Furnace Maintenance Checklist for Phoenix Homeowners

If you’ve started to notice that the furnace in your Phoenix home isn’t functioning at its normal level, then you might be worried about the need for a repair. However, if you’ve never had to schedule repairs for your furnace before, it can be hard to know which component is causing the issues, which can also make it difficult to know if you need minor or major repairs.

Fortunately, with the right tips, you can examine the major parts of your furnace to ensure continued functioning and to see if you need repairs. Here is a furnace maintenance checklist for Phoenix homeowners so that you can get peace of mind when your furnace stops working the way you need.

Making Sure Your Thermostat is Functioning

Perhaps the most important part of your furnace is the thermostat, which is the control center of your heating system. If you find your furnace is not effectively heating your home, check to make sure your thermostat is functional. Should your furnace not respond to thermostat adjustments, it could mean there is a problem with the wiring connection between these two components.

Keep Your Parts Lubricated

A furnace, like every major system in your home, requires several moving parts to function properly. Over time, the lubrication of these parts will dissipate, causing wear, tear and an eventual breakdown. An important part of maintaining your furnace is to ensure that all its moving parts have the right level of lubrication so that they function correctly.

Examine Your Electrical Connections

When your furnace won’t turn on no matter how much you adjust your thermostat, one of the likely culprits is a problem with the electrical connections. If no power is going to your furnace, it won’t be able to turn on. Check the breaker that your furnace is on, and make sure that all electrical connections are secure.

Check Your Components

One of the most common heating problems that homeowners notice about their furnace is air failing to blow when the furnace is one. If you’re experiencing this issue, then one of the most important regular furnace maintenance tasks you can do is to check your blower components. Make sure that your blower components are working and respond when your furnace is turned on.

Switch Out Your Air Filters

A highly important component in your furnace’s continued functioning is maintaining your air filters. When an air filter becomes blocked, it restricts airflow and reduces the efficiency of your furnaces. You should regularly check the air filters in your home, cleaning them when necessary and replacing them every six months or so. This will ensure optimal furnace performance and a higher quality of air in your home.

Do You Have a Gas Furnace?

If you have a gas furnace instead of an electrical furnace, there are a few other maintenance tasks that you should perform. First, you need to make sure that your gas connection is correctly hooked up and that your gas pressure is at its proper level. Next, examine the burner combustion to make sure that it is functional. Finally, check the heat exchanger and make sure that it is not suffering any issues that could be contributing to your furnace malfunction.

To get help with your furnace maintenance checklist, you should schedule a full furnace check-up from local HVAC technicians in Phoenix AZ. Your technician will go through every maintenance item to check for problems and needed repairs.

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Contact the furnace experts at Phoenix at Hays Cooling & Heating to get furnace up and running today. Email us or call 602-714-8270 now!

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My Electric Furnace Won"t Turn On: Now What?

When the outside weather is cold, it’s important that your electric furnace functions whenever you turn it on. Unfortunately, some homeowners find themselves in the very difficult, confusing circumstance of turning their heater on and getting no results. If you’ve tried to turn your electric heater on and nothing has happened, there are a few things that you can try to correct most electric furnace issues.

There’s nothing more stressful than not having your heater turn on when you need it, it’s important to understand the most common problems so that you’re ready for every circumstance. Discover what to do when wondering, “Why won’t my electric furnace won’t turn on?” and learn common problems that can be easily and quickly addressed.

Make Sure the Breaker is On

When your electric furnace won’t turn on, the first thing that you should check is the power to your system. If your heater won’t turn on, you should locate the fuse box in your home and then make sure that the breaker to your furnace is on. Because of an overload, it’s possible for the breaker to flip, denying your furnace the power it needs.

Additionally, if you find that there is no power going to your electric furnace, it’s possible that you are experiencing a blown heating fuse. Fortunately, if you have a new fuse on hand, you should be able to replace the blown fuse and get your electric furnace up and running in no time at all.

Check Your Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating system, controlling the temperature level in your home and ensuring your family’s constant comfort. The thermostat is so important, that a small problem with this device can cause your entire system to function, preventing your electric heater from turning on.

When your electric furnace won’t turn on, you should first examine your thermostat. If your thermostat is clearly on, check to make sure that it is communicating with your system correctly. Raise your thermostat a few degrees and wait to see if your furnace responds. If not, then the problem in your system may be your thermostat.

Get Help from a Heating Technician

Although it’s possible to fix some electric furnace problems yourself, other issues are very complex, meaning you’ll need expert help to get your furnace back online. If you’re stumped as to why your furnace won’t turn on, you should contact a Phoenix heating repair technician.

An expert furnace technician can fully examine your system, checking all the likely causes preventing your furnace from kicking on. If the problem is extensive, your technician should be able to give you advice about repairs and if you should be considering replacing your old furnace.

As you can see, electric furnace problems can run the gamut from the very simple to the very complex. If you can’t figure out exactly why your furnace won’t turn on, your best choice is to seek Phoenix heating repair. An expert repair company will understand the ins and outs of your electric furnace and will be able to correct whatever issue is affecting your system.

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Contact the heating experts in Phoenix at Hays Cooling & Heating to get your home properly heated for the winter. Email us or call 602-714-8270 now!

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3 Signs You Need an Air Conditioner Refrigerant Recharge

With summer just around the corner, there is no better time than now to have your HVAC unit serviced, especially in this Arizona heat. If you suspect that your AC is not working at its best, that does not necessarily mean it is time to get a new one, but you do need to have your unit checked out. Often times, your unit can be restored with a simple repair like an air conditioner refrigerant recharge instead of it being completely replaced. Check out these three signs to look out for to know if you need an air conditioner refrigerant recharge to keep you cool this summer.

If Your Thermostat is Malfunctioning

One sign to look out for to know if you need a home AC refrigerant recharge is if the thermostat is not working properly. Checking your thermostat is the best way to detect this. If it seems to be malfunctioning, reset the thermostat first to see if that solves the problem. There are two different ways you can reset your thermostat. The first way is to simply reset it at the power source or flip the breaker off and on. Another way to reset the system is by first setting the thermostat to around 85 degrees. Keep it at this temperature for about 30 minutes and then lower the thermostat to around 60 degrees and wait for the system to come back on.

If your home begins to cool again, then a reset is all you needed. If that does not work, it is possible that your unit needs recharging. A broken thermostat does not always mean that you need to recharge your system, so it is best to consult a specialist like the professionals at an HVAC maintenance company in Phoenix to properly diagnose the problem.

Are Your Vents Blowing Properly?

 Another sign to look for and be aware of in your Arizona home is if your ventilation properly flowing. When your AC needs charging, the first thing it will do is blow out warm or room temperature air. You can simply check this by placing your hand in front of a vent for about 15 minutes to make sure the warm air is not just residual air coming out of the vent system. If after 15 minutes you notice that the temperature of the air coming out is not what matches the thermostat reading or is not how it should be, then it may be time to have your refrigerant recharged.

Frost in the Summertime

 Frost buildup and frozen components inside your HVAC is a sure-fire sign of a coolant leak and requires service immediately. If handled inappropriately, coolants can be very harmful, so it is best to contact a professional when this is the sign of a refrigerant recharge. If you notice buildup around motors, tubes and other parts of your HVAC system, it is definitely time to have your unit serviced.

Keep cool this summer with a full functioning HVAC system by having your refrigerant recharged. Find out how air conditioner refrigerant recharge services can get your AC unit running smoothly again in your Arizona home.

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Contact the AC repair experts in Phoenix at Hays Cooling & Heating to get your air conditioner back up and running. Email us or call 602-714-8270 now!

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What Are the Most Common Furnace Problems in Phoenix?

Winter this year may be mild, but relative to Phoenix’s typically balmy weather, plenty of people are feeling the season’s chill. When the heat does not work, your relaxing evening is suddenly spent tinkering with your HVAC system trying to figure out how to make hot air come out again.

If you find yourself in this position, you have can now relax. Our troubleshooting list will cover the most common furnace problems in Phoenix so that you can diagnose and potentially fix the problem, getting your toasty heat back online. While we may not be able to help you identify every potential problem, let alone their solution, we can at least help you narrow down what it might be.

Potential Problem #1 — The Thermostat

Since any number of mechanical issues could be at play, your first step is to rule out the most obvious causes. Namely, the control unit that is supposed to tell the thermostat to kick on may not be working properly.

Examine your thermostat to see if is operable. Modern digital thermostats have backlit displays to make this task easy. If you have an older thermostat, try flipping a switch to see if you get a reaction.

If the thermostat seems to be on and connected, make sure that you have it set to the “heat” setting and that your set temperature is high enough that the system will come on. Note that many thermostats require your home to be two or more degrees colder than your setting before they activate.

Barring any obvious fixes like these, your problem may still come down to faulty thermostat wiring. If your thermostat is active but there is no mechanical response within the furnace, wiring is even more likely to be the issue. Only allow licensed electricians to tamper and diagnose electrical problems you may be having.

Potential Problem #2 — Air Flow Is Weak

If your air flow is coming out in weak puffs rather than a strong current, you may have some sort of tear or blockage inside your air ducts. Inspect the ducts closest to the furnace and work your way outward to identify any leaks. You can usually feel the air escaping here instead of where it should be. Identifying leaks further along can be difficult when ducting runs through walls, but determining which air registers have flow and which do not can help you pinpoint the leak.

Similarly, you may have blockage. The first culprit to check is your air filter. A dirty air filter can severely limit airflow. A blocked intake or stuck flapper valve can similarly prevent the furnace from getting the flow it needs.

Blockage can also happen further down the ducting lines. Once again, identify which registers have strong air flow and which do not to determine where in the path the blockage could lay. Only attempt to remove blockage that is accessible from an air register, which can be done with a hose vacuum cleaner. Dismantling the ducting system should only be done by an HVAC professional.

Potential Problem #3 — Cool Air Blowing

In a twist of cruel irony, your furnace may be blasting chillier air than what is already in your house. The most likely reason is that the furnace has not ignited. Examine the furnace to see if you can identify the blue pilot flame or any orange heating flames. If you see no flames whatsoever, sniff the air to detect the gas’s methane tracer. If you think you smell methane or have any other reason to suspect a gas leak, shut off the main gas valve immediately. Evidence of long-running leaks may require you to evacuate the house.

You can potentially relight the pilot light once the gas has been shut off and the air ventilated. Follow the instructions printed on the side of your furnace or provided with your installation since every furnace brand can have different considerations. Ask a professional to relight the pilot for you if you are nervous or have reason to suspect that doing so could be dangerous.

If your pilot light and air blockage as discussed above are not the issue, you may have deeper problems that stem from needed heater repair in Phoenix.

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Looking for a trusted heating repair company to service your unit? Hays Cooling & Heating has 15 years of experience in Phoenix area HVAC repairs. Call 602-714-8270 today! 

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