About one third of the total energy bill of the average homeowner goes to heating the house during the winter months. An efficient furnace will burn less fuel, the fuel burnt results in a lower bill. However, as the furnace ages heating repair in Chicago will be necessary. Before winter comes around again there are a few tips on troubleshooting your gas furnace.
Problems with heat generation:
The purpose of a furnace is to generate heat and to do it on demand. There are two possible issues with the heat output; either there is none or it is inadequate. The problem of no heat may be traced to the thermostat; the heat setting may be too low or the thermostat may be faulty. It could also be a tripped circuit breaker or the pilot light may have gone out. Inadequate heat is usually the result of a dirty filter, clean or replace the filter.
Gas leaks:
All gas furnaces have a gas shut-off system in the controls to prevent the any gas leaks but even with this there is always a slight possibility of a leak. If you suspect there is a leak use a mixture of liquid soap and water and apply it to the gas lines and valves. If there is a leak, the mix will show as bubbles at that point. You are advised to have any gas leaks repaired by a professional who does heating repair in Chicago; it is not advisable to attempt this yourself.
Switches on and off frequently:
If the furnace switches on and off repetitively the cause may be a faulty thermostat, dirty filter or blower motor problem. Inspect the thermostat and settings and clean or replace the filter. If the problem appears to be the blower motor, the only thing you can do is apply a few drops of oil to the shaft, if this does not work, a company that does heating repair in Chicago will have to be called in.
Extinguished pilot light:
In a stiff breeze the pilot light can be blown out with a back draft. If that was not the cause it may be dirt in the orifice or a faulty thermocouple which will stop the flow of gas. Try cleaning the pilot light opening and re-lighting the pilot otherwise it is a problem that needs professional attention.
There are many other problems than happen with a gas furnace, the blower belts can start screaming or bearings can fail. In the event of these more major issues, getting a reputable company in to do the heating repair in Chicago is recommended.
If you need air conditioning or heating repair in Chicago, the company to contact is HEATMASTERS. Since 1950 HEATMASTERS has been providing reliable HVAC service to residents of the area.
