As a homeowner, you’d want your heater to give the warmth you deserve during winter. However, just like any other appliance, your heating system can malfunction and leave to face the chilly cold of the winter months alone. When this happens, you’ll need an emergency heater repair.
This process may not only be stressful, but might lead to costly repairs and potential damage if you don’t hire the right HVAC expert. You can avoid these risks and keep your heater working efficiently with some simple maintenance tips. Join us in this article as we unveil some vital tips to help you prevent an emergency heater repair.
Let’s begin!
Key Highlights
- You need to understand your heating system to help you identify potential issues and fix them on time.
- If you want to prevent emergency heater repairs, you need to regularly maintain your heating system.
- Don’t wait till minor issues in your heating system escalate, call an HVAC expert to fix them quickly to avoid costly breakdowns and ensure the safety of your home.
Types of Heating Systems
You need to understand your heating system before you can prevent an emergency heater repair. In case you don’t know the type of heating system in your home, we’ve listed out some of them here to help you know how they work and steps you can take to prevent them from escalating into emergencies.
- Furnaces (forced air systems): If you’re using a furnace, you’d notice that the air in your furnace is heated before your ducts distribute it using your blower. It’s not only an efficient heating system, you can also combine it with a central air conditioning system during the hot seasons. Although it can be noisy and you’ll need a ductwork for it to be effective.
- Boilers (radiant or hydronic heating systems): A boiler is a bit different from a furnace. It uses natural gas, oil, or electricity to heat water, which is then circulated through your radiators or radiant floor systems. If you’re using a boiler, you’ll not only enjoy a quiet and even heat distribution, you can also enjoy the hot water it provides. However, it comes with its downsides too. It can be costly to install and you may need to wait a while before it heats up.
- Heat pumps: If you’re using a heat pump, then you need to know how to maintain it to prevent emergency heater repair. It works by transferring heat from outside to inside your home. Although it may be affected by climate and may seem costly upfront, it’s energy efficient, eco-friendly, and can help you heat and cool your home whenever you need it.
- Ductless mini-split systems: Another type of heater that can help you enjoy warmth in your home is a ductless mini-split system. It uses an outdoor compressor and indoor air-handling units to heat your rooms. With this type of heater, you’ll enjoy an energy-efficient and good zoning system without using a ductwork. You can also use it as an air conditioner during summer. However, it comes with a high upfront cost and may be less aesthetically pleasing.
DIY Maintenance Tips to Prevent Emergency Heater Repair
Your HVAC system has some components that help it to heat your home and improve your family’s comfort.. If you don’t maintain them regularly, they can get faulty and lead to emergency HVAC repair problems such as gas leaks, pilot light and air filter problems. Here are some DIY heater maintenance tips to help you prevent its breakdown:
- Clean or replace filters: Your air filters help your heater to trap dust, dirt, allergens, and other particles from the air, ensuring that clean air circulates through your heating system and into your home. If they are dirty or clogged, it can restrict the airflow in your home, forcing your heater to work harder, which can lead to emergency heater repairs. So if you want to avoid this, check or replace your filters regularly (every 1-3 months) to ensure proper airflow and efficiency.
- Clear vents and registers: Your heater uses your vents and registers to distribute hot air throughout your home. If they’re obstructed by your furniture, curtains, or other objects in your home, they may not function effectively. That’s why you should make sure that they’re not blocked to improve your home comfort and prevent costly breakdowns.
- Check thermostat settings: Sometimes your thermostat might be set wrongly. When this happens, you’ll notice that your home heating is cold even when your heater is on. Make sure you check your thermostat settings to ensure your heater works efficiently, as an incorrect setting can lead to increased energy consumption and discomfort.
- Seal leaks: If you notice any leaks in your ducts or around your doors and windows, make sure you seal them up to prevent heat loss.
When to Call an HVAC Expert for Heater Repair
Using DIY methods to maintain your heating system is a great way to prevent emergency heater repair. However, if you don’t know what to do, it’s wise to call a HVAC technician to help you fix the problem before it gets worse. Here are some signs that it’s time to call a professional:
- If you notice persistent odd smells coming from your heating system, don’t ignore it. Quickly call an HVAC expert to fix the issue before it escalates.
- Sometimes you might notice that your heating system is giving out cold or lukewarm air even when your heater is on. This can be as a result of several reasons. Make sure you call an expert technician immediately for an emergency HVAC service to address the problem and improve your indoor air quality.
- It can be frustrating when you constantly adjust your thermostat without getting your desired result. It could be as a result of a wrong setting or a faulty component. If you don’t know what to do, contact a HVAC professional to help you.
- If your pilot light is discolored or you find it difficult to turn on your heater, ensure you call the right HVAC expert to help you address the issue and conduct preventative maintenance on your heating system.
- Regular noises coming from your heating system such as squealing, banging, or scraping is a sign of danger. Don’t overlook it. Call the experts at once for emergency services.
- If your compressor unit keeps short cycling, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Reach out to the right technician to help you fix the issue.
- Do you notice a sudden increase in your energy bills without an explanation? This can be as a result of a faulty component in your heating system. Call the experts to help you conduct maintenance routines and avoid unexpected breakdowns.
The Importance of Timely Repairs
Calling the right HVAC expert on time is vital in preventing emergency heater repair. Most homeowners try to ignore minor issues in their heating system and only reach out to an expert when it gets worse.If you ignore these minor issues, you could end up paying a high cost for repairs or, in the worst case, cause damage to your health and your heater.
If you’re in Arizona, United states, and need emergency heating repair services, then Morehart AC is the right HVAC emergency expert nearby. We can help with your HVAC installations and repairs. Our qualified technicians can also help you conduct routine maintenance to prevent emergency heater repairs. We’re fast and only offer quality services at affordable rates. Reach out to us for your heating services.
