Posts Tagged ‘Heating Repair’

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When to Schedule Heating Repair in Geneva, OH

Monday, March 25th, 2013

The first step in heating repair is knowing when to call a heating company. Unless you recognize the signs of a problem with your heater, your local technician will be unable to help. Heating problems are often a result of a combination of factors, rather than a single culprit. Because your heating system may include ductwork, as well as any auxiliary systems like zone control or air quality control units, diagnosing the problem tends to be complex. Fortunately, heating repair in Geneva, OH is as easy as contacting one of the technicians at Apple Heating & Cooling. Call today!

Heating problems vary from heater to heater, and depend on whether you have a boiler, furnace, heat pump, or geothermal heat pump, but here are some general guidelines that may indicate you need heating repair:

  • Inadequate heating. This is a common issue, although the cause is not always obvious. If your thermostat is faulty, then it cannot adequately communicate with your heater, in which case it will need to be calibrated or replaced. If there is a ductwork leak or crack, then you may be heating areas of your home that don’t require heating, such as your attic, unfinished basement, or inside the walls.
  • Heater won’t start. This problem is often electrical: the electrical connection between the heater and the circuit breaker may be frayed or damaged, or you may have just blown a fuse. If you have a gas boiler or furnace, and your heater won’t ignite, you may have a faulty thermocouple, which is a device designed to protect the system and your home should the pilot light go out. It may have also picked up on a pilot light fault.
  • Uneven heating. With an appropriately sized and professionally installed heater, you should not encounter cold spots within your home. These can be an indication of an air handler problem or a clogged air filter. If you built-in zone control, then one of your electric dampers may no longer be operative.

There are various reasons to call for heating repair—these are just a few. Once you have identified that there is a problem, the next step is to call Apple Heating & Cooling for heating repair in Geneva, OH. We’ll have your system back up and running in no time! 

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Mentor, OH Furnace Tip: Common Gas Burner Repairs

Monday, February 25th, 2013

No matter what type of gas furnace you have installed in your Mentor, OH home, sooner or later it will require professional repair. Problems may arise with your pilot light or thermocouple, your furnace may be noisy, or the blower may not turn off. Whatever your concerns, Apple Heating and Cooling has a team of gas furnace repair specialists who can have your heating system back up and running in no time. Call Apple Heating & Cooling today.

Your Mentor, OH gas furnace has a simple purpose: it takes in cold air from outside your home, and filters, heats and distributes it to the rest of your home. The heating stage involves a gas burner, which heats up the natural gas or propane from your supply tank. This energy conversion process is controlled by the thermostat—as the temperature in the home falls below your desired level, the fuel supply permits gas to flow into the burner and a pilot or electric ignition system ignites it. Once combusted, the gas is exhausted from the heat exchanger through a vent to the outdoor air. There are several common problems with your gas furnace that should be diagnosed by your Mentor, OH furnace technician.

  • Pilot light-When using propane or natural gas to heat your home you must have a functional pilot light. As the name suggests, the pilot light drives the gas burner area by providing a source of ignition. If your pilot light goes out or fails to light properly, the passage from the gas supply to the light may be clogged, there may be a strong draft, or it your thermocouple may have failed.
  • Thermocouple-This electronic device senses whether or not the pilot light is hot enough to ignite the gas. If it detects the flame is weak or simply not there, then it shuts off the gas supply valve. This is designed to be a safety feature, but a damaged thermocouple can lead to unreliable or inefficient furnace operation.

There are a variety of different gas burner problems that may arise during the lifetime of your furnace. If your heating system in Mentor, OH requires a professional diagnosis, call Apple Heating & Cooling today. 

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Ways That Unresolved Heating Repairs Cost You Money in Mentor, OH

Monday, January 7th, 2013

At Apple Heating & Cooling, we understand that sometimes it can be difficult to decide to spend the money necessary for heating repair services. The truth of the matter is, though, that the sooner these repairs can be made the less complex and expensive they are likely to be. If you are having trouble with your home heating system in Mentor, OH, contact us right away. One of the worst mistakes that you can make is to try and convince yourself that the heating problems you are experiencing are too “minor” for professional service. Time and time again we have seen these supposedly minor problems lead to big headaches – and expenses.

One of the tricky parts of dealing with a heating problem is that these issues are very rarely immediately identified by the homeowner. That means that what you consider to be the first sign of trouble from your heater is more likely just the first sign that you have actually noticed. By the time that you recognize a problem with your heater’s performance or operation that problem has probably been developing for some time. Do not let it get any worse. Call your professional service provider the moment you suspect a problem with your heater to keep damages to your home heating system at a minimum.

Further damages are not the only way that unresolved heating repairs can cost you money. Many homeowners fail to realize that their heater does not have to completely break down in order for it to be costing them extra money. A working heater is not necessarily an efficient heater, and the less efficiently that your heater uses energy the more money keeping your home comfortable is going to cost. Rising heating costs themselves, if there has not been a change in your home heating habits, may indicate a problem with your heater. Only a professional service technician will be able to tell you for sure.

For more information about surprising ways in which unresolved heating repairs can cost you money, call Apple Heating & Cooling. Our expert technicians will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. We can help you make your home a more efficient, comfortable place to live.

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3 Ways Your Boiler Is Telling You It Needs Repairs: A Willoughby Heating Tip

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Have you ever thought about how much you depend on the boiler in your Willoughby home? Boilers offer reliable and consistent heat and they tend to have a long life. But like all things, eventually they break down. It’s always best to keep an eye out for signs that your boiler is heading into trouble. At Apple Heating & Cooling, we’ve responded to hundreds of calls for boiler repair service in Willoughby. We thought our customers would appreciate it if we put together a few of the most common boiler repairs that we see.

Boiler Not Producing Any Heat

This one should be pretty obvious. If your boiler isn’t producing any heat, this is probably a big problem. Here are some of the common causes:

  • Clogged pipes – Over time, the water pipes leading from your boiler to your home can get clogged with mineral deposits and other sediment in the water. If you’re not getting any heat in your home, this might be one of the reasons.
  • Thermostat – You might have a problem with the thermostat, not only in your home but also in your boiler.
  • Pilot light – Another common problem that could cause no heat is a blown out pilot light. This can happen on occasion. But if it starts happening regularly, you might need repair service to clean or replace the pilot light or igniter assembly.

Boiler Producing Insufficient Heat

If your boiler is producing some heat but not enough, this can be another big problem. During winter here in Willoughby it can get very cold. You want your boiler to be able to provide enough heat to your home. Here are some common causes for insufficient heat.

  • Thermostat – When your thermostat is malfunctioning, it can cause your boiler to only less heat than you need because it is incorrectly detecting the temperature of the room.
  • Dirty Pilot or Igniter – If you have a gas-fired boiler, it might be the case that the pilot light or igniter assembly is dirty. This can mean that only a few of the burners are actually lit.
  • Pump – Your boiler uses a pump to circulate water through your home. If the pump isn’t working correctly, it might not be able to pump sufficient water to your house.

If you’re having any issues with the boiler in your Willoughby home, contact the experts at Apple Heating. We’ve been providing complete boiler repair services in Willoughby for many years. We have experience working with all types and brands of boilers. Give us a call today!

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When to Call for Professional Furnace Repair in Mentor

Monday, November 19th, 2012

It is important that your Mentor home’s furnace receives a professional installation. This is the first step in ensuring its efficient, effective performance. Following the professional installation you must schedule regular maintenance to keep your home heating system in good working condition. Doing so will keep your furnace running at optimal performance and efficiency levels. It will also help to reduce the likelihood that you will need to schedule professional repair service for your furnace.

Of course, as is the case with any mechanical system, it is impossible to completely eliminate the need for professional furnace repairs. No heating system is perfect, and eventually something is going to go wrong with yours. A high-quality installation can help keep the need for repairs to a minimum and ensure that when repairs are needed they are not very serious, but it is important to call for repair service the moment you suspect a problem with your furnace. Here are a few examples of when you should call your local service provider for professional repair services from Apple Heating & Cooling.

As a basic rule, the development of any irregularities with the operation of your furnace should be reported to a professional service provider. This includes any strange noises coming from your furnace or ducts during operation. It is easy to tell yourself that it is just the pipes or that machines develop noises over time, but the fact is that even this minor issues can lead to serious problems, and only a professional Mentor furnace technician can determine if repair service is necessary. Any odd, unusual odors present during the operation of your furnace should also be considered a warning sign that repairs may be necessary.

Have you noticed any unexplained increases in your home heating costs? If your heating bill is on the rise despite no changes being made in your home heating habits you may have a problem with your furnace, thermostat or some other part of your heating system. Don’t pay more for less performance from your furnace. Let a qualified professional evaluate your system and make any necessary repairs.

Of course, one of the most obvious signs that your furnace needs repair service is a decline in performance levels. If your heater is having trouble maintaining target temperatures or if hot or cold spots develop throughout your home there is clearly an issue that needs to be dealt with professionally. Call for the repair services that your furnace needs.

Whatever problems your furnace in Mentor is experiencing, Apple Heating & Cooling has the services you need to get it back on track. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your furnace or your comfort. Call today for repair service.

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Gates Mills Heating Question: What Are Flue Gas Spill Switches?

Monday, February 6th, 2012

While some components of a heating system make sense to the average Gates Mills homeowner – think blower fan, thermostat and air ducts – others are more esoteric and prone to bouts of head scratching.

So, you may find yourself asking “what the heck is a flue gas spill switch?”

As you know, gas heating appliances produce heat by means of combustion. The gas line feeds gas into the appliance, the gas is ignited, and the burning gas produces heat. It’s a simple concept that goes all the way back to our caveman ancestors building fires to keep warm, and it is the same process in gas furnaces, boilers and water heaters.

In addition to producing the cozy heat we love in the winter time, this combustion process also releases gases. Known collectively as “flue gases,” some of these – carbon monoxide being the most notorious – can be very toxic. This why we have flues or chimneys in our homes– to give these gases a means of egress.

A flue gas spill switch is designed to shut down the furnace if these gases start seeping out. It is made up of a sensor or series of sensors that detect heat outside the flue, not unlike the flame sensor in your furnace. If flue gases start to escape and pass by the sensor, the sensor heats up and signals the furnace to shut down. This cuts off the power and gas, so that no more flue gases can leak into the home and create a health concern.

If your furnace has been abruptly shutting down, it could be your flue gas spill switch trying to tell you that you have a leaky or cracked flue. If this is the case, you want call Apple Heating and Cooling to have it repaired right away. The constant off and on is not good for the furnace, and more importantly, those flue gases can be exceptionally hazardous to your family’s health.

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Montville Heating Repair Guide: Condensate Drain Line Freezing Problems

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

As you know, the condensate produced as byproduct during normal operation of your Montville home’s furnace has to be drained away. It’s toxic, very acidic and has been contaminated by the normal combustion that takes place in your furnace, so you certainly don’t want it hanging around.

The typical solution is to have it drain out through a drain pipe, usually beneath the floor of your basement foundation, or down the side of your Montville home and out through a downspout. But have you ever had your condensate line freeze up on you? That is no fun chore to deal with.

A frozen condensate line is usually caused by poor insulation. What happens is that when the temperature drops, the rate of drainage begins to slow down and the droplets begin to freeze one by one, like icicles, until the whole pipe is frozen. This creates obvious problems and can interfere with the proper heating of your home.

Usually, this just means the pipe is poorly insulated, which is a solution that can be remedied. If you have a condensate drain line that freezes anywhere other than under the foundation – for example, one the runs down the side of your home – you can try wrapping it in heat tape.

Sometimes, the best way to rectify the situation once and for all is to reroute the pipe. This can be a somewhat involved process, depending on where the drain line is. For example, if the pipe is poorly insulated because it is buried to shallow beneath the foundation, it will have to be dug up to be rerouted along a warmer path.

If you have already tried insulating the pipe with heat tape or some other solution, but the freezing problem continues to occur, then rerouting is probably your best option. For that kind of job, the average homeowner should consult with a Montville professional, as the job can get challenging and a little dangerous.

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Solon HVAC Contractor Tip: Causes of Delayed Furnace Ignition

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Delayed ignition is usually accompanied by a loud banging or booming sound that resembles a small explosion in your gas appliance. In your Solon home’s furnace, this can be terrifying and should never be ignored.

What Causes Delayed Ignition

Delayed ignition usually happens when you first turn on your furnace, often after a long delay between use, so usually early in the fall or late in the spring when you don’t necessarily have it on every day of the week.

What happens is moisture builds up over the course of a period of inactivity and begins to corrode the firebox in your furnace. That corrosion builds up to the point that it starts to block the ports that feed gas into the burners. When these ports get blocked, the burners down the line cannot light and when you flip the switch, they won’t light immediately.

Of course, while rust and corrosion are a risk, lint and dust can be equally problematic (and are more common if you don’t have your furnace cleaned properly each fall). Sulfur build up is also a possibility, as it is left behind by burning natural gas. It will appear as a layer of white on the surface of the burners or the pilot light.

When all of this happens and the ports are not cleaned properly, gas will build up in the chamber after it is turned on and, when it finally ignites, create the small boom sound. It doesn’t just sound like an explosion – it is one – and if ignored, it can become incredibly dangerous.

Solving the Problem

Delayed furnace ignition is an easy problem to avoid. All you need to do is have your furnace cleaned properly before turning it on each fall. A technician will clean the burners and ports and remove any dust, lint, rust or sulfur buildup that might block ignition and cause a delay.

When replacing your furnace, look for a device with corrosion resistant materials. You can learn more about these when it comes time to replace your furnace from a technician. Most importantly, be careful. It may be a small problem now, but if left to build up over time, that small boom can become a much larger one.

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A Roaming Shore Contractor Tip: What to Check If Your Furnace Isn’t Lighting

Friday, December 9th, 2011

If your furnace isn’t lighting properly and your family is starting to suffer because of it, there are a number of possible problems you should check for before calling a Roaming Shore heating contractor. Some of these issues can be fixed quickly by you while others may be signs of a serious problem that needs professional attention right away.

Checking the Pilot Light

If you have a gas furnace, the first step is to check the pilot light and ensure it is still working properly. If the pilot light is still on but goes out when you try to light the furnace or simply won’t stay on when you relight it, you may need to have the gas valve replaced. In some cases, it is as simple as the pilot light not being large enough and the gas blowing out the light.

This happens when gas enters the chamber and doesn’t ignite right away. When it does ignite, which happens after more gas enters the chamber, the extra force of the ignition will blow out the light. This is still a problem and should be inspected to ensure you don’t have any potential gas related issues.

Still Not Lighting

If you don’t have a pilot light or the unit still isn’t lighting, it may be an electrical issue. Electrical ignitions for gas furnaces should spark when the thermostat is turned on, so if it doesn’t you know that the switch or relay are bad.

If you smell gas or anything similar in the room where the furnace is located, you should immediately turn off the unit and call your gas company, followed by a technician. There could be a leak causing low pressure that results in your pilot light going out. Whatever the case, you need someone to look at it immediately.

Your furnace should always turn on when you flip the switch and if it does not, assume there is a problem. If you cannot find the problem yourself and easily fix it, you should call a professional. The risk inherent in an improperly working furnace (especially gas or oil) is too high to ignore.

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A Guide from Madison: What Does a Furnace Fan Limit Switch Do?

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

When researching your Madison home’s furnace and potential problems it might have, you’ve probably run across a few references to the fan limit switch. And while you know that it can break in a number of ways, do you know what the switch does and what you should look for when checking your furnace its air handler for problems?

What the Limit Switch Does

To put it very simply, the furnace fan limit switch is a control that tells your furnace’s fan when to turn on and off. So, when the furnace isn’t on, it tells the blower not to operate (and send cold air into your home) and when the furnace is on, it tells the blower to turn on and start circulating the warm air.

While the primary function of the limit switch is to turn the blower fan on and off, it also has a safety role. When the temperature in the air supply plenum gets too hot, the limit switch turns off the furnace boiler to keep there from being any damage from overheating. This is handy if there is a blockage in the air vents or the controls are messed up due to water damage or improper adjustments to the settings.

Looking for Problems

Most of the time, when there is an issue with your furnace turning off or on frequently, the limit switch is one of the first things you will check. Because the switch is electronic and is attached to a thermostat which measures temperature in the air supply plenum, a small problem can result in it not working properly. So, you can easily check it by temporarily bypassing the switch and seeing if your device turns on or off properly.

In many cases, if the limit switch is the problem, you will still need to call a professional for replacement, but you can avoid a lot of headaches related to tracking down the source of the problem. If you suspect a limit switch problem, make sure to call someone immediately, because it does provide an important safety function and because without it your furnace won’t cycle on and off properly.

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