Posts Tagged ‘Furnace Repair’

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How Can I Tell if My Brick, NJ Furnace Blower Motor is Defective?

Monday, March 18th, 2013

You rely on your furnace to provide heating when you need it, no matter time of year. Spring is often a great time to make any necessary repairs or replacements to your heating system, without the risk of extensive downtime during the cold months. One of the most common problems with the home furnace is that its blower motor does not run properly. While a professional diagnosis is best left to your local heating technician, there are some signs that your furnace blower motor is defective. For comprehensive furnace repair and replacement in Brick, NJ, call Heritage Air & Heat today.

Your furnace blower motor is controlled by a thermostat. When the hot air in the furnace reaches a certain temperature, the motor should turn on and blow hot air through the air handler. A defective blower motor halts this process, and your furnace can’t work without it. Here are some common problems:

  • Blower doesn’t turn on. This is hazardous because you don’t want heat to buildup in your furnace firebox with nowhere to go. This is probably an electrical issue.
  • Blower doesn’t shut off. While this is better than its opposite, your blower should not blow hot air before the system reaches a certain temperature. This could also be a problem with your thermostat.
  • Faulty fan limit switch. This device controls when the furnace blower turns on and off, in order to prevent the furnace from blowing cold air into the home. But it’s also a safety control that protects the furnace heat exchanger from damage if the temperature inside the furnace gets too high. As an auxiliary component of the blower motor, it may require repair or replacement as necessary.
  • Blower is too noisy. This could be a dry bearing or a loose belt that connects the blower motor to the fan. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may indicate either repair or replacement.

Keeping an eye on your furnace blower motor is an important step to maintaining the integrity and safety of your system. For comprehensive furnace blower motor repair or replacement in Brick, NJ, call Heritage Air & Heat today! 

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Toms River, NJ Furnace Repair: Signs and Symptoms of an Aging Furnace

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Is your furnace old and worn out? Does it no longer produce enough heat for your home? Recognizing the warning signs of furnace repair in Toms River, NJ is the first step towards ensuring that your home is comfortable all year long. Don’t let furnace issues get in the way of efficient and effective home heating. Call Heritage Air & Heat for all of your furnace repair needs.

Signs Your Need Furnace Repair

  • Uneven heat. Hot and cold spots throughout your home can have a variety of causes, from dirty air filters to leaky ductwork, but it may also indicate that your air handler or fan blower is no longer operating correctly.
  • Inadequate heat. Nothing’s worse than listening to your furnace run all day only to find that it still isn’t up to the task of heating your home adequately. If your heating system no longer produces the warmth and comfort that you  need, you obviously need repairs.
  • Loud noises. If your furnace makes a loud banging noise, or another unusual sound, there might be an issue with the fuel supply, ignition, or the fan motor. Not only are they disruptive, but they can also cause inefficient heating, which can result in higher heating costs.
  • Spike in fuel bill. Unless fuel prices have gone up recently, a spike in your fuel bills is often the result of an efficiency problem somewhere within your heating system: possibly the ductwork or air filters, but it can also mean something is wrong with the internal components of your furnace. Call a pro to come check it out.

We hope these signs and symptoms help you decide when to call about furnace repair. If you have any doubts about your furnace, hire a professional sooner than later. However, the best way to stay on top of your aging furnace is to schedule regular preventive maintenance. Only by letting a professional inspect, clean and make repairs on a routine basis will you be able to ensure the longevity of your furnace. Heritage Air & Heat offers both routine and emergency furnace repairs in Toms River, NJ .  Call us today!

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Brick NJ Heating Question: Why Do Gas Furnaces Use Electricity?

Monday, March 4th, 2013

You rely on your home furnace to provide efficient heating throughout your home. While your gas furnace uses natural gas to power the production of heat, it also relies on a nominal amount of electricity in order to perform certain functions. Gas furnaces are some of the most efficient heaters on the market, with some reaching the 97% AFUE ratings, which means nearly all of the combusted fuel is used for heating, with very little waste. Heritage Air & Heat is committed to providing comprehensive heating repair in Brick, NJ and heating installation. Here is a quick explanation of why your gas furnace needs electricity.

So, why do gas furnaces use electricity? There are a few essential functions of your gas furnace that cannot be done without being plugged in. The first is ignition. Automatic electric ignition allows your furnace to operate without a standing pilot light. This generally increases the safety of your gas furnace because there is no need to rely on a pilot light, which can be easily blown out by a strong draft or by clogged debris in the supply valve. The second is the blower motor. Without a powered blower motor, the hot air your gas furnace produces would not reach the various spaces of your home. The next is also a fan, and is known as a draft inducer. This safely exhausts the fumes produced by your gas furnace into the outside air so that it does not mix with the clean hot circulating in your ductwork.

Those are the basic components of your gas furnace that require electricity. But the gas furnace is only part of a larger heating system. Your thermostat also requires electricity. For more information about how your furnace works, call a Brick  NJ furnace repair specialists at Heritage Air & Heat. We install, repair and maintain a wide variety of gas furnaces. Call us today!

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Warning Signs of Furnace Problems: A Point Pleasant, NJ Furnace Guide

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Furnaces are one of the most common heating systems in the country. They provide consistent and efficient heat for many homeowners in Point Pleasant, NJ. However, like everything else they eventually can start to have problems. At Heritage Air and Heat, we offer complete furnace repairs in Point Pleasant, NJ. We wanted to put together a list of some of the more common furnace repairs that we see so that you’ll be able to recognize the issues when they happen to you.

Strange Furnace Sounds

Your furnace usually makes sounds as it operates but if you start to notice new or strange sounds you should definitely pay attention. Here are some of the more common furnace sounds that could indicate that you need repairs.

  • Rattling – While rattling can sometimes indicate a loose bolt, it can also mean that your heat exchanger is cracked. The heat exchanger in your furnace is responsible for exhausting all of the dangerous combustion gases that result from burning fuel—this includes carbon monoxide. If you hear rattling from your furnace, call your local heating contractor.
  • Rumbling – If you have an oil-fired furnace that is rumbling it can sometimes mean that there is uncombusted fuel in the fuel chamber. This is obviously a safety issue.

No Heat or Not Enough Heat

If your furnace has stopped producing heat or if it isn’t producing enough heat, you probably need to call for furnace repairs in Point Pleasant, NJ.

  • Thermostat – Heat problems can be caused by the thermostat in your home. If it’s malfunctioning it could be causing your furnace not to provide enough heat.
  • Air filter – If the air filter in your furnace is clogged it could be restricting the flow of air into your home. This can obviously cause your home not to get enough hot air.
  • Pilot light/thermocouple – If you’re having issues with your pilot light it could keep your home from getting enough heat. The thermocouple in your furnace is a safety feature that shuts off the flow of gas into your furnace if the pilot light goes out. If the thermocouple in your furnace isn’t working well it could shut off the gas in your furnace.

If you need any kind of furnace repairs in Point Pleasant, NJ, call the experts at Heritage Air and Heat.

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3 Furnace Repairs You Should Watch Out For in Brick Township

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Do you lay awake at night worrying about the furnace in your Brick Township home? Probably not. But when your furnace breaks down you probably spend a lot of time thinking about it. Most people realize that their furnace needs help when it stop producing heat. But there are other problems that might not be as obvious as no heat. At Heritage Air and Heat, we’ve been providing furnace repair services in the Brick Township area for many years. We’ve seen all different kinds of furnace problems. We thought it would be good if we put together some of the less obvious furnace issues that we’ve repaired.

Yellow Burner Flames

Unless you check on your furnace regularly, this is something that might go unnoticed to most homeowners in Brick Township. If you notice that the flames from your burner are yellow or if they’re swaying and wiggling it could be a huge problem. This can sometimes mean that your heat exchanger is cracked. Your heat exchanger is supposed to heat the air and also exhaust dangerous combustion fumes, including carbon monoxide. If your heat exchanger is cracked, it could be allowing carbon monoxide to get into your home.

Furnace Sounds

When you turn on your furnace, it probably makes some noises. Many people in Brick Township don’t pay any attention to those sounds—but you should. The sounds that your furnace makes when it starts up, as it’s running and when it turns off can tell you a lot about how well it is operating. Here are some sounds to watch out for:

  • Rattling – If you notice that your furnace makes a rattling sound it could be something as simple as a loose cover. But it could be that the heat exchanger is cracked.
  • Rumbling – If you have an oil-fired furnace and you hear a rumbling sound, this could mean that there is fuel still burning in the combustion chamber after the furnace is turned off. This is also a very dangerous situation.

Ductwork

Problems with your ductwork generally don’t pose any danger to your safety. But they can cause issues for your utility bill. If the ducts in your Brick Township home have cracks or leaks, you could be wasting energy. You pay for the fuel that heats the air that travels through your ducts. With leaking ducts, a lot of that heated air can escape outside. Having your ducts inspected and sealed is a great way to keep more of that hot air in your home.

If you’re having any of these issues in your Brick Township home, call the furnace experts at Heritage Air and Heat. We offer comprehensive furnace and duct repair services throughout the Brick Township area. Call us today!

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Brick NJ Heating Question: Why Is My Gas Furnace Leaking Water?

Monday, October 29th, 2012

It sounds counterintuitive that a gas-fired furnace would produce water. Furnaces that burn fuel to create heat aren’t known for producing water as a by-product. While it may be strange, it isn’t unheard of. There are a couple different ways that your Brick NJ gas furnace can leak water. Below we describe some of the problems that we’ve seen or heard of that can cause this. If your your notice any part of your HVAC system is leaking water, you should probably call a repair technician to your home to look at it.

Combustion Gases

Furnaces with an AFUE rating of 90 percent or above capture additional heat from combustion gasses before they exit the system. This takes place in the flue and involves cooling the gasses. This can form highly corrosive moisture inside the furnace that needs to be disposed of properly. This is normally accomplished with a gravity drain or a condensate pump. This system could be at fault if your heater has a heat recovery system like this.

Air Conditioning System Leaks

Your air handler is basically a big fan that pushes hot air through your house. When you need cooling, your air conditioning condensing unit (which is normally outside) pumps refrigerant to an evaporator coil that is inside the air handler. These coils produce condensation that drips onto a condensate pan which drains it away from your air handler to the outside. If that pan or connected tubes become clogged, it can result in water leaks.

 Roof Leaks

There could be a simpler cause too. If you live in an area where there is snow or rain, water could be leaking down your flue or exhaust system and into your furnace. This is obviously undesirable and should be checked immediately.

If your gas furnace is leaking, it’s time to call Heritage Air and Heat. We have years of experience offering heating services in Brick NJ, and with diagnosing complex problems like this. Our professional heating technicians can get your system back in order quickly.

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Brick NJ Heating Tip: Replace vs Repair Your Furnace

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

It’s inevitable that your Brick NJ heating system will need repairs someday. Eventually, it will need to be replaced as well. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your furnace as opposed to just repairing it. There are a number of things to consider as you make this decision. We’ve done our best to outline some of the major considerations for you as you move forward with this.

Age of Your Furnace

Determining the age of your furnace is probably a good place to start. Sometimes the installer will write the date that it was installed right on the unit. If it’s not there, check the inside of the chamber door for a metal plate that contains the model number and serial number. You can call the manufacturer to find out the date it was made.  If you are having repair issues and your furnace is past three-quarters of its lifespan, call your local heating company for advice. It might be time to replace.

Cost

The cost of the repairs and the replacement is most likely one of the main reasons why you’re here. The good news is that furnaces are relatively inexpensive to replace. So if the cost of repeated repairs is starting to add up, it might save you money in the long run to replace your furnace, especially if it is an older model.

Efficiency

Having your furnace regularly maintained is a great way to potentially reduce the amount of repairs you need and increase the efficiency of your system. But if you have an older system, replacement might be the only way to truly achieve the heating efficiency that you want. Some older systems have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of around 70%. That means in a year, your furnace will convert 70% of the fuel you buy into actual heat. Repairing your furnace won’t make increase that number—only replacing it will. Newer systems can have AFUE rating of up to 95%.

Safety

If safety has become an issue for your furnace, then replacement is almost always the only option. Newer furnaces have a host of safety features that can protect you, your family and your property from carbon monoxide poisoning and fire damage. If your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, it can allow carbon monoxide and other harmful gasses to escape into the air in your home. This is a serious problem you should have addressed immediately.

If you have any questions about repair or replacing the furnace in your Brick NJ home, call the experts at Heritage Air & Heat today!

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Heating Guide from Toms River NJ: Most Common Furnace Repairs

Monday, October 15th, 2012

At Heritage Air & Heat, we get calls for service for a few common furnace problems and we thought it would be a good idea to share them with you.

Thermostat Problems

If the thermostat is broken or malfunctioning, it could cause a variety of issues with your furnace. It might be telling your furnace that your house doesn’t need heat—even if your house is cold. The opposite could be true: your furnace could be producing heat when it’s already warm enough inside. So if your furnace isn’t producing heat or it’s making your house too hot, the thermostat might be the culprit.

Air Flow Problems

We see this too: the furnace is running but only a small amount of air is coming out of the registers. This could be the result of faulty fan motor or a belt that is broken or deteriorated. The bearings in the fan motor could also be faulty. In any case, this means that your furnace’s fan, which pushes the heated air throughout your home, isn’t doing its job and probably needs to be repaired or replaced.

Lack of Filter Maintenance

The most by far one of the most common problems we hear about. Some people don’t realize that their furnace has an air filter that needs to be changed regularly. If it’s left unchecked, the filter can fill up with dust and dirt and cause the air to be restricted. This can be repaired by simply removing and replacing the filter.

Igniter, Flame Sensor and Pilot Light Issues

One of the other places where we see problems is with the igniter and flame sensors. Flame sensors are a safety feature on some models of furnaces. They sit inside the flame of your furnace to make sure that all the burners have successfully lit. If it senses that one is not lit, it will shut down your furnace. Like most components in your furnace, these need regular maintenance to make sure that they function correctly. The igniter is a rod that glows red and lights your furnace. If you turn on your furnace and it doesn’t light then the igniter might be to blame. This could also be the result of a faulty pilot light.

If you are experiencing any of these issues in Toms River or the surrounding area, you should call Heritage Air & Heat today for fast and reliable service.

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Plainsboro Heating Repair Guide: Furnace Control Boards

Monday, February 6th, 2012

One way to be a truly responsible Plainsboro homeowner is to familiarize yourself with the major systems and appliances in your home. By having at least some understanding of how, say, your refrigerator or toilet work, you gain understanding of how to use them efficiently and detect when something goes wrong.

The same is true of your furnace, which can appear to be a complicated piece of machinery. In order to help you get acquainted with your furnace, we will discuss one of its main control components, the furnace control board.

As the name suggests, furnace control boards are responsible for governing the operation of the furnace. At a minimum, a simple furnace control will control the furnace ignitor (e.g., a spark generator or glow coil), the gas valve and the furnace thermocouple, also called a flame sensor.

More complex furnace control boards will also have control over the blowers and/or the built-in diagnostic system.

To simplify things, you can think of the furnace control board as being a driver and the furnace as its car. Just as the driver oversees all the functions and operation of the car from ignition to shutting off the engine, likewise does the control board for the furnace.

A typical operation sequence for a furnace control board goes something like this:

  1. The control board receives a signal from the thermostat that the temperature is too low.
  2. It starts the ignition system, whether that be a spark generator, glow coil or pilot light.
  3. Once the ignitor is hot, the furnace control board initiates the flow of gas through the burners, where it is ignited.
  4. The control board keeps the furnace running until it is signaled by the thermostat that the temperature is now high enough, or until it detects something is wrong.

(An example of a malfunction where the control board would get involved is a thermocouple that is not detecting enough heat. In this case, the control board would shut off the gas flow to prevent a leak into the home.)

Furnace control boards are an essential part of your home’s HVAC system. And now, as a responsible homeowner, you know just how important. If suspect a problem with your furnace control board, call Heritage Air & Heat today to have it inspected by one of our highly trained Plainsboro technicians.

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Spring Lake Heating Question: What is a Gas Furnace Draft Hood?

Friday, January 20th, 2012

As every Spring Lake HVAC contractor knows, a draft hood is a necessary part of any gas burning appliance. For a gas furnace in particular it ensures steady air flow to the burners to avoid flares or the pilot light being put out by fluctuation in temperature and air flow.

What the Draft Hood Does

The draft will change in the chimney as exhaust vents towards it – especially when going from cold air to hot. A draft hood is placed above the upper most part of the gas furnace to draw air into the chimney and makes it possible to draw more or less air through the chimney as necessary to create a constant flow.

This makes it possible for the burner to enjoy consistent air flow without any wind gusts or sudden temperature spikes or drops. Hot air, if not put through a draft hood would create a strong air flow through the burners.

A draft hood cools the air as it is released by the burners from 500 degrees F to between 300 degrees F and 350 degrees F. The cooling needs to be carefully calibrated to avoid condensation build up in the chimney however – a problem that occurs when the temperature gets too low.

Maintaining Pressure

The draft hood is a part of a larger system designed to maintain air flow to the chimney. For every cubic foot of gas burned, the furnace needs to have 15 cubic feet of air for combustion and another 15 cubic feet of air for dilution. A draft hood and the rest of the ventilation system make it possible to put a furnace that has many thousands of BTUs in the basement of your home and still supply it with enough air to burn gas and dilute the exhaust before it enters the chimney.

For all of these reasons, if you see your pilot light flickering irregularly, notice a backflow of exhaust or a burning smell in your furnace room, it’s important to call a professional who can inspect and repair the problem before it becomes any worse. Not only can gas burner exhaust contain high levels of carbon monoxide, it can be bad for the device and the chimney if it doesn’t vent properly.

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