Affordable Heating System Repairs
It’s no fun to be in a cold house if your heating system goes out. Cities in north Texas such as Allen usually experience mild winters, but still cold enough to need the heaters on. The winter of 2017/2018 had a long cold snap with temperatures below freezing for several days.
Before you call us, here’s a few DIY tips to see if that helps your situation. If that doesn’t help, call us at (214) 734-7775 and we’ll get you on the schedule. You can always fill out the form on this page if it’s after hours.
We’ll also include several useful images or YouTube videos to make it easy to follow.
If you can get your heat back on, you’ll save a service call fee and also look good in front of your family.
Simple Heating Repair Tips
Is the Thermostat Working?
- Make sure that it is set to the heat position. In the following image, you will see a setting for “EM. HEAT” (emergency heat) and “HEAT”. This is a common choice. This normally allows you to select from natural gas (emergency) or electric as the heat source. In North Texas, if you have the choice, always go with the natural gas option since it’s so much cheaper to run.
- The other option you may see is the fan setting. Either ON or AUTO. Set this to ON and see if it makes any difference. The AUTO setting means that the fan and heat only come on when needed, not continuously running.
- Does the battery need replacing? There might be an indicator on the display showing a low battery.
- Is the temperature set appropriately? Try moving it up higher and see if it makes a difference.
- Does it look like the thermostat is even on? It’s possible that there is no power (and no battery backup) running to the thermostat.
- Make sure the thermostat is firmly attached to the wall. Many models detach from a back plate that is screwed to the wall. If the contacts are not making a connection, then that is a problem.
Check the Power Breakers and HVAC Switch
- Locate your circuit breaker panel. which is where the main power comes into your home and check if any of the breakers are off. If you find one that is off, and you are sure it is for the HVAC unit, turn it back on. If the system starts and then triggers the breaker, then you’ll need to call the pros at Code 3 and possibly an electrician.
- Near your furnace is a regular switch, much like you would use to turn the lights on and off. Sometimes we have gone to jobs where the homeowner has turned off this switch thinking it was for a light in the attic. Save yourself a service call fee by checking this. It’s fast and easy.
- Check the panel covering the blower motor is secured. Some furnaces have a cut of switch behind this panel if it’s loose.
Check the Air Filter
- A clogged filter will force your system to work harder. If pushed too far, it can develop a fault, even irreparable damage.
- The heat exchanger will overheat if not enough air passes over it, thus leading to a cold house.
- Some systems have a preventative cut off if the air filter is too dirty, so by merely changing out your air filter, you could bring your heater back to life. Again, no need for a service call, just visit your local home improvement store and get a new filter.
- If you can’t locate your filter, refer to your owner’s manual. Failing that, give us a call and we can either walk through this with you over the phone or schedule a time to come out.
- WARNING: Turn off the heat at the thermostat so that the fan stops running. You should not replace a fan while the system is running.
Check the Gas
- Have you recently had your natural gas line serviced or meter replaced? There may be air in the lines causing a temporary block. It should clear out relatively quickly.
- Is the gas line valve near the furnace turned on? Since we don’t use the heating system very often, it may have been turned off a year ago and forgotten about until now. This is a free and easy tip. Just be careful where you’re walking. You don’t want to step through the floor and into the room below!
Check the Exhaust Flue
- The exhaust flue takes away the burned gas and vents it through your roof and outside. If this is blocked, the safety mechanisms in your furnace will turn it off.
- You may have to dismantle parts of the flue to access any blockages. This is not an easy DIY job, and you should call us if you think the flue is blocked.
Check for Blockages at Intake Vents
- Check to see if your air registers / air intake vents are open. These vents draw air in from inside your home up into the furnace. If they are blocked, safeguards in your furnace may shut down since no air is being drawn into the system.
- If you have a heat pump, check for any grass or weeds or leaves that may be blocking the fins on the compressor unit.