Easy Do-It-Yourself Furnace Fixes
If your furnace breaks down or seems to be operating awkwardly, don’t panic.
There are two things you can do.
First, call your reliable local HVAC contractor to deal with the furnace repair. Sometimes, paying the service is worthy enough if you don’t have the skill set or the appreciation on do-it-yourself stuff.
Secondly, you can also do the fixing yourself, provided you have the necessary skills and experience in handling heating equipment before. So if “DIY” is your thing, here’s a quick look at some convenient furnace fixes.
Easy Furance Fixes That Homeowners Can Perform
- Thermostat: The first step is to see if the thermostat is actually turned on. It can be very disappointing once you start disassembling stuff and getting yourself dirty only to realize later on that the only problem why the furnace isn’t working is because the thermostat wasn’t turned on. As a matter of fact, about a quarter of service calls local HVAC companies receive is just about the homeowner failing to recognize that the thermostat wasn’t turned off or isn’t working anymore. But if there’s a problem with your thermostat, you might want the experts to handle it.
- Breakers: Next, be sure you also inspect the breakers and shutoff switches. This case is quite similar to the first one. Not a lot of homeowners realize that the only fixing that needs to be done is not fixing in the first place. You don’t want to end up calling in an expert and paying for a repair service fee knowing later on that the only problem is that the furnace was turned off.
- Air Filters: The third one is changing the filters. This one right here must be done consistently. With dirty filters comes the most likelihood of causing more serious problems with respect to the furnace. The presence of dust and district will restrict ideal airflow. When it comes to a point that the filter gets too clogged, there is an even greater risk of clogging, which also leads to the overheating of the heat exchanger.
- Gas: When you’re done with the filters, what you want to do next is ensure the gas is on. You or someone else might have turned the gas valve off your gas furnace and forgot to turn it on once again. But if you haven’t tried doing this before, you don’t have to worry since it is quite simple. Just trace the gas line back from the furnace to the meter. Look for a handle that’s perpendicular in position to the gas pipe. Turn it so that it becomes parallel. For old boilers and furnaces, you will have to handle a pilot light. Just remove the front panel and the burner cover. Look inside to see if the pilot light is lit.
- Ductwork: Finally, go and see if there are any blocked and leaky ducts. Those two occurrences are the major culprits of bad and restricted airflow. You will know this if your furnaces functions but one or a couple of rooms are still cold. What you need to do is make sure all room registers are open. Inspect the ductwork that you can easily access and then look for signs like gaps and branching. Seal the gaps using special metal duct tape.
Call R.F. Ohl For All Of Your Heating Needs
Repairing your HVAC equipment should never be a DIY project. A technician is better able to handle the system because he has the required training and experience. Not all companies can cater to your needs when it comes to the repairs. Therefore, choose wisely.
R.F. Ohl has NATE certified technicians on staff to help service your heating system.
We specialize in HVAC repairs, installations, replacements, and tune-ups. Our technicians have the know-how and experience to repair your units so that they continue to work optimally. R.F. Ohl‘s repair costs are the most competitive in the area. So, contact us today and make an appointment.
Click here to contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.