during a typical winter day.
When the furnace begins to turn on and off more often, you’re likely to notice it. And since you’re here reading this, you have some idea that this shouldn’t be happening. It’s abnormal and may mean something is wrong that will require you to call us for heating repair in Gaithersburg, MD.
Why Won’t the Furnace Evenly Heat the House?
Monday, January 25th, 2021
Your home’s central furnace is supposed to distribute heated air through ducts that spreads out to all the rooms connected with vents. This usually includes all the rooms with the exception of the attic, garage, or a few utility rooms. Although this spread of heat won’t be 100% even—there are always some variations because of the placement of rooms or lower amounts of insulation—you can expect your household to enjoy a relative level of comfort from the furnace.
Uneven heating, however, is a common problem that may affect a central furnace. If you have noticed some rooms are getting colder than they normally are, or maybe some rooms are getting too hot, something isn’t right. It may be a small problem or it could require you to call us for heating repair in Gaithersburg, MD to diagnose the problem and fix it.
What Might Cause Uneven Heating
Uneven heating can point toward several issues affecting the HVAC system:
- Thermostat miscalibration: A thermostat picking up false readings may detect the house is warmer than it is, and will not keep the furnace running long enough to send sufficient heated air to all the rooms. You can’t push the thermostat higher to “fix” this, because it will cause rooms to become too hot. Technicians must recalibrate the thermostat.
- Broken zone control system: Does your house have zoning for the HVAC system so you can shut off heating or cooling to some rooms and not others? If so, uneven heating might be due to a broken zone controls system—failed room thermostats, lost connections to certain rooms, or broken ductwork dampers.
- Clogged air filter: A common cause of many household heating issues, a filter left in place too long will become congested and lower airflow. Less air will reach the distant rooms, causing uneven heating. Put in a clean filter to see if this improves the heating.
- Leaking air ducts: Air leaks in the ductwork will affect the entire HVAC system, but most noticeably cause a drop in heating to specific rooms connected to a damaged stretch of ductwork. Only professionals can effectively locate these leaks and seal them or repair/replace the ducts.
- Short-cycling: When the furnace starts to short-cycle (starting and stopping repeatedly over a brief time), it won’t remain on long enough for an even heating spread. There are many reasons for short-cycling, and you’ll want a professional to find out the cause so it can be repaired.
- Dying furnace: Uneven heating may be a warning that an older furnace (more than 15 years) is going into its final decline. We recommend calling for our technicians to give the furnace a thorough evaluation. They’ll tell you if it’s possible to go forward with repairs or if a replacement is a better choice.
No matter what is causing uneven heating across your house, you can trust our HVAC experts to have it solved. It’s our mission to provide high quality, efficient, and professional services that exceed customer expectations and surpass all others in the HVAC industry.
Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing for service in Washington D.C., Montgomery and Frederick Counties. We pledge to exceed expectations at every turn.