Sunset Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Furnace Repair’

Furnace Problems to Watch For

Monday, January 1st, 2018

furnaceYou know that scene in pretty much every horror movie ever, where the protagonist is sitting in a dark room with a single flickering light source, and you just know that it’s going to go out and then something horrible is going to happen? That’s kind of what it feels like having your furnace malfunction in the middle of an extremely cold winter. No, you’re probably not going to be eaten by some horrible monster just because your furnace is out. But, you’re still not going to have a great time trying to make it through the winter season without a furnace, either. Avoid having your living room turn into a frozen winter wonderland by watching for the following furnace issues, so that you can have them repaired as soon as possible.

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Why Your Furnace Output Might Be Low

Monday, February 27th, 2017

We still have a month or two of chilly weather ahead of us, which means that you still need your furnace to put some work in before it can rest. If your furnace is not putting out as much heat as it should be, you shouldn’t ignore it. Random loss of output is usually a sign of a serious problem with the furnace, and should always be a source of concern. There are a number of reasons why your furnace output might be dropping, and you should have at least a bit of familiarity with them.

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Beware These Common Furnace Problems

Monday, October 10th, 2016

As we move into heating season, the strain on your furnace is going to increase. More wear and tear on the furnace means more chances for problems to develop. Hopefully, you’ve already scheduled preventive maintenance in order to protect your furnace from the worst of it. There’s still a chance that a problem could occur with the system, though. For the sake of your furnace, it’s important that you be able to identify problems and have them repaired as quickly as possible. So, make sure that you know what symptoms indicate that your furnace is in trouble. Let’s take a look at some of the more common problems that can afflict your furnace this heating season.

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Beware of Furnace Short Cycling

Monday, September 26th, 2016

There are a wide range of different problems that could affect your furnace. One of the most dangerous of these is short cycling. As you start to rely on your furnace more and more often to keep comfortable this fall, you should know what to look for with regard to this issue. Let’s take a look at short cycling, what causes it, and how it can damage your furnace.

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Weird Furnace Noises to Be Aware Of

Monday, September 19th, 2016

In the next month or two, you’re going to start relying on your furnace to keep your home warm and comfortable. Along with this added usage comes more wear and tear, which means a greater likelihood of problems occurring. If you want to catch these problems before they cause too much damage, you need to know how to identify them early. One of the best ways to do that is to listen for strange noises coming from your system. Read on to find out more about how strange noises indicate a furnace problem and what to do about it.

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Why Your Furnace Isn’t Heating

Monday, February 15th, 2016

There are few things quite as soul-crushing as turning on  your furnace during a cold day and getting no heat. There are a number of possible explanations for why this happens, none of which are things you can solve on your own. The good news is, though, that a professional should be able to take care of them without much trouble at all. Let’s take a look at why your furnace might not be heating.

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Watch for These Furnace Problems

Monday, December 14th, 2015

Winter is by far the most stressful time of year for furnaces, as they are used on a much more frequent basis. This makes it quite a bit more likely for problems to occur, which means that you need to be that much more vigilant at this time of year. Let’s take a look at some of the more common furnace problems that you may have to deal with.

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Short-Cycling and Its Effects on Your Furnace

Monday, April 6th, 2015

Have you noticed your furnace turning itself on and off every few minutes? If so, you have a problem. That behavior is known as “short-cycling,” and it can be quite harmful to your furnace if allowed to continue for any length of time. If you notice your furnace short-cycling, you should turn it off and call for a professional to look at it. If you’re interested in preventing it from happening in the first place (and you should be) then read on. Let’s examine the primary cause of short-cycling, and what it can do to your furnace.

Clogged Air Filter

Every furnace has an air filter installed in the return duct of the air handler. This filter is designed to protect the furnace by capturing any dust or other particles that might otherwise damage the system. Though the air filter is quite good at this job, it can become clogged with these particles if it’s not cleaned or replaced every few months. If that happens, it will restrict the flow of air into the furnace.

When the air flow into the furnace becomes obstructed, the temperature inside the system rises. Eventually, the furnace will overheat. This activates the limit switch, which shuts down the furnace as a safety measure to prevent it from damaging itself. Unfortunately, the limit switch cannot address the cause of the overheating. As soon as the furnace restarts, the clogged air filter will cause it to overheat again and the limit switch will cause it to shut down again.

Damages

The startup process is the most stressful part of the entire furnace cycle. It is during that time that the furnace attempts to reach the target temperature as quickly as possible. After the temperature is reached, it eases off and only makes the occasional adjustment to maintain the climate. When the furnace becomes locked in an endless startup process, it is put under far more stress than it was designed to handle. This can cause the heat exchanger to rapidly wear out and develop cracks, requiring replacement. The entire system will be put at greater risk for a breakdown, and its lifespan will be drastically reduced.

If you suspect your furnace of needing repairs, call Sunset Air. We provide furnace repairs throughout Olympia, WA. 

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Ductwork Issues that Hamper Your Heating

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

Gas furnaces remain a staple of modern homes, providing efficient heating by blowing hot air through a system of ducts. When problems arise, they often stem from the ducts as much as from the furnace itself. A faulty duct can prevent the warm air from reaching its designated location, which can be just as troublesome as a problem with the furnace itself. Here in Olympia, WA, furnace repair companies can address issues with your ducts as readily as the address issues with your furnace. Here are some ductwork issues that hamper your heating.

  • Breaches. The most common problems with ducts is a leak or a breach, which can occur when seals break down or damage to the ducts ruptures the metal. A leak interferes with the heating because the hot air can get sucked out of the breach. In some cases, cool air from the outside can get pulled in from the breach. Either way, it reduces the temperature in the air and forces your heater to work harder in order to do its job.
  • Blockage. In some cases, the problem with the duct isn’t a breach but some form of blockage: either build-up of dirt and debris in the duct or damage that ends up crimping the duct in a spot. You can usually detect it by noting a reduction in the flow of air from the vent.
  • Outside factors. If your ducts pass through an uninsulated portion of the house or too close to an outside wall, then their surface may cool down. That in turn could cool the hot air as it passes through that section of ducts. A professional technician can offer a solution that matches the individual circumstances, such as adding insulation or perhaps insulating the ducts themselves.

If you’re experiencing ductwork issues that hamper your heating, then Sunset Air can help. We operate in Olympia, WA, furnace repair is one of our specialties and we can get to the bottom of any ductwork problems quickly.  Pick up the phone and give our Olympia furnace repair technicians a call today; you’ll be glad that you did!

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