As winter nears, it’s essential to have a reliable home heating system. If yours shows signs of malfunction, now may be the time to seek professional assistance or the time to follow one of the following tips for some common problems.
No Heat from the Vents
Cold air could be blowing out of your vents even when the heat is on for any number of reasons, including dirty filters or thermostat issues or issues with your ductwork. By performing basic troubleshooting yourself, you could save yourself an expensive repair bill by performing basic fixing at home.
If your vents only produce lukewarm air, it could be because your thermostat is set to cool mode instead of “heat.” This is an easy fix by moving the thermostat back into its “heat” position. Make sure the fan setting on your thermostat is set to AUTO so it will only run during a heating cycle.
Yellow or flickering pilot lights could be a telltale sign of carbon monoxide poisoning and require immediate action by professionals like those at All about Care. CO poisoning sends over 50,000 Americans each year to emergency rooms and kills at least 430 every year in America alone, and All About Care Heating & Air can help you take care of it. Having a CO detector or alarm installed will allow you to detect potentially life-threatening levels before it becomes an imminent risk, so call the pros today:
All About Care Heating & Air, Inc.
2420 Farrington Point Dr SE, Winston-Salem, NC 27107, United States
336-771-9000
Replace air filters frequently as an easy and economical fix to save both money and lengthen the lifespan of your heating system. Dirty filters reduce airflow, potentially leading to overheating that shuts off the system altogether – saving both money and extending its lifespan!
Cold Radiators
If your radiators aren’t heating like they should be, that could be an indicator that something needs to be fixed. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure your heating system is functioning efficiently and effectively.
Radiators can have leaks or broken valves, creating more of a risk in central rooms or at floor level where furniture and flooring could become damaged by overflow. To resolve this, either replace the valve yourself or call in professional plumbers who will come and reinstall your radiator for you.
One of the primary reasons why radiators remain cold is that they’re not getting hot enough. The Department of Energy says that factors such as their location within a room, TRV type/position and thermostat settings all play an integral part in how much hot water flows to each radiator and how quickly it heats up.
Another potential reason that your radiator might be cold could be that it’s full of sludge. Radiators made from iron or steel can become covered in an accumulation of sediment over time that prevents water from moving freely around it, creating cold spots at its center and bottom that indicate your central heating system requires bleeding services.
Leaky Pipe Joint
Leaky pipe joints are one of the most frequent causes for repair calls, whether made of copper or PVC plastic piping material. According to https://passionplans.com/b/pvc-pipe/– both copper and PVC plastic pipes can become damaged from expansion/contraction as well as corrosion over time; fortunately, there are easy fixes available to temporarily stop water dripping away.
First, turn off the water supply to the damaged area in your home. Next, carefully clean away any dirt or debris before applying waterproof tape to joints with loose joints to protect your floorboards from further water damage until professional services can provide more permanent solutions.
If the leak is in an exposed pipe, try covering it with a rubber hose and securing it with a hose clamp to stop water seeping through walls, potentially reducing serious water damage. Alternatively, for a more permanent fix use a slip coupling to create an airtight connection on your pipe – these can be found at most hardware stores and are fairly straightforward to set up.
As a temporary fix, self-fusing silicone tape may provide the solution you need. These tapes contain special chemicals which activate when compressed together to strengthen their adhesive strength and stop water escaping while buying time until professional help arrives for more permanent solutions. Simply wrap this temporary repair around any leaky areas to stop further water from escaping while buying time before hiring professional help for more permanent solutions.
Thermostat Issues
While most heating issues require professional diagnosis and repair, many can be resolved on your own without professional intervention. This is particularly true of thermostat problems (like these: https://www.diysmarthomehub.com/common-thermostat-problems) and simple troubleshooting methods like changing batteries or resetting systems could be all that’s necessary to restore comfortable temperatures to any homes.
One of the most frequently occurring thermostat issues is due to a dead battery, causing your unit to either shut off completely or not respond at all. To try and remedy this, first switch batteries out – using alkaline ones may drain quickly and shorten its lifespan significantly. For optimal performance use AA batteries rather than their alkaline counterparts for best results.
Another potential problem could be that the thermostat is miscalibrated due to debris inside it, accidental impacts against it or power loss. To determine whether this is indeed the cause, take temperature readings using a thermometer and compare them against the thermostat settings; any significant deviation indicates an issue and must be rectified.
Regularly inspect your thermostat to make sure that it’s free from dust, dirt, soot and cigarette smoke as this could impede its functionality. A basic cleaning of your thermostat involves turning off its breaker and removing its cover in order to clean all visible components with canned air or small brushes; any dirt buildup should also be addressed using canned air or small brushes if possible.