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Home Improvement

Most Common Furnace Issues: How to Fix Heater Problems

February 14, 2022

Dealing with the frigid temperatures of winter can be difficult. If you live in an area where it snows, then you probably use your heating unit a good bit during the winter months. An overwhelming number of heating units located in homes around the United States are at least five years old. The older your heating unit gets, the more problems you will have with vital components like the furnace.

If a furnace is not working properly, it will be impossible to get the warm air needed to get the inside of your home comfortable. Knowing about the most common heating problems and what can be done to fix them is a vital part of your home as a homeowner. Here are some common heating problems and how to address them when they arise.

Dealing With a Short Cycling Furnace

Once you set a target temperature on your thermostat, your heating unit will come on and produce heat to satisfy this setting. If you start to notice that your furnace is coming on and going off in a hurry, then you are dealing with a problem referred to as short cycling. There are a number of problems that can cause this problem like:

Bad thermostat placement
Dirty air filters
Thermostat faults
An oversized HVAC unit

The longer you allow problems involving short cycling to persist, the more damage your furnace will ultimately experience. This is why you need to call in professionals to take a look. Most of the issues that cause short cycling can be discovered early on with routine furnace tune-ups. Finding a company that offers furnace tune-up services is the best way to ensure this maintenance is performed correctly.

Parts of Your Home Aren’t Getting Warm

Dealing with uncomfortable indoor temperatures is something most homeowners try to avoid at all costs. If parts of your home aren’t getting warm, fixing this problem in a hurry should be a top priority. One of the first things you need to look at when encountering this problem is the ductwork in the part of your home that isn’t getting warm. If the vents in this ductwork are close, the warm air produced by your furnace will be able to enter the room.

In some cases, a dirty ductwork can prohibit warm air from entering certain parts of your home. Hiring professionals to clean your ducts is the best way to fix this problem. Having these cleanings performed can also help you improve your indoor air quality. An experienced HVAC professional will have the tools and the time needed to get your ducts cleaned quickly and correctly.

Cold Air Coming From Your Vents In Winter

Does the inside of your home feel much colder than normal? If so, you need to see if warm air is actually being produced by your HVAC unit. If you find that cool air is coming from your vents, then you need to start inspecting parts of your heating unit. Pilot light issues can cause a gas furnace to not produce warm air.

Leaky ductwork can also get in the way of warming your home. If you feel air escaping out of your ductwork, then you have to hire professionals to apply a specially designed tape to seal them. These professionals will also be able to fix your pilot light problems.

As you can see, there are a number of things that can prohibit your heating unit from working properly. With the information in this article, you can discover heating problems and get them addressed before they cause too much damage.

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Home Repairs You Should Never Cheap Out On When Renovating Your Home

March 11, 2019

Tracey Clayton

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People are always trying to make ends meet, and when it comes to home remodeling, it can become so expensive (the average price is $39.957) that you need to do your best to save every dollar you can. The majority does that by opting for low-end materials or taking matters into their own hands instead of leaving them to professionals. And sure, there are some projects you can take on yourself, or use a more affordable material, but sometimes these decisions come back to haunt you when you least expect, and you end up spending more money than you would initially have to. If you are planning on remodeling, we’ll help you out by telling you where you shouldn’t cheap out.

Electrical panel repair

Leaving the electrical repairs to professionals is common sense, but there is no harm in saying it yet again. Besides the risk of getting yourself electrocuted, there is also the chance it would be more difficult to sell your property one day. Modifying the electrical panel requires getting a permit. If you don’t do that, you won’t be able to get an ESA (Electrical Safety Association) Certificate, which is a common thing for agents and buyers to ask.

Major plumbing works

Sure, you can unplug your toilet, but any major plumbing work should be left to the plumbers. It is vital to avoid complicated jobs that include the main supply line or the main stack.

Skylight installation

Skylights are great solutions for dark rooms where there is no place for a window. With all the fuss about the natural light being a sought-after feature among the home buyers, they are also a pretty good investment. However, the roof is a tricky place to install a window, and if you don’t do it properly, it can deteriorate over time and allow water into your home.

Window replacement

Similar goes for window replacement. For this task, you need specialized tools and skills. You can’t just improvise when it comes to removing and installing windows. Also, the windows are very pricey and important for energy-efficiency, so saving money on this could actually cost you more than you thought it would in the first place.

Appliances repair

Regardless whether we are talking about gas or electrical appliances, this is the area you should definitely avoid. Both of these power sources can be dangerous to tackle, and even if everything seems fine when you’re done with the fixing, there can be leaks or small malfunctions which can cause serious backfire. In some cases, it is better to buy the new ones. Nevertheless, with good quality units, paying a handyman and getting spare parts is a good investment, too.

Basement renovation

A finished basement not only adds space to your property but also value. Many homeowners decide to take on this project because they don’t consider it to be the main part of the house, and they think the flaws won’t be that obvious. However, some basement projects can result in major structural issues, so it is better to take your enthusiasm elsewhere.

Asbestos removal

Asbestos is the plague of many houses built before the 1980s, and during a renovation, the particles of this toxin can get into the air and cause health problems. If you suspect your house could host this dangerous guest, turn to the professionals.

Roof repairs or replacements

There are many cases when people get injured by falling from the roof. Even if you do know what you are doing, it is not worth the risk.

Demolition

If hitting the walls with a sledgehammer sounds fun to you, think again. What if you hit the load bearing the wall? Or damage the pipes and wiring? Not so fun, after all. For such massive projects, you need to know exactly where to hit, so it is better to call the pros.

Faux finishes

And for the finish line? Don’t do your own faux finishes. The effects of stone or wood on the walls can be beautiful, but if done clumsily, they can look like a hot mess. These projects that rely on aesthetics should be done by people with trained eyes and hands.

There is nothing wrong with saving money where you can, but usually you get exactly what you’ve paid for, and in these cases, that could be – a disaster. These were the tasks that should always be left to the professionals with the right skills and tools.

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