Category: Furnaces

Do Some Simple Checks Before Calling Your Furnace Repair Technician

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

While most furnace repair work should be performed by a professional, there are some simple fixes that you may be able to do yourself. For example, if your furnace is not getting enough heat, check that the main breaker is open and the furnace switch is on. But if the breaker or fuse trips after you have reset it, call a professional furnace technician.

Here are some other minor checks that you can do:

  • Check the filter. If it’s dirty, you can clean it or replace it, and if it’s damaged, you can replace it.
  • Check if the blower belt is broken or loose. If it’s loose, a simple adjustment may do the trick, and if it’s broken, you can replace it.
  • If the ducts are clogged, clean out the blower assembly. This too is a simple furnace repair job.

The Furnace Doesn’t Run At All

A possible cause is no power. If so, you’ll need to check for any blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers on the main entrance panel. Check the separate entrance panel also, and in or on the furnace. A motor overload could be another reason why your furnace doesn’t run. Wait for about 30 minutes, and then press the reset button.

The Blower Won’t Stop Running

If the blower control is incorrectly set, reset the thermostat from the “on” position to the “auto” position. If you discover that the relays are not working properly while checking the blower, this problem must be attended to by an experienced furnace repair technician.

Different Options for Heating Your Household

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Household heating is an important part of the infrastructure to all houses. Even in the south, where the winters are mild, homes are likely to need heating for part of the year. So what are the options for household heating? We are going to look briefly at 3 types: electrical resistance heating, furnace heating, and heat pumps.

Electrical resistance heating is almost 100% effective in turning electricity into heat; that being said, the electricity used must be generated through the burning of fuels at power plants, and then transported to the heating system in a home. This process is usually only around 30% effective. Thus, electrical resistance heating is used more often in places that don’t require extensive heating for long periods of time. For places with greater heating demands, furnaces are usually more efficient.

Furnaces burn fuels such as oil or gas in heating a household. The older models were around 50% efficient (meaning 50% of the heat generated through the burning of the fuel is used in the heating of the house; the rest is lost). Newer furnace models are up to 98% efficient. In places with colder climates, furnaces are generally preferred for the heating of a building, be it residential or commercial.

Heat pumps are the third option for heating (and, in this case, cooling) your household. Heat pumps use electricity to move heat against its natural flow from a warmer place to a colder place. In the winter, for example, a heat pump would move any warmth from the cold outside to the warmer inside. They do not generate heat but only move it. Heat pumps are usually used for heating in more moderate climates and can be 30-40% more efficient than an electrical resistance heater.

Common Culprits That Call for Furnace Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Of course there are any number of things that necessitate furnace repair, certain problems occur much more commonly than others, as well as range from minor to potentially dangerous. Knowing what to look for can be helpful both in deciding how to proceed with the furnace repair process and also to help you communicate more effectively with your furnace repair technician.

One of the first things to check when your furnace fails to start is the thermostat. A faulty thermostat will not allow the furnace to recognize the need to start heating. The good news is a broken thermostat is also one of the more simple problems to have repaired.

If the furnace turns on, but one or two of the rooms of the house are not receiving air, the problem is likely to be in the air ducts themselves. Perhaps one or more of them are broken or have become blocked. This problem can become more difficult when the air ducts are in places difficult to reach.

If your furnace is lit, but none of the rooms are receiving air at, the problem could be the blower or the circulating fan. This problem will definitely call for a furnace repair. The blower takes the air from the cold rooms, runs them through the heat exchanger, warming the air, and then sends the warm air back into the house. A disruption in the flow of air can also cause overheating in the furnace itself.

Clogged, dirty, or blocked air filters can also cause problems and lead to furnace repair. It is essential to have clean and clear filters through which the air may move freely. Restricting the flow of air can cause unnecessary strain on the system and increase energy consumption. However, this problem is more an issue of maintenance. Make sure to clean your filters at a very minimum of once every three months during the use of the furnace; more often would be even better. Caring for and getting routine maintenance for your heating system will help prevent the need for furnace repair in the first place.

What to Know Before Furnace Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Updated: October 2023

If you have a furnace, chances are one day you will find yourself in need of furnace repair. When that day comes, it will be a good idea to know a few basics about the furnace you are using at home. This way, you will be able to communicate more easily with any technician who will be helping you in your furnace repair.

First thing’s first: you need to know what type of furnace you have. Modern furnaces are usually referred to by their efficiency of heat use, and whether they use propane (less common) or natural gas (more common). You may also have an oil heating system. Most older furnaces have an efficiency of 50-60%, while newer furnaces can range anywhere from 80-100% efficiency. When speaking of efficiency, we are saying how much of the generated heat will go into the actual heating of the house, and how much will be vented away to the outside without having been used. When looking at furnace repair, you may hear some discussion about the efficiency of your furnace.

It’s also helpful to have a basic knowledge of the parts and setup of your furnace. As you will most likely not be doing the actual furnace repair (a certified technician should absolutely be called), a simple familiarity with some of the major terms will be sufficient:

  • Gas line – Where the gas enters the furnace from an outside source.
  • Shut off valve – Stops the supply of gas to the furnace.
  • Pilot light – Small burning flame which stays lit and serves to light the burners.
  • Electronic igniter – Electric alternative to a pilot light. Does not stay lit, lights the burners much as a spark plug.
  • Burner – Where the gas is ignited in order to provide heat for the household.
  • Heat exchanger – Area inside the furnace which the burners heat up. Air moves through the heat exchanger in order to become warm.
  • Blower and circulating fan – Takes cooler air out of the house, moves it through the heat exchanger (where it becomes warm), and pushes back into the house.
  • Ducts – The ventilation through which the air travels around the house and back to the furnace.
  • Filter – Screen designed to take dust and small particles out of the air circulation, helping both to improve air quality and to keep the furnace clean.
  • Flue pipe – Removes to the outside of the house carbon monoxide and any other exhaust produced from burning gas. Older furnaces often vent through the chimney; newer, more efficient furnaces do not produce as much exhaust and, therefore, may vent through a small, independent pipe.

Is Air Conditioning Repair Really Something to Get So “Heated Up” Over?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Anyone who has experienced a problem requiring air conditioning repair, residential or commercial, during the more brutal months of the summer knows how frustrating and uncomfortable it can be. Whether or not you have had this awful experience, everyone dreads the day when either the vents stop blowing cool air or stop blowing air at all. But is the situation really so terrible as to warrant such feelings? The answer is: sometimes but not always! Here is a list of some of the more common problems associated with air conditioning repair, and it turns out not all of them are indeed so dire. Problems do, however, usually require the attention of a qualified technician.

A large portion of problems requiring air conditioning repair start at the initial installation of the air conditioner. The air conditioner is a complex machine combining several mechanical and chemical processes to function correctly, and therefore, it is no surprise that errors are possible during installation. Faulty wiring is one of the more common mistakes and can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. If your air conditioner stops turning on, the fault could lie in the wiring. For this reason, it is important to make sure to have a competent and qualified air conditioning repair technician service your system.

Bad wiring is undoubtedly bad, but another reason your air conditioner may have stopped turning on could be due to a problem with the compressor; and these problems can quickly become much more expensive. The compressor is one of the main components of your air conditioning system. You can help prevent restriction problems with the compressor by regularly cleaning the air filter, which, if clogged, can put a huge strain on the whole air conditioning system.

If your vents are blowing air, but the air is either not cooled sufficiently or not at all, the culprit is very possibly the coolant. Freon (prior to 2010) is the chemical usually used to cool the air going into a structure; if you are low on Freon, the air will not be cooled as you wish. However, a low level of coolant means you have a leak, which, while usually not the most serious of problems requiring a repair, must certainly be attended to by a qualified air conditioning technician.

Are Ductwork Leaks Costing You Money and Comfort? Five Signs to Look For

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Ductwork is the network of large pipes, that distribute heated or cooled air throughout your house. Ductwork leaks can cause even the best furnace, heat pump or air conditioner to function poorly and inefficiently.

Since the ductwork carries all of the air that keeps your home comfortable in each season, loose connections, unsealed gaps or other ductwork leaks can cause substantial air and energy loss. Up to 20 percent of the air in the ductwork can be wasted because of these leaks, which quickly adds up to a lot of money spent conditioning air that never gets used. In some cases, leaky ductwork can cause a danger to you and your family if harmful gases such as carbon monoxide are not properly vented to the outdoors.

Watch carefully for any of the following five signs of leaky, damaged or inefficient ductwork:

1. Abnormally high heating or cooling expenses or spikes in your bills that do not correspond to increased usage or outdoor temperatures

2. Problems heating or cooling particular rooms or areas appropriately

3. Noticeable air escaping around the side or edges of the fan section and or ductwork in attics or crawlspaces

4. Noticeable damage to sections of ductwork

5. Ducts installed in unconditioned or poorly conditioned locations, such as garages, unfinished or uninsulated basements or attics, or crawl spaces

By finding and sealing any leaks in your ductwork, you’ll see immediate savings on your monthly heating and cooling expenses. Contact your local trusted HVAC contractor for a professional duct sealing. HVAC experts can mechanically attach ductwork sections to each other for a better seal. They can also test for proper airflow and the presence of any harmful gases or fumes.

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been a trusted provider of professional heating and air conditioning services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas for 40 years. Contact us today for more information on reducing ductwork leaks and improving indoor comfort through proper sealing.

What Clicks, Pops and Goes Boom? An Ailing Heating System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Many furnaces may run quietly, but you can never expect a heating system to operate silently. There will always be some level of noise coming from your furnace as it runs, such as noise from the blower motor, from the burners switching on and off, or from components humming or rattling. However, if your furnace is starting to produce louder noises, more frequent noises, or noises you’ve never heard before, there’s a good chance that the system is in trouble and heading for a breakdown.

Booms and pops

If you have a gas furnace, be particularly cautious if you hear substantial booms, sharp pops, or loud explosions when the furnace burner ignites. The problem is even worse if these booms shake the furnace or your house. This could mean that volatile gas is accumulating and is burning off or exploding because of the burner flames. This problem is likely caused by clogged or dirty burners. This issue should be fixed immediately; if left unresolved, it could eventually lead to a catastrophic gas explosion.

Clicking

Clicking sounds could indicate the flame sensor, the device that detects whether the fuel has been ignited, is not working correctly. It should be cleaned by a certified technician as sandpaper or abrasive cloth can ruin some sensors.

Rattling

Rattling sounds often mean that something has come loose or isn’t secured properly. If the access door hasn’t been closed tightly, it could tap against the frame of the unit. Bolts or screws may need tightening. Rattling noises could also be caused by loose ductwork that needs to be refitted.

Squealing and grinding

A squealing sound may indicate the blower motor belt is slipping and needs to be tightened. A grinding sound could mean the blower motor bearings are wearing out and the entire motor may need to be replaced.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been providing professional HVAC services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for expert assistance with determining the cause of loud or unusual noises in your furnace. We can help fix the problem or find a new heating system that meets your home comfort needs and fits your budget.

Dealing With a Tagged Furnace: How to Make Smart Decisions When You’re Seeing Red

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When your local HVAC professional inspects your furnace during a maintenance call, he is obligated to respond to any safety issues he finds. For this reason, an unexpected result of preventive maintenance might be a red-tagged furnace. If your furnace is red-tagged, it means that an HVAC or utility company inspector has found a critical safety problem, most often a cracked heat exchanger, and that the furnace must be shut down and not used until the problem is resolved.

If this happens to you, it’s only normal that you’d be angry and frustrated enough to see red. However, it’s important to remember that decisions to red-tag a furnace are not made randomly, especially during the winter. If your furnace has been red-tagged, the unit is dangerous to operate and should be taken seriously as a genuine threat to the lives of everyone in your home.

A cracked heat exchanger can let dangerous carbon monoxide gas leak into your living areas. Usually this substance is safely expelled through the furnace’s ventilation system, but a crack or hole in the heat exchanger lets it leak into your home before it can be vented. Humans cannot detect carbon monoxide, and in the right concentration, it can kill.

In most cases, heat exchangers must be completely replaced. This can be expensive, with new heat exchangers often costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. The cost of replacing a heat exchanger may be more than that of replacing the entire furnace unit.

Consider replacing the exchanger if your furnace is under 10 years old, if the exchanger is covered under warranty, or if the repair costs less than 25 percent of total system replacement. Otherwise, a new furnace may be your best and safest option.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been providing professional services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on how to handle a red-tagged furnace, and for expert advice on whether it’s better to replace a cracked heat exchanger or the entire system.

Buying a Furnace On the Internet: That Deal Could Cost You

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’re facing the potentially costly prospect of buying a furnace, you could be tempted to look online for a cheaper unit. However, before sending your credit card information to an Internet dealer, there are a few issues to consider. What looks like an Internet bargain could end up being an expensive mistake.

Installation problems

You may have difficulty finding a licensed HVAC contractor willing to install a furnace you’ve purchased online. Many contractors refuse to install such equipment because they cannot offer or honor a warranty on it. Others may install in very limited cases. Contractors usually charge the same amount to install a unit you purchased online as they would to install a furnace you bought from them, further limiting your savings.

Unreliable warranty

Warranty issues may not only limit the number of contractors willing to work with equipment bought on the Internet, they may also leave you with parts or an entire furnace that won’t work, and a seller that won’t replace defective goods.

Incorrect purchase

When buying a furnace from a local HVAC supplier, part of what you pay for is professional expertise. Homeowners may not have the technical knowledge to purchase the correct furnace. A system purchased online may be too small or too large or it may not fit the physical layout of your house. It may also simply be the wrong type of equipment — a propane furnace, for example, will not work if you only have a natural gas connection.

Safety issues

Equipment purchased online may arrive damaged and unsafe to use. If the furnace is installed by an unlicensed individual, you could be violating local safety regulations. Worse, the unit itself may be dangerous to operate if fuel supplies aren’t properly hooked up or if carbon monoxide is not safely vented out of your home.

Contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today for expert in-person help with choosing and installing a heating system that will fit both your home comfort needs and your budget. We’ve been providing professional heating and cooling services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas for 40 years.

Heating Efficiency: Four Ways to Help Your Furnace and Ductwork Do Their Job

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If solutions existed that could maximize your heating efficiency, wouldn’t you want to know about them? Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical mission is to help homeowners stay comfortable and save money, and we don’t “hide” industry secrets from homeowners — we help them. With that in mind, here are four of our best tips to help you optimize the efficiency of your heating system for the ultimate in energy savings.

The ductwork in your home is prone to losing energy. Because it is comprised of a series of connected pipes, these connections can and will loosen over time. In fact, ductwork can lose up to 30 percent of conditioned air that travels through it, and is known as one of the most common contributors to energy losses, so taking action here can translate into significant savings.

The ducts in most homes should have dampers that you can manually adjust. Optimizing the position of the dampers will allow more or less air into your home. If you have rooms that are overly hot or cold, you can avoid energy losses by adjusting the dampers to provide precise amounts of heated air into each space.

The state of your return grilles is just as important as supply ducts. In fact, they are critical to creating an exact amount of return airflow back into the furnace to keep it running efficiently. In general, homes tend to have insufficient returns, so have a professional assess your home’s returns and make necessary adjustments.

Once your ducts are sealed, dampers adjusted, and cold-air returns upgraded, it’s time to work some magic with the thermostat. Setting the temperature low enough while maintaining comfort is a delicate balance, but you can expect, as a rule of thumb, a savings of one percent on energy bills if you turn down the thermostat by just one degree. Higher setbacks, obviously, get higher savings.

Level the playing field for heating efficiency by sealing ducts, using dampers, ensuring airflow return. Then, let your thermostat do the work! In the Greater Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for help with all of your home needs.