3 Frequently Asked Questions On Water Heaters, Ventilation And Home Heating

Below are 3 frequently asked questions concerning home heating, ventilation and water heaters.

Question 1: Why Does My Heater Keep Shutting Off?

Your furnace is programmed to cycle on when your air is too cold. When it senses that the air is comfortable, the furnace will usually shut down. In most cases, you won’t even realize when this process is taking place. However, if your furnace is constantly turning on and off, this could indicate a problem that requires immediate attention. Before rushing to the phone to call a professional, try these troubleshooting tips.

Short cycling is the term used to refer to problems in your furnace that cause it to shut down unexpectedly. Short cycling can be cause by various factors such as; dirty or worn out air filters, improperly set or placed thermostat, corroded flame sensors, and presence of foreign objects in air vents and chimneys. Fixing these problems before contacting a technician can save you a lot of money and trouble.

Question 2: How are Heaters Rated?

Heaters, boilers and furnaces are rated using a thermal efficiency measure known as AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Basically, the higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the heater will be. For instance, if your heater comes with an 80% AFUE rating, this means it gives out 80 British Thermal Units (BTUs) of properly used heating for every 100 BTUs. The remaining 20 BTUs will usually be wasted heat. If you are to save money on energy cost, then going for higher ratings will be the best idea.

Question 3: Why is my Heat Pump Not Shutting Off?

It is quite normal for a heat pump to run continuously during extremely cold seasons. However, if the weather outside is warm, and your heat pump continues running, then this could indeed be an indication of a problem. Before calling a professional, you can try these troubleshooting tips; ensure the outdoor unit is operational, close all doors and windows, clean or replace the air filter, plug in the condensate pump, set the thermostat properly and check for tripped or turned off breakers. Feel free to call us to learn more about efficient heating, air conditioning and Water Heater options.

Ed Lambert