Your heating system is responsible for keeping your family warm and comfortable when the air turns chilly outside. If your system stops working properly in the cold of the winter, it is difficult to keep your family warm. Some nights feel unbearable, with piles of blankets and extra warm pajamas just not cutting it. In the case of a below freezing night, a home without heat could prove dangerous for you and your family. It is important to find a company that can repair your system in a timely manner.
First, it should be noted that proper service and maintenance of all types of heating systems are a great way to prevent bigger issues down the road. Depending on the age of your system, you should have your equipment inspected and serviced at least once a year. If your system is 10 years or older, preventative maintenance is vital for optimum performance of the equipment in your home. Preventative maintenance can also catch small problems before they snowball into something larger and costlier.
There are a number of reasons why your heating system or furnace may suddenly stop functioning properly. In order to diagnose the problem, one of our Woodstock, GA technicians needs to make a house call. When in the home, the technician will determine the type of heating system you have through an inspection of the equipment. The homeowner’s reported trouble with the heating system, along with the inspection, usually lead to a quick diagnoses of the issue. Most heating system problems can be attributed to thermostat issues, lack of maintenance, clogged filters, and problems with the ductwork.
The thermostat is designed to regulate the temperature in your home. The thermostat senses the temperature in the home and detects if it is in line with the homeowners setting. In the winter months, the thermostat uses that sensor to maintain a warm home by automatically turning your heating system on when it senses the house is getting too cold. When it is not working properly, your entire system can quite literally be stuck. You may have the inability to turn your heating system on and off, or it may be stuck on one temperature setting. Oftentimes this is a sign of a broken sensor, which may lead to replacing the thermostat all together.
Failure to properly maintain the heating system is the downfall of many homeowners. It is unwise to ignore your heating system’s health until the cold nights when you need it most. It is best to establish a maintenance plan to avoid forgetting to schedule your regular maintenance. Typically, the technician will check the following things during routine maintenance: thermostat operation, the condensate drain, the controls, and electrical connections. The technician also will lubricate the moving parts of your system if need be.
Clogged filters are a pesky issue that tends to break down your heating system over time. Though it is easy to avoid by replacing your filter regularly, many homeowners get busy with life and delay replacement. This causes a myriad of problems with your system. Perhaps the most common issue, a clogged filter can cause the efficiency of your system to suffer. You may notice the system is not blowing strong enough, or a home that isn’t as warm as your setting. An inefficient system also causes higher energy bills. Clogged filters can cause poor air quality, particularly in a home with pets. Everything that accumulates on your filter is essentially blown into your home! If not fixed in a timely manner, clogged filters could possibly break down your entire system.
Ductwork issues are also a common problem when homeowners notice their heating system isn’t working. If the duct joints are not joined properly during installation, the ducts can actually leak. Without a good seal, you are losing heat through the openings left between the joints. Ducts have to be insulated, and overtime that insulation can fall or become damaged. The insulation keeps the air flowing through the ducts warm, and if there isn’t enough insulation, the air loses heat as it moves through the duct. This causes cooler air to blow into your home.
If you find yourself with a heating system that is not functioning properly, contact R & R Heating and Air in Woodstock, GA today! When it comes to diagnosing and repairing your system, time is of the essence. Minor issues can lead to much larger problems if not addressed as soon as possible.