We all enjoy the cooler days of fall. Besides being a relief from the summer’s heat, they’re a reminder that cold days are ahead and that it’s time to prepare for the upcoming season. As you go through a list of things to prepare your home for the winter season, don’t forget to test your heating systems to make sure that they’re working properly.
There’s nothing worse than having your heat go out on one of the coldest days of the year. Avoid this type of headache and HVAC emergency by testing your system now. To help you prepare for the winter season, today we’ll talk about some problems that might arise with your heating systems and how you can identify and fix these common issues.
Could it Just be a Thermostat Problem?
Sometimes if your heat isn’t working, it’s not a major problem with your system but instead is just an issue with your thermostat.
Your thermostat works as the brains of your heater, as it tells your system when to turn on and how hard to work. If your thermostat is not sending the right signals to your heater, then your home will not be properly heated, even if your heating unit is working perfectly.
So, if you test your heater and find that it’s not heating, it’s always a good idea to first check the thermostat. By taking a moment to ensure that the thermostat has working batteries, is programmed correctly and is on the right setting, you might be able to easily and quickly get your unit up and running again. And, as you can imagine, testing and programming your thermostat is a much easier process to go through on the mild days of fall rather than a freezing day of winter.
Dealing With Circuit Breaker Issues
Another common reason that heaters go out is issues with the circuit breaker. If you have a circuit issue, it’s helpful to be able to identify and fix this issue as quickly as possible.
If your heater is not running, go to your electrical panel. If the circuit is tripped, you can try simply resetting the breaker.
However, if there is a burning smell around the electrical panel, if the circuit won’t stay reset or if the heater’s circuit looks old, it might mean that you have a more substantial circuit issue. If so, it’s a good idea to have a professional fix this issue before the winter comes so your heater is working properly when you need it most.
How to Identify And Deal With a Blown Fuse
If you have an electrical panel with fuses and your heater isn’t working, then you could have a blown fuse. These are generally easy to detect.
If you see burns on your electrical panel, melted wires or off-color glass, those are all indications that you have a fuse issue.
Rather than simply replacing a blown fuse, it’s usually a good idea to have your heater and panel inspected so you can identify any underlying issues and repair them before winter.
When it comes to your home’s heating systems, it’s always better to know of any issues before the cold weather arrives. We hope that these tips will help you to test your systems this fall, and if you have any questions or need to have your unit serviced, call Energy Sharks Heating & Air today at (864) 263-3730.
