Fall brings to mind a lot of seasonal kinds of things: football, apple picking, and comfort food, just to name some. But it is also heater maintenance season, and with chilly nights already here, cooler days are soon to follow. Is your heating system ready to work? The best way to ensure that it is ready is to schedule professional heating maintenance now with your Comfort Flow Heating technician. We are ready to take your call – just pick up the phone!
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Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Fall Is Heater Maintenance Season
Monday, September 28th, 2015Do You Need a New Heater Before This Winter?
Monday, September 21st, 2015It may seem a far way off still, but it really isn’t: the cold weather. If you ended last heating season with a heating system that barely made it, it’s probably time to start reviewing your choices for a replacement heating system. Today’s homeowner’s have a lot of choices, and beginning the replacement process now with your Comfort Flow Heating HVAC specialist will give you the time to review the different systems available and make a choice that fits the needs of your home and your family very well.
Is It Time for Heater Replacement?
Monday, April 13th, 2015Our daytime temperatures are finally starting to climb, but our nights are still cool enough to warrant the continued use of our heating systems. Spring is a great time to assess your home’s needs, and if you found that you were struggling with your heating system this winter, it may be time to consider a replacement system. Most people think of replacement as something that occurs when your heater finally kicks the bucket, but it’s always a much better scenario to replace your system before you are completely without heat. Here are some ways to help tell if it’s time to replace your aging heater in Eugene, OR:
What Is Short-Cycling, and Why Should I Worry About It?
Friday, April 3rd, 2015Have you ever noticed your furnace behaving strangely? Shutting itself on and off every couple of minutes, for example? If you have, you’ve got a pretty serious problem. That behavior is one of the most damaging things that can happen to heating systems, known as “short-cycling.” So what is short-cycling, really? What does it do, and why should you care? Read on to find out.
Causes of Short-Cycling
There is one major cause of short cycling when it comes to furnaces: clogged air filters. The air filter is a fiber mesh that is inserted into the air return duct of the furnace. It is designed to protect the furnace against any particles that may blow in from the ducts, such as dust and dirt. The air filter captures these particles, while allowing the air to flow through it and into the furnace. While this works fairly well under normal circumstances, the air filter has no way to actually get rid of the particles that it captures. That means that sooner or later it will need to be cleaned or replaced. If this is not done, the air filter will become so clogged with particles that it will restrict the air flow into the furnace.
When the air flow into the furnace is obstructed, its internal temperature will begin to rise. Eventually, it will rise high enough to activate the limit switch, which is designed to shut down the furnace if it is in danger of overheating. This is only a temporary fix, however, as the air filter is still restricting the air flow into the furnace. Once the furnace starts back up, it will overheat again and be shut down again. This process will continue as long as the air filter remains clogged.
The Results of Short-Cycling
If not fixed immediately, short-cycling will start to inflict severe damage on the furnace. The startup sequence of the heating cycle is the most stressful, and also happens to be the part that the furnace becomes trapped repeating. This constant repetition of the most stressful part of the heating process puts the system under much more strain than it was designed to handle. A furnace often has its lifecycle severely shortened if left to short-cycle for a long period of time, and will have an increased chance of breaking down.
If you suspect that your furnace may be short-cycling, call Comfort Flow Heating for our comprehensive heating services in the Florence, OR area.
Common Causes of Water Heater Repair
Friday, March 20th, 2015Water heaters are pretty robust systems, and not prone to frequent breakdowns. However, that does not mean that they are immune from all problems and repair needs. Water heaters are vulnerable to a number of different problems, each capable of inflicting various levels of damage. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of water heater repair, and how you can prevent them.
Rust
Any system that regularly deals with water is going to risk oxidization. That is especially true for water heaters, which are often exposed to water 24/7. Rust can cause various parts of the water heater to fail, and can even cause the tank to rupture. Tankless water heaters do not store water, so their risk of rust is slightly lessened. For tank water heaters, however, slightly stronger countermeasures are required.
Tank water heaters are equipped with devices called “sacrificial anode rods.” These are long, metal rods that are inserted into the tank, and protect the lining of the tank by rusting away themselves. Once the anode rods are completely degraded, however, the tank lining will once again be vulnerable to rust. The best way to stop this from happening is by checking your anode rod at least once a year, and replacing it if necessary. If you don’t know how to check your anode rod, call a professional to help you.
Uneven Heat
If you have a lot of people using hot water at once in your house, it is very possible to simply exhaust the supply of hot water on hand. When that happens, you just have to wait for more. However, there is a difference between that and a water heater that is seemingly unable to provide consistently hot water regardless of the situation. If that is happening, you could have a number of different problems. An issue with the heater’s circulator pump could be preventing the hot water from reaching you. However, it is also possible that the heater itself is having trouble heating the water. That’s a more serious issue, and one that you’ll need a professional technician to diagnose. The best way to prevent these kinds of problems is simply to have your water heater inspected at least once a year by a professional.
If you water heater is giving you problems, call Comfort Flow Heating. We provide water heater repair service throughout Eugene, OR.
What Is the Sacrificial Anode Rod?
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015The parts of your water heater work together to heat up cool water from the pipes and return it to your plumbing system so that you have continued access to warm water for showering, cleaning, laundry, and more. But one part of your water heater does not really participate in this process at all. The sacrificial anode rod does not help to heat up water, nor does it serve any electro-mechanical purpose. But the anode rod still serves as the hero of the storage tank water heater, essentially sacrificing itself for the good of the tank.
Be sure to service your water heater in Creswell regularly with the help of the friendly technicians at Comfort Flow Heating. We can replace the sacrificial anode rod if necessary and make other vital adjustments in order to keep your system in the best shape possible.
The Anode Rod and Rust Prevention
When you turn on the hot water in your home and notice a reddish-brown color or flakes of rust, you may assume the worst. Rust indicates that your unit has begun to corrode. And once corrosion begins, there’s not much of a chance of saving the tank. A leaking tank could really mess up your home and potentially result in costly renovations, so replacement is often necessary at the first sign of corrosion.
Luckily, rusty water may not always be indicative of a rusted tank. It may just be that the anode rod has rusted through, a part that is simple for a trained technician to replace. In fact, the anode rod is meant to rust—the sole purpose for its presence in the tank.
The anode rod is typically made from aluminum or magnesium. Because these metals are more corrosive than iron, any corrosion should divert to the anode rod before it begins to affect your tank. However, it is possible that the anode rod can corrode so far that rust begins to develop on the tank itself. Prevent this from occurring by scheduling regular water heater maintenance.
When you notice rust from your water heater, let the experts at Comfort Flow Heating check it out. We can replace your water heater or perform any other necessary services for your water heater in Creswell. Give us a call today.
What You Need to Know About the Limit Switch
Thursday, February 5th, 2015You may or may not be aware of this, but your heating system is actually covered in all manner of switches, valves, and other devices designed as safety measures. There are hundreds of different ways that a heating system could begin malfunctioning, and some of the major ones could end up severely damaging the system or proving dangerous to the home’s occupants. That is why so many safety measures are in place, and why you should know about them. Let’s take a look at one of the most important safety measures: the limit switch.
What is the Limit Switch?
The limit switch is a small part that measures the temperature inside your heating system. Specifically, it measures the temperature of the plenum, the largest chamber of any forced air heater. It is designed to shut down the system in the event that the temperature inside the plenum gets too high. Obviously, an overheating system presents a fire risk, not to mention the damage it can cause to parts that are not designed to withstand that level of heat. As such, the limit switch is one of the most important safety measures in your heating system.
However, there are some interactions between the limit switch and the heater of which you should be aware. Foremost among these is short-cycling.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is what happens when the heating system won’t stop rapidly turning itself on and off throughout the day. When a heater begins to overheat, it activates the limit switch, which shuts the system down to protect it. However, the limit switch doesn’t actually address whatever problem is causing the system to overheat. When the system has cooled off a bit, the thermostat reactivates it, as it hasn’t reached the desired temperature in the home yet. So, the system restarts and overheats again because the issue hasn’t been solved. This leads to an endless cycle of the system overheating and the limit switch shutting it off.
This behavior is extremely harmful to the heating system, putting it under exponentially more strain than it is designed to handle, and increasing the chances of a breakdown. If you notice this behavior, call a professional immediately.
If you’d like to know more, call Comfort Flow Heating to schedule an appointment with us today. We provide professional heating repair services in the Eugene, OR area.
Common Geothermal Repairs
Friday, January 30th, 2015Geothermal systems are incredibly durable; after all, they have an average lifespan of 25-50 years. As these systems grow in popularity, their uniqueness can make homeowners wonder: what kind of repairs are common with this system? The concern is natural, as the buried ground loop can create images of challenging repair issues. Rest assured that geothermal systems tend to have fewer instances of repairs compared to other more traditional heating systems, and when you do have a need for geothermal repair, you can call the experts at Comfort Flow Heating to meet all your geothermal system repair needs.
Heat Pump Issues
Geothermal systems use heat pumps to facilitate the transfer of heat. During the winter, the heat is moved to your indoors and during the summer the heat is moved to ground or water where the loop resides. Common heat pump issues are anti-freeze leaks, problems with the compressor or condenser and age.
Scale
Many geothermal systems use water to help facilitate the transfer of heat. Water contains minerals, and these minerals can create build-up on the inside of the ground loop called scale. Scale is made of mineral deposits that tend to be high in calcium. If there’s enough scale build-up, the flow of the anti-freeze in the ground loop can be restricted. A simple acid flush performed by a professional can clear scale away and restore the flow inside the ground loop.
Issue with the Manifold
The pipes of a ground loop system need a single connection point that carries the fluid into the heat pump that resides in your home; this component is called the manifold. The manifold typically has several valves that correlate to the pipes connecting to it, and sometimes problems can develop with a valve, including scale build-up.
Geothermal systems should always be repaired by those who have experience with the systems because they are not like traditional heating systems, even with the use of heat pumps. The specialists at Comfort Flow Heating have the expertise and training you need for your geothermal system in Eugene, OR, so call us today.
Steps to Take for Heating Installation
Wednesday, January 14th, 2015Heating installation involves a lot more than selecting a heating unit and having it installed – that is, if you want the installation done correctly. Rushing the process not only robs you of the opportunity to install a potentially better system for your home, you may wind up with a unit that is the wrong size. So what steps should you take? Here are some suggestions from our Comfort Flow Heating installation experts for Salem residents:
Review Your Choices
Not too long ago, there were basically two choices for heating: a furnace or a boiler. These days homeowners have an array of choices. The heat options we carry at Comfort Flow Heating are:
- Furnaces (gas or electric)
- Heat pumps
- Ductless systems
- Radiant systems (electric)
- Geothermal systems
Review Energy Efficiency
Every heating system comes with an energy efficiency rating. For combustion systems, this rating is known as AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency); heat pumps use a SEER rating for air conditioning and HSPF for heating. Electric radiant heating efficiency will be based on the kilowatt hours. Understanding the energy efficiency a particular type of system can offer you is an important part of your long-term comfort with a heating system, so it shouldn’t be overlooked.
Calculate Heat Load
Every home needs a certain amount of heating to be comfortable; too much can make the air hot and dry and too little can leave you feeling chilly. Heat load involves more than just knowing the square footage of your home; other factors to consider are your home’s orientation, floor plan, number of occupants, etc. Allowing a trained specialist to calculate your heat load helps ensure that you’ll purchase and install a heating system that is correctly-sized for your home.
New heating installation in Salem is a great opportunity to increase your energy efficiency and comfort; don’t let it slip by because you are rushing to install a new system. If you are in need of a new heating system, call the experts at Comfort Flow Heating in Salem today!
Ways a Malfunctioning Thermostat Affects Your Heating
Monday, January 5th, 2015The thermostat of your heating system is probably the only piece of equipment you come into contact with. While it may seem small, this portion of your heating system is vital to heating operation as it communicates with the heating unit when the temperature has dropped too low. Your heating system relies on this small piece to know when to start up and shut off, so a malfunctioning thermostat is quite a big deal to your unit. There are a few ways a broken thermostat may affect your heater.
No Heating at All or Reduced Heating
Now, a lack of heating or a heating system that won’t turn on at all can be symptomatic of a number of problems. But most often, a technician will start by checking the thermostat. Initially, this is to make sure that you haven’t simply neglected to change the programming, switch over into heating mode, or set the thermostat for the day. However, examining the thermostat can help the technician to learn quite a bit.
If the thermostat displays a temperature that is different from the temperature in the air, it is most likely the culprit of the heating trouble. Of course, this is also true if the thermostat displays nothing at all. While it’s a bit trickier to diagnose this issue with a manual thermostat, the technician can perform further tests to make sure it’s calibrated properly. If the thermostat is, however, displaying the proper temperature but it’s not the temperature you need, then the problem is more likely elsewhere in the system.
Short Cycling
A malfunctioning thermostat may cause your heating system to short cycle. Short cycling is the term professionals use to describe what happens when your heating or air conditioning system shuts off too soon, before the heating cycle is complete, and runs frequently. This may be due to a thermostat that is struggling to sense the heat in the room, detecting frequent temperature changes and sending faulty signals to the main unit. Short cycling can take a huge toll on the parts of your heater, causing components to become overworked. Usually, a broken thermostat will simply be replaced.
Call Comfort Flow Heating to schedule your heating service in Eugene and learn more about thermostats and your heating.
