When the heat stops, you may think "how does my furnace work and can I repair it myself?" Heating and air technicians train years on the job to properly diagnose and repair equipment. However, knowing the basic components and trouble shooting steps is a great way to stay ahead of breakdowns and unexpected repairs.
In short your furnace takes cold air from the home and heats it up then blowing it into your home. There is a combustion process, heat exchange, fans, and venting, in short. Not to mention the motors and electrical components that keep the whole system running. When something goes wrong, knowing what steps to take to troubleshoot can help get the heat back on, even if for a short while before the experts arrive.
No Heat Troubleshooting:
- Check Your Thermostat. Is it set to heat? Is there power to the thermostat? If so, and still no heat, then there is a greater issue at hand.
- Check the Fuses. Make sure that your system did not pop a breaker upon turning on. While this may not always mean there is a greater problem at hand, it is important to have your system checked either way. Switch the breaker to on and see if the system runs. Call your experts out to diagnose potential short wires etc..
- Is Your Pilot Light Lit? It happens. The pilot light goes out. While you still may want to have the system checked for corrosion or build up around your pilot light, relight and see if the system begins working. Then call your Guardian experts to perform a heating tune up.
- No air blowing. Is there a blockage or restriction. When was the last time you changed your air filter? Is it clogged?
Components of Your Heater & What They Do:
Cool air comes in from the return and passes via the air filter to the blower motor. As the air is blown past the heat exchangers
(where the gas burns and heats up), the air warms and goes via the ducts and out the vents warming your home.
- Furnace Filter- air passes through this into your heater capturing allergens, dust and particles preventing them from dirtying your system and motors. It cleanses the air before being heater and sent back into the home.
- Heat Exchanger - burners ignite the gases in the combustion chamber and send the heat into the heat exchanger. The air is warmed and then sent via the ducts throughout the home. Gases are emitted through the flue pipe and out of the home.
- Flame sensor/Pilot Light- Where the gas is lit to create heat in the heat exchanger chamber
- Blower Motor- A common component that locks up, the blower motor is crucial in sending air through your system into your home.
As you can see, there are a number of enclosed components that heat your home's air. A breakdown of any one of these many parts can impact the heating of your home. Routine heating maintenance checks all the various parts assuring they are in working order.
Contact your experts at Guardian to schedule a pre-season maintenance visit today. As always, Guardian is here for you if you have a heater breakdown to get your system up and running as fast as possible.
