Furnace Repair: Common Problems and Their Solutions

As the weather gets colder, you may notice that your furnace just isn't working right or that it isn't keeping your home quite as warm this year. You might think that you need to call in a furnace repair specialist to take a look. However, there are things you as a homeowner can check before you decide to bring in the professionals.

Check the Thermostat

A dirty thermostat can be the culprit of all kinds of furnace issues because the air in your home cannot reach the temperature sensor in the back of the unit. It can cause your furnace to cycle on-and-off repeatedly, not allow your furnace to shut off, or stop it from coming on at all. Simply cleaning the dust out of your thermostat can save you an expensive service call during the busiest time of the year. It could also save you the embarrassment of knowing it was so simple to fix.

If you have a programmable thermostat, the battery may need to be replaced. This should be done every 12 - 24 months when you change your smoke detector batteries. Furthermore, it's entirely possible that the battery has simply jiggled loose from an accidental bump to the wall. Checking and replacing the battery, if necessary, is often a simple task.

Check the Furnace Filter

The furnace filter is one of the easiest things a homeowner can check and replace if necessary. Although often overlooked, a dirty filter can greatly reduce your furnace's ability to heat your home efficiently. Additionally, a clogged filter will cause your furnace fan to work a lot harder trying to push air through your heat ducts to warm your home.

Some furnace filters are made to be cleaned with a simple vacuuming. However, most are disposable and will need to be replaced. Fortunately, furnace filters are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store. When going to buy a new one, you'll want to remove the old one first and take down the measurements to be sure you get the right size. Generally, they are sold in packs of two or more, so you'll have one handy for next year.

Calling in the Professionals

If you notice other things such as a funny smell, a squealing sound or any other strange noises, it's time to call in the pros. Obviously, if your furnace won't turn on or off and you've already checked the thermostat, you're going to need help from a qualified technician. There is little a homeowner can do to remedy this type of situation safely.

Many people turn on their furnace for the first time during late fall or early winter only to find out it's not working right. Regular, annual maintenance checks can help avoid this. If you haven't done this yet, call a reputable heating company in your area to schedule a visit. That way, you'll eliminate the risk that a small maintenance issue doesn't turn into an expensive, untimely furnace replacement.

The Go-to Guide to Water Heaters: Repair or Replace?

When your water heater quits or doesn't seem to produce enough hot water, it can be quite frustrating for the whole family. Rather than scour the Internet for answers about repairing or replacing water heaters, let us help you out with this go-to guide. Here's all you really need to know about common water heater problems and how to handle them.

If your water heater is suddenly not providing you with enough hot water, then the first thing to check is whether the unit is getting power, if electric, or that the gas is not off,  if it is a gas-fired unit. If it's on but not able to heat the water to the right temperature you can check to see if the thermostat has been inadvertently bumped to a lower setting. If it has, this is an easy fix by readjusting the control to a safe temperature.

Be very aware of just how hot you set the thermostat, it can be very dangerous to set it too high. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends setting water heaters to a safe limit of 49°C (120°F). Water heated at anything close to 60°C (140°F) poses a severe scalding hazard, especially to children and the elderly.

Water heaters usually break down because a part inside them stops gets damaged or the tank itself leaks. In addition, water heaters may also quit working effectively if supply lines that connect to them, or the tank itself, is clogged with minerals or rust. Both of these issues require a professional to diagnose properly.

If you are suddenly experiencing low water pressure throughout your home, it's possible that the pressure reducing water valve controlling the pressure from your city supply line has failed. More likely, someone has accidentally moved the handle on the water shut off valve. You can easily check that this valve is completely open yourself. The least problematic and newer valves are the lever type ball valves. You can recognize these by a straight lever instead of a round handle. When fully opened, the handle runs parallel to the pipe.

However, if you are experiencing low pressure only at your hot water faucets, this is likely caused by mineral buildup in the lines coming from the heater. A common cause of mineral buildup in the lines from your water heater is from a faulty anode inside.

The anode protects the inside of the heater and your lines by the process of electrolysis. This is an important part of your water heater which helps it last longer. If the anode rod stops working, it causes decomposition of the interior lining and mineral buildup will start to do damage to your plumbing. So, if the rod has dissolved to the point where it doesn't work properly, it likely has to be replaced by a professional.

Leaks are the most common problem that customers will call a plumber for. You'll usually notice a leak around the bottom of the water heater. This can be due to a crack in the tank whereby a replacement is going to be necessary. Sometimes however, you may not have to replace the entire heater, but calling in a professional will remove all doubt.

Water heaters are not extremely complicated, however, they are essential to the comfort of your family. While some problems may be able to be resolved by the average homeowner, this is not always the case. The best thing to do, in most situations, is to call in a professional to take a look.

How to Know When it is Time for New Furnace Installation

A furnace is both a major expense and an absolute necessity for homeowners in British Columbia and other nearby cold weather locations. If your furnace needs frequent repairs, you are probably wondering whether you should continue to fix it or consider new furnace installation. There are several factors you must weigh when making this decision, including your current budget.

The Energy Star program, which is a division of the government of the United States, recommends replacing your furnace if exhibits several of of the following:

• The unit is more than 15 years old. Furnaces manufactured since that time are significantly more efficient than older models. Not only will your family be more comfortable, you can save up to 15 percent off your monthly heating bill.
• Your current furnace distributes heat unevenly throughout your home. Some rooms are too hot while others are too cold.
• Your home is too dry in the winter due to humidity problems. This may be caused by leaky ductwork or worn out heating equipment. You may also notice an excessive amount of dust.
• Your furnace makes frequent loud noises.
• You notice that your heating bills are increasing despite your best efforts at energy efficiency.
• Your furnace requires frequent repairs to operate effectively.

The installation technicians at Complete Heating and Air Conditioning Services are available to evaluate your current system and advise you whether it is time to replace it.

Aire-Flow Furnaces

Aire-Flow furnaces are manufactured by Lennox Industries, a world leader in climate control solutions. We chose this brand because it is affordable for our customers and has a long history of superior performance. You also have the option of selecting a new furnace from Carrier or one of the other major manufacturers in the HVAC industry. These high efficiency furnaces are ideal for colder climates. We are happy to provide you with more information about your furnace options if you are interested in pursuing a new installation. Visit us at http://www.completeheating.ca .

How to Know When You Need Professional Furnace Service

With another long winter starting in British Columbia, it is crucial that your furnace work properly to keep your family warm and comfortable. You don't need to call for furnace service with every little noise it makes, but you should know which issues are more serious. Some problems you can troubleshoot on your own while others require immediate professional attention. By knowing the difference, you can ensure your family's safety and keep your utility costs as low as possible.

Suspected Carbon Monoxide Leak

When your furnace is working properly, you should notice a blue flame from its pilot light and burners. This means that it has an optimal mix of gases. If the flame is yellow, it could indicate the presence of carbon monoxide. You should contact us at Complete Heating and Air Conditioning Services right away, or a heating service company in your area, because carbon monoxide emits a deadly, odorless gas. We will test for a carbon monoxide leak and determine if other issues are affecting the pilot light or burners.

A good, blue pilot flame

You Have Difficulty Starting Your Furnace

When you turn on your furnace, you should hear it kick in right away. Faulty wiring, a broken thermostat, or a problem with the pilot ignition system are just some of the reasons why your thermostat won't turn your furnace on or why it keeps shutting off mid-cycle. This type of problem needs professional furnace repair because it will only get worse over time.

Your Furnace is Extremely Noisy

No furnace is completely silent, but it's not normal for the unit to constantly bang, squeak, or rattle. These noises could mean that important parts have worn out or that the furnace belt or motor need replacement. It may also need oiling or just a preventive maintenance tune-up.

You Keep Turning Your Thermostat Higher

When you are cold, you instinctively go to the thermostat and turn up the temperature. There could be a problem with your furnace if you need to turn the thermostat up higher and higher just to feel comfortable in your home. A service technician should look at the unit to determine why it has become so inefficient.

Minimize Furnace Repairs With These Tips

Heating and cooling uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home -- typically making up about 48% of your utility bill, and many types of heating repairs can be costly. Yet keep in mind that it will cost far more to fix a problem that is ignored for too long by not caring for your system properly.

Some simple routine maintenance of your home's furnace can help you avoid premature and expensive furnace repairs.

The following are a few simple tips to keep your furnace running smoothly all year.

• Clean and/or repair filters on a monthly basis. A dirty filter can cause strain on the system making it work harder to heat your home or business. 
• Inspect all ducts, blowers, filters, and coils for obstructions.
• Check for leaks or pooling water on the floor around the system. 
• Examine outdoor handlers for fallen debris, grass, or other outdoor items that could clog or deter your system from working properly. 
• Have a professional check your gas pressures to ensure proper combustion . Improperly set gas pressures and / or air- fuel ratios can lead to incomplete combustion and the creation of carbon monoxide and sooting. Sooting is a fire hazard and can also lead to additional problems. 

Spending a small amount of money for routine maintenance will reduce repair bills later.

You can also reduce the number of repair calls by having your furnace professionally maintained every year. This will help you to avoid emergency furnace repair calls during those cold winter months.

Gas Hot Water Heater Recall Announced by Government

The BC Safety Authority has advised hot water heater contractors and installers of an important safety recall. First announced  to the public by the Government of Canada, the recall advises of a possible explosion and / or fire hazard.

Do you have one of the affected hot water heaters? To find out, follow this link to the Canadian Government's website announcement, or see the list posted below.

The hot water heater model numbers potentially affected and involved in this recall begin with the following prefixes:

Model Numbers: GG30-27MF-P...UG30-27MF-P...UG50-38F-C...GG30-30MF-N…UG30-30MF-N…UG50-40LF-N…GG40-32LF-P…UG40-32LF-P…UG50-40LFD-N…GG40-34LF-N…UG40-34LF-N…UG60-42MF-P…GG40-9-34LF-N…UG40-36LF-N…UG60-47MF-P…GG50-38LF-N…UG40-38LF-N…UG60-47MF-N…GG50-9-38LF-N…UG50-36LF-P…UG60-47MF-C…GG60-47MF-N…UG50-38LF-N…UG60-52MF-N…

Installing Sun Screens Will Help with Energy Savings

When it comes to your monthly budget, energy costs can be one of your highest bills, especially in the hot summer months. Here is one helpful tip from that will help with energy savings and lower your power bill.

One way to save on energy costs is to install sun screens on your windows. With over half of the heat coming into your home through your windows, sunscreens can keep out up to 90% of it. They also work in other ways such as cutting down on the glare so you can enjoy your favorite television show or work at your computer, and allow you to have more privacy. You'll also be able to protect your carpet and furniture because these sun screens don't allow harmful UV rays in that fades material.

Another way that sun screens help is in cases of severe weather. While we may not experience hurricanes in Canada, if the wind is strong enough to break glass or you have a tree hit the window, the sun screens hold the panes together so that glass isn't flying into your house.

This is just one way to help save on some of your cooling costs and, we can help in other ways as well. Not only do we service existing central air conditioning units that may not be working as well as they should, but we can also provide summer tune-ups and even have a new air conditioning system installed.

If you want to learn more about our services or how to save money on your cooling costs, simply contact us and we'll be glad to help.