Archive for the ‘Furnace’ Category

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Tacoma Heating Tip: Why is My Furnace Making That Noise?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Scheduling your furnace installation with a qualified professional and keeping up with regular, preventive maintenance can help keep your furnace operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. Every now and then, though, even with meticulous service and care, problems do come up. There are few things more disconcerting to a homeowner than the development of strange noises emanating from the furnace in their Tacoma home.

At Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning we like to remind homeowners that some noises from your furnace are either no problem at all or tend to be minor. This does not mean that you should not seek professional services if you are concerned about your furnace, of course, but rather that you should keep calm and not assume the worst. Here are a few examples of common furnace noises and their causes.

Many homeowners may notice a high pitched whining sound coming from their furnace. There are a lot of possible causes that may lead to such a sound, and many are easy to resolve. A belt in your furnace may be loose or bearings may need lubrication. It may also be indicative of leaking air ducts.

A low rumbling sound coming from your furnace may occur as the air ducts acclimate to the warm air flowing through them. If it is persistent, though, you may have a problem with your pilot light or burners. Obviously this is a problem that should be dealt with right away, so be sure to call us the moment you have cause for concern. Simply paying attention to your furnace is a great way to keep it operating safely.

One of the most common sounds you may hear during the operation of your furnace is a rattling. This will generally result from a loose component of the furnace. It may not be that simple, though, and this rattling sound may actually pose a serious threat. If your heat exchanger is malfunctioning or there is a problem with the combustion chamber you may experience a carbon monoxide leak. Again, only a Tacoma heating professional service technician can tell you for sure.

When you notice strange sounds coming from your furnace in Tacoma it is always best to call a professional. As you can see, there are a variety of possible causes to these sounds. A professional from Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning can determine if there is any real cause for concern.

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Seattle Heating Tip: Reasons Your Furnace Is Producing No Heat

Monday, September 24th, 2012

It can very inconvenient when your Seattle furnace stops producing any heat. While it may seem like a total emergency, there are some potentially simple causes and solutions for this problem, such as:

  • The thermostat may be set too low or on the wrong setting. Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes the solution is staring you right in the face. Check that your thermostat is set high enough to call for heat and that it is on HEAT mode.
  • A circuit breaker may be tripped or a fuse may be blown. It could be the one dedicated to the thermostat, glow coil igniter or furnace itself. Check the breaker or fuse box in your home and either flip the breaker or replace the fuse. If it continues to trip or blow, get it looked at professionally—there may be a bigger problem going on.
  • The thermostat may not be working, so it is either improperly detecting the temperature or improperly reporting it to the furnace, so the heat does not kick on. Either way, it probably needs to be replaced.
  • The furnace is not igniting properly. This could mean the pilot light is out on furnaces without electric ignition, the gas valve is closed and can’t ignite or some other ignition malfunction. Check the pilot and gas valves to make sure they are on and working.

If you have checked all these things and the thermostat still is not working, or if you don’t feel comfortable looking into these causes on your own, you are best served by calling a Seattle heating professional to diagnose and fix the furnace.

Often, these big failures are just the symptom of a smaller problem, so in all likelihood you won’t have to replace the furnace or do any major repairs, especially if it has been well-maintained throughout its life. Call Bob’s Heating and Air for heating service in the Seattle area!

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Spring Newsletter

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Check out our Spring Newsletter for informative articles on your Air Conditioning and Heating needs, along with promotions, customer testimonials, a health tip, and a delicious spring recipe for you to try!

Tulips

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How Much Electricity Does a Gas Furnace Use?

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

The answer to the question “How much electricity does a gas furnace use?” could sound like a silly question; in fact, electricity is necessary for several important tasks as part of the more efficient gas furnaces.

Lighting the Torch

Gas is the fuel that fires the flame that heats the air that warms your Seattle home, but electricity is the spark that lights the gas.  The flame is not roaring all the time or just ignites spontaneously.  Think of the athlete igniting the Olympic torch.

A low voltage electric signal from the thermostat opens the valve that controls the amount of gas flow and therefore the flame.  A solenoid coil in the valve senses gas and ensures flame to prevent an explosion or leakage, then opens wide to let the heating begin and shuts down when the desired temperature is reached.

Blown Away

All that heated air must be moved through the ductwork and distributed room to room to create the comfort and this is done by a motor-driven fan which is the largest use of electricity in a gas furnace.  The motor turns on and shuts down according to the relationships between flame, heated air and the thermostat setting.

Known as a draft inducer, a second fan is employed to remove the toxic fumes that are the residue of the burned gas.  These fumes which can be deadly are usually pushed through a PVC pipe to the exterior and released safely into the atmosphere.

Sum Total

The amount of electricity used to ignite the flame is very small, phased through a low-voltage impulse wire, nearly too small to even show on your meter.  Most of the electrical energy contributing the critical role of powering the two fans in gas furnaces adds up typically to less than 600 watts at any given time or about the same as a few light bulbs.

While gas furnaces are much more efficient and less costly than any kind of electric heat, they are useless (and even dangerous) without that little bit of electrical help.

If you have any questions about how your Seattle heating system works, give Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning a call today!

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Unusual Heating Tips for Tacoma Residents

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Finding new ways to lower the heating bills for your Tacoma home is always a challenge. Maybe you’ve already insulated and sealed every crawlspace and crack, or you might have recently upgraded to that new furnace installation, but there are always other ways to reduce heat loss in the winter.

Here are five ways to conserve heat that you might not have considered.

1. Insulate Recessed Light Fixtures While recessed light fixtures save space and give you more control over lighting and design, such as task lighting in kitchens, they can be a hidden source of heat loss. Feel around your recessed lighting fixtures to see if there’s cool air or a draft. If you do, they could need more insulation. However, you have to be extremely cautious about what type of insulation you use around electrical wiring and fixtures. Check with the manufacturer, or call an electrician if you aren’t sure what type of insulation to use.

2. Insulate Water Heater Tanks Part of your heating bill each month goes to heating the water in your home. Whether you have a gas, electric, solar, or hybrid hot water heater, every water heater tank has an R-value that determines how much heat it loses. If you have a low R-value, your tank may need more insulation. Call a professional plumber or check your owner’s manual for the R-value of the model you own, but the general rule is that if the tank is warm when you touch it, you may need to buy a “jacket” for your water heater. These are fairly inexpensive, easy to install, and can be found relatively anywhere you buy insulation.

3. Open Curtains on South End The southern end of your home will get the most sunlight in the winter. If you have curtains or blinds on your windows or doors, leave them open during the day, and make sure you close them at night. Opening them will help warm up the home naturally during the day, and closing them will help keep the cold air out and warm air in at night.

4. Storm Windows and Doors Many homeowners know they have the option of upgrading old doors and windows that leak air, but not everyone can afford to upgrade all the doors and windows at once. You can also install storm windows and doors to help reserve heat. Before you start comparing prices, remember to measure, since measurements will affect the cost.

5. Close Fireplace Flue Whenever your flue is open, you are losing large amounts of heat. Close the damper if the fireplace or chimney is not being used. You can also consider upgrading to a more air tight damper.

You can always call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning whenever you have questions about lowering your heating costs for your Tacoma home.

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Seattle Heating Q/A: Why Does My Furnace’s Pilot Light Keep Going Off?

Friday, February 17th, 2012

If you have an older furnace in Seattle, with a gas pilot light and it keeps going out, heating your home can become a frustrating process. Not only are you forced to trudge downstairs to light it every time you need heat, but you’re probably starting to worry that you will  need furnace maintenance or with your gas supply. Here are some possible reasons for your pilot light shutting off and what you can do about them.

  • Thermocouple – The thermocouple is used to generate electricity from the gas being burned by the pilot light to power the sensor that keeps the pilot light running. So, if the thermocouple goes bad or gets blocked in some way, the sensor won’t work properly and your pilot light won’t remain lit. Even a small problem with the thermocouple can lead to the valve closing and the pilot light going out.
  • Gas Pressure – If the gas pressure going to your furnace is too low, due to a leak, pipe problem or another appliance, the pilot light may not have enough gas to stay lit. While it is possible that the problem is not related to gas pressure, anything that affects the flow of gas into your home should be inspected by a professional. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company immediately.
  • Mercury Sensor – The sensor in your pilot light that maintains the flow of gas to keep it lit can go bad. Keep in mind that these sensors almost always used to contain mercury (and often still do), so you should be careful with them. It’s best to call a professional who can replace and dispose of it properly.
  • Dirty Burners – Excess dust, lint, rust or sulfur build up can result in blockage of the burner holes. When this happens, gas will flood into the chamber but not light right away. When it does finally light, it will create a small boom or banging sound that will often put out the pilot light. Not only is this inconvenient, it is very dangerous. Fortunately, it can be avoided with annual cleanings of your furnace.

The best way to keep your pilot light lit at all times is to have someone inspect it once a year. If something happens in between, you can usually rule out cleanliness issues and call in a professional to check the thermocouple and sensor.

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Electric Furnaces in Pierce County

Monday, February 13th, 2012

There are many types of furnaces in Pierce County that use a variety of energy sources to operate. Gas furnaces use natural or propane gas, boilers and radiators use water, heated by electricity. And then there are electric furnaces, which may have an advantage over other energy sources based on energy costs.

Simply put, electric furnaces function through the use of electricity. They do not require the use of any type of fuel – but function through wires and chords. An electric furnace uses heating coils, sometimes referred to as “resistance calrods” to create heat directly in the air flow. Inside the furnace cabinet are controls, a blower, and the circuit breakers for the heating elements. Some furnaces have the breakers accessible from the outside of the cabinet.

Other add-on accessories may include an electronic air cleaner, air filter, humidifier, high performance media filter, and air conditioning evaporator coil.

The heating process begins with the home’s thermostat. A drop in temperature is sensed by the thermostat, which alerts the electric furnace. The coil then warms up, thanks to the electric current that passes through it. The heated coil in turn heats the temperature of the air around it, which is then blown into the house through a blower. The pressure that is exerted by the blower on the heated air, warms it further. The blower is able to overcome the resistance of the duct work and replace unheated, colder air with the heated air. In most homes there are various return air ducts that are used to bring in the colder air to the furnace. This cold air travels through the furnace, through an air filter, the blower, and finally through the heat exchanger. After this it will then be pushed back into the house as warm air.

To maintain a supply of fresh air in the house, some furnaces also suck air from the atmosphere outside. After the air in the house reaches a particular temperature, the thermostat automatically shuts off the electric furnace.

An electric furnace may be less costly to run, depending on the price of electricity versus other sources like natural gas, propane gas, or oil. Gas and oil are fossil fuels and burning them leaves a “carbon footprint” – the release of carbon compounds and gases into the atmosphere. An electric furnace does not burn fuel and thus does not leave a carbon footprint. This electric warming process results in fewer particulates and contaminants in the air, too.  Please contact Bob’s Heating and AC with any questions about this topic.

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Bellevue HVAC Q&A: Is Your Heat Going Out Your Attic?

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Whether you have a brand new, state of the art home heating system or an older one that’s still getting the job done, you want to know that you’re able to make use of all the heat you’re paying for. There are many things you can do to try and improve the overall energy efficiency of your house including insulating walls and basements, sealing doors and windows, and purchasing the most energy efficient products on the market. But unless you also do something to stop it, you’ll still lose a lot of heat through your attic.

How Your Heating System Works

As you’ve probably heard over and over since you were a kid, heat rises. That means that all of the heat generated by your home heating system is going to try and find its way to the highest point in your home (and beyond, if it can). As that heat moves up, the air in the lower levels of your house will cool and your heating system will switch into gear to provide more heat to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

If there isn’t a proper barrier, either between your living space and the floor of your attic or between your attic and the outside, the heat your system produces will keep on travelling right up and through your home. That means your heating pump will work constantly to keep the living areas of your home comfortable, while you pay extra for heat that goes directly outside.

While this sounds like a dramatic process, it’s probably not something you would be aware of, particularly if you have a new, energy efficient heating system in place. But whether you think your attic insulation is a problem or not, it’s definitely worth getting it checked. If it turns out that you don’t have adequate attic insulation or the insulation in place is too old to provide a proper barrier, you might be shocked to see what a difference new insulation can make.

When you’re no longer losing heat through your attic, your monthly energy bills will immediately go down. Plus, your home heating system won’t have to work so hard to keep the living spaces in your home at a comfortable temperature, and that will help to increase the lifespan of your system, saving you even more money in the long term.  If you have any questions about these heating tips please contact Bob’s Heating and AC.

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Handy Ways to Remember Your Filter Changing Schedule in Sammamish

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Changing the air filters in your furnace and air conditioner is an essential maintenance task in Sammamish. The benefits of having a fresh filter for the air circulating in your home are numerous. The better air quality is good for your respiratory health, fewer allergens permeate the air, your system runs more efficiently and you save money. So why is it so difficult to remember to replace those filters? To help prevent those issues, try some of these tips to remember your replacement schedule.

Set Reminders for Later

Think of the last time you inspected and replaced your air filter. Was it more than three months ago? Replace it now. Can’t remember? Replace it anyway. Go ahead; this post will wait. Now that you’ve taken care of that, set a reminder for three months from now. Try one of these systems to remind yourself:

  • Put it into your cell phone calendar.
  • Use a calendar application that sends email alerts to remind you.
  • Circle the day on your wall or desk calendar.

Whatever method works best for you, make sure to use it and stick to it. While you are at it, set monthly reminders to inspect the filters. The EPA recommends making the switch every three months, or whenever the filter is visibly dirty.

Make a Connection

If you don’t like to have reminders, or perhaps find yourself forgetting to even set the reminders, hope is not lost. Try scheduling filter changes to coincide with something you will remember, or putting it on the same day as other routine maintenance tasks. Here are some examples:

  • Make the day of the month the same as that of your birthday or anniversary. Bonus points if your birthday is June 25, since that combines with Christmas to take care of two replacements a year. Just remember March and September and you are all set!
  • Three months is about as often as cars need oil changes, so do both on the same day. Drove 3000 miles already? Time to change the furnace filter.
  • Schedule on a holiday. In the U.S., for example, Martin Luther King Day, Easter Sunday, the Fourth of July and Columbus Day are all approximately three months from one another.

The Failsafe

If all else fails, hire a professional to inspect and change the filters for you, and rely on his appointment keeping skills to make up for any memory lapses you may have. It will cost a bit more than DIY, but at least it will get done, and the maintenance will save you on the costs of wasted energy.  If you have any questions about changing your filters contact the pros at Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

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A Question from Burlington: What Does a Furnace Fan Limit Switch Do?

Monday, December 19th, 2011

When researching your Burlington home’s furnace and potential problems it might have, you’ve probably run across a few references to the fan limit switch. And while you know that it can break in a number of ways, do you know what the switch does and what you should look for when checking your furnace its air handler for problems?

What the Limit Switch Does

To put it very simply, the furnace fan limit switch is a control that tells your furnace’s fan when to turn on and off. So, when the furnace isn’t on, it tells the blower not to operate (and send cold air into your home) and when the furnace is on, it tells the blower to turn on and start circulating the warm air.

While the primary function of the limit switch is to turn the blower fan on and off, it also has a safety role. When the temperature in the air supply plenum gets too hot, the limit switch turns off the furnace boiler to keep there from being any damage from overheating. This is handy if there is a blockage in the air vents or the controls are messed up due to water damage or improper adjustments to the settings.

Looking for Problems

Most of the time, when there is an issue with your furnace turning off or on frequently, the limit switch is one of the first things you will check. Because the switch is electronic and is attached to a thermostat which measures temperature in the air supply plenum, a small problem can result in it not working properly. So, you can easily check it by temporarily bypassing the switch and seeing if your device turns on or off properly.

In many cases, if the limit switch is the problem, you will still need to call a professional for replacement, but you can avoid a lot of headaches related to tracking down the source of the problem. If you suspect a limit switch problem, make sure to call someone immediately, because it does provide an important safety function and because without it your furnace won’t cycle on and off properly.

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