Blogs from December, 2020

Reasons For Furnace Leaks

In this article, we discuss the causes of furnace leaks, some furnace troubleshooting tips, and what you can do to address the issue.

HVAC Condensation Leak

Condensation forms during the heat process of your furnace. These droplets are drained through the pipes or a floor drain. If the pipes get clogged or damaged, the water will leak out of your heating system instead. You are likely to see water pooling at the base of your furnace if this is the case.

HVAC Humidifier Leak

Is your humidifier connected to your HVAC system? If so, check your humidifier. Humidifiers generate moisture to keep the air from becoming too dry. Any humidifier issues can lead to a leak in your furnace, which might be the reason for the leak in your furnace.

Air Conditioner Leak

If you use your AC system and furnace simultaneously and there is leaking, the cooling system might be the cause. Condensation in the AC is drained into the condensation pan. When it is full, water can drip into your furnace. As the water is leaking out of your heating system, you would mistake the leak to be coming from the furnace instead of your A/C.

Plumbing Leak

A plumbing system leak negatively affects your furnace. Any clogged parts or damaged pipes in the plumbing system will clog water and debris. As a result, the drainage won’t be able to flow correctly and will back up instead. You are likely to see a leak at the base of your furnace if this is the case. Contact a professional to have your plumbing pipes inspected and repaired or replaced right away.

Clogged Filter

The furnace filter collects dirt and dust so that you can enjoy a high level of indoor air quality. However, it can get clogged over time. Air cannot flow properly when this happens. Your system might have frozen coils or clogged pipes. The latter can cause leaking, and you will notice a water puddle around your furnace. Make sure to check the filter and clean or replace it when needed.

Heat Exchanger Issue

When you have checked everything else and still cannot find the leak’s cause, it is time to take a look at your heat exchanger. Unfortunately, heat exchanger leaks can be severe, and the repair is typically expensive. If there are severe damages, you might even need to have a new unit installed instead. This can be serious and costly. Discuss the issue with your local, trusted technician so you can have the best possible solution to your heat exchanger problem.

Steps To Take When You Notice A Furnace Leak

Contact a reliable furnace repair company when you notice any leaking from your heating system. While you wait for help to arrive, here are a few steps you can take:
Shut off your furnace immediately. If you cannot locate the power button, switch your furnace off via the breaker.

The furnace base should be kept dry as much as possible. Use a mop, rags, or a wet-dry vacuum to remove water. This way, any water damage to your home and system is prevented.

Check the furnace filter, especially if it hasn’t been cleaned or replaced lately. If it is dirty, clean or replace it immediately.

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Hiring A Professional Heating Repair Company

Never conduct DIY repairs on your furnace if you have not undergone the proper training to do so. Unless what needs to be done is as simple as filter replacement, it is not recommended to service your system yourself. You might cause more harm than good if you do not know what you are doing. You might even end up having to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on HVAC repairs and replacement.

Your HVAC system is a piece of specialized equipment comprised of complex parts. Therefore, avoid calling your neighborhood handyman as well. It is best to contact a professional furnace repair technician to repair, diagnose, and resolve all your heating system problems. An HVAC expert has the right tools, training, experience, and knowledge to ensure that all furnace services are done correctly and on time.

Conclusion

Our furnaces are what keeps our home safe, warm, and comfy during the winter season. When they experience any problems, their efficiency and your home comfort drastically decrease. A leaking problem with a well-maintained unit is most likely easily fixed. If you have an older HVAC system, have your local, trusted HVAC contractor do a thorough checkup so that proper repairs are done.

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Dec 21, 2020 Is Your Gas Furnace Leaking Water?

Furnace Short-Cycling: Causes & Solutions

You can feel the advance of winter in the air. The cold, crisp breeze and the gradually subsiding of the summer’s heat are already noticeable. Soon, outside temperatures will plummet to levels that are downright uncomfortable. Now is the time to ensure that you and everyone in your home can avoid the discomfort and danger of freezing nights. Inspect your furnace early-on to verify that it’s functioning properly. Some furnace issues can be quickly and easily resolved while others are far more complex. For instance, issues with short cycling are a major concern and one that warrants a professional inspection. When your furnace is short cycling, you will notice that the furnace runs then shuts off and starts again repeatedly.

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Signs That Your Furnace Is Short Cycling

When a furnace is functioning normally, it will turn on and stay on until the desired temperature has been reached. Once it has, the furnace will shut off so that the indoor area can maintain the desired temperature. The furnace will not turn on again for quite some time until temperatures within the space drop. Conversely, a furnace that’s short cycling will turn itself off and on in quick cycles of operation. It won’t have the ability to create the desired temperature inside the home. Instead, it will turn off and on, causing expedited wear to the heating equipment. Even though the furnace is still essentially running, the interior of the home will constantly feel cold.

What Causes Furnace Short Cycling?

Short cycling is not an issue that you can afford to neglect. It results in a tremendous waste of energy. It can leave your house cold, and it can result in major damage to various HVAC components. If you notice your furnace short cycling, you have to take fast action. The best solution will depend upon the underlying cause. Following are a few things that might cause your furnace to perform in this erratic and incredibly frustrating way:

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1. The Furnace Is Overheating

HVAC systems have protection against certain forms of damage built right into them. Even though a furnace is designed to warm up the house, these units are actually able to overheat. A furnace can detect when a dangerous level of heat has been reached and it will turn itself off immediately. It takes this measure to prevent further damage like the development of a cracked heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger has a crack, lethal carbon monoxide gas can leak out into the home, and thus, you should be grateful that the unit turned itself off. Overheating is often the result of restricted airflow which might be caused by a dirty air filter or a blocked exhaust vent.

2. The Flame Sensor Is Damaged

If the flame sensor in your furnace is damaged or no longer working, the flame will turn off right after it lights. It’s important to note that the sensor exists to monitor the gas valve. This safety mechanism is designed to prevent raw gas from entering the living environment. It shuts off the valve whenever the flame is out. Whenever a sensor malfunctions, they turn of the gas valve even when this valve is needed. One way to fix this issue might be to clean the sensor. However, if this doesn’t do the job the sensor may need to be replaced. This is something that a licensed HVAC technician can take care of.

3. Your Furnace Has A Dirty HVAC Air Filter

Having a dirty air filter in your furnace can cause short cycling. While a faulty flame sensor will lead to an immediate shut-off, a dirty filter will allow your furnace to run for several minutes and then shut down. You might notice that the air being pumped out of the heat grates is significantly hotter than normal. When the filter is clogged and dirt, air is unable to flow back into the furnace for cooling. This causes the heat to build to a level that eventually become unmanageable. As a safety precaution, the furnace will shut itself down. If the filter can be washed, you will need to clean it. If the air filter in your furnace is disposable instead, replace this component right away.

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4. One Or More Heat Grates Are Blocked

A furnace has the task of warming air up and then pushing it out through the heat grates. If hot air is unable to freely flow from the heat grates, then it will remain trapped inside until the furnace overheats. Until the problem is taken care of, short cycling will continue to occur. Keep in mind that there are control mechanisms on the grates known as dampers that those within the building can use to allow heat into a room or keep it out. This is one way to save energy. However, if too many grates are closed at one time, this can result in overheating. Try to keep at least 75 percent of the dampers open at all times.

5. There’s A Blockage In The Exhaust Vent

An exhaust vent should never be closed. There are, however, times when these vents might get blocked by snow, vegetation, beehives, nests, and other such things. Any obstruction should be removed right away. In fact, you should routinely check for instructions as part of your ongoing maintenance and care. Keeping the exhaust vent open can sometimes be a challenge such as when dangerous animals block these openings. If this ever occurs, get in touch with animal control services rather than taking on the risk of resolving the problem alone.

6. Your Thermostat Is Installed In A Less Than Ideal Spot

Thermostats have sensors that read the temperature indoors. Your thermostat is designed to regulate the activity of your furnace based on what it detects in the environment. This component, however, may be unable to do its job well if it’s been installed in a less than ideal location. For example, if it’s positioned near a heat grate, window, or any other spot with secondary heat, then its sensor readings will be skewed. The thermostat will consider the house as being hot already and will therefore prematurely shut the system down. Have this installed in a more neutral location where it is away from anything that might impact its ability to read the indoor temperature correctly.

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7. Your Furnace Is Too Big For Your Home

When you want a highly capable home heating system, you may be tempted to invest in the biggest furnace you can find. Bigger, however, doesn’t always mean better. Excess capacity for a furnace can be problematic given that it can lead to short cycling. The furnace components will be subject to expedited wear, there will be more pronounced temperature swings throughout the building, and your heating bills will be unnecessarily high. A far more cost-effective and sensible solution is to have a proper-sized furnace installed. This can be done with the help of a seasoned HVAC contractor who can perform accurate furnace size calculations.

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Conclusion

Deal with furnace issues early-on to make your home more comfortable this winter. If short cycling is a problem, find out what the cause is by using the clues above. Get in touch with an HVAC expert for accurate diagnosis and timely furnace repairs or furnace replacements. You’ll be rewarded for your diligence with a stress-free winter and a heating system that actually lasts.

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Dec 14, 2020 Furnace Runs Then Shuts Off And Starts Again: What To Do

Why You Need To Perform A Manual J Load Calculation

Conducting a Manual J load calculation is an important step you need to do to install your HVAC equipment properly. This will help you determine the correct HVAC size and capacity your home needs. Therefore, it is essential to discuss the Manual J load calculation and why it is necessary.

The Manual J Load calculation uses different factors in your home to determine the heating and/or cooling capacity that your home requires. Some of these factors are the building materials, the size of your home, the insulation level, wall positions, among others. The capacity is measured via tons, which is the system’s capacity to melt 1,000 kilos of ice within a day. Furthermore, one ton is equal to 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour.

The Manual J calculation is critical simply because every house is different. It has a different design and structure, is made of different materials, and is home to people with different heating and cooling needs. The HVAC unit needs to be the right size so that you’ll receive even and constant heating or cooling.

Benefits Of A Properly Sized Furnace

An HVAC system that is too small or too big will lead to problems, such as reduced energy efficiency and component wear and tear. Your system is also most likely to suffer from short cycling wherein your unit will turn on and off in quick successions. This will lead to worn-out components. You might also notice that your system will not be able to keep up with the demands of your home. Your home will remain uncomfortable despite your HVAC system running all day.

Problems You Might Encounter With An Improperly Installed Furnace

An improperly installed furnace opens up your home to a myriad of serious safety problems. Some of these issues you might encounter down the line include:

Gas Leakage

A heating system that is not connected correctly may have joint gaps. It can result in gas leaks. Unfortunately, the type of gas that can seep through is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous one. Carbon monoxide can cause adverse effects on your health. It can even be fatal when exposed for prolonged periods.

Electrical Issues

Another problematic issue has to do with the wiring. A lousy wiring job can lead to problems like a circuit breaker that trips repeatedly and power drainage. Faulty wiring also means your furnace becomes more of a fire hazard. It also means your system is inefficient, so you end up having a significant increase in your monthly energy bills when you use your HVAC system.

Uncomfortable Indoor Environment

A furnace that isn’t installed properly strains to keep up with the heating demands of your home. Unfortunately, it can still lead to having an uncomfortable home. Some of the discomfort issues you’ll notice include:

• Poor Indoor Air Quality: The indoor air quality depends on the overall functionality of your furnace. If you have a poorly installed drainage system, water can leak through and damage your system and your home. Water accumulation also encourages mold and mildew growth. As a result, you’ll have a poor indoor air quality level.
• Improper Airflow: If the HVAC ductwork is not installed correctly, you will have air distribution problems. The issue is usually because of an output capacity that does not match the duct size.
• Hot/Cold Spots: Homeowners will suffer from hot and/or cold spots, uneven room temperatures, and HVAC inefficiency.
• Venting Issues: Vents that are not installed properly will lead to HVAC system problems. Some of the causes include a wrong pipe material or size and a system that is not vented properly. With these issues on hand, you are likely to have HVAC issues.

Choosing The Best Furnace Installation Company

To ensure that your furnace is installed properly, you need to have a reliable and experienced HVAC company on your side. Before you pick up that phone to call the nearest furnace company in your area, you need to check the following first:

HVAC Certifications

Make sure they have technicians with the proper certifications. For example, North American Technician Excellence or NATE certification is given to HVAC technicians who pass the organization’s core and specialty exams. These exams test a tech’s knowledge of the installation and services required of an HVAC professional. Furthermore, a NATE certification is proof that the tech is up to par with industry-standard and competent in their job.

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Licensed and Bonded HVAC Contractors

A licensed technician means they have the qualifications, training, and skills to do the required tasks to work on your HVAC system. Their license is proof that they can do the job they are hired for. On the other hand, a license bond is a surety bond that protects both the technician and his clients if problems arise later.

HVAC Company References

Ask the HVAC company to give you references. One that is competent and reliable will not hesitate to provide you with what you need because they are confident that former and current clients will recommend the company’s services.

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Conclusion

A heating and cooling company provides your home with the comfort and safety you deserve. First, they will ensure that the furnace system is of the right size and installed correctly. This way, you can rest easy knowing that you will have a comfortable, safe, and efficient home for a long time.

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Dec 7, 2020 Improper Furnace Installation: Performance & Safety Issues