Repairing A Gas Furnace

If you are having concerns about your heat system, you might be overwhelmed with all of the things that might be going wrong. Since we rely on our heat system for comfort and survival in the winter, so when something seems to be wrong it can be really scary. A heating company can help you make repairs, but you might want to try to figure things out on your own. Though contacting a furnace repair company might end up being a necessary step, you might feel better about making the call if you know there is nothing you can do to remedy the problem. Repairing your heat system is hard work and you need to know the difference between fixing electric and gas systems. Problems are usually related to the output of the individual parts, so once you are familiar with the parts in the system, troubleshooting is much easier.

A natural heat system uses either propane or natural gas. The fuel comes from an outside source and is then burned by the system to transmit heat. A fan blows the air through the duct system in your home and distributes heat throughout each room. Older heat system has pilot ignitions, but newer models feature electric spark ignitions. When the flame of the light is continuous and full, your heat system is working well. When the heat reduces or you determine the system is working inefficiently, you have a problem. There can be a problem throughout any part of the system including the burner, the blower, or the pilot.

Common problems in the heat system include a problem with the pilot light lighting or the light going out, a problem with the thermocouple or a problem with a leak. Usually the leak is the problem. The easiest way to tell if you have a leak is by smelling it. Gas has a pungent smell that is unmistakable. There are also ways to test if there is a leak, in instances when you suspect a problem but you do not smell gas. Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of detergent. Paint the solution on the gas supply pipeline, on the connections, and on the valves. The water will bubble where the leak is occurring because air is blowing through the soapy water.

If the problem is something other than a leak, there are a few other troubleshooting steps to take. If the air coming out of the ducts is not that warm, check the electricity. You might have a blown fuse that just needs to be reset. If the heat is weak, there might be a blocked burner point. You can clean it and adjust the shutter of the air burner. If the pilot light will not stay lit, you might need to clean the orifice where the light is stored. For an uneven distribution of heat, you can check the distribution system. You might need to call a professional to fix the problem.

Sometimes the air is the right temperature, but it is really dry. This means the evaporator pad needs to be washed. You might need to replace it altogether. This is a common problem when there is a humidifier attached to the heat system. You can also test the humidistat and adjust the float to raise the water level to solve this problem.

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Stewart Wrighter has often called on the expertise of a Dayton heating specialist to fix heating issues in his large office building. For more information on heating go to

http://www.a-abel.com/HeatingAir/default.aspx .

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