Posts Tagged ‘Heating Repair’

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Princeton, NJ Boiler Guide: Recognizing a Need for Boiler Repair

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Identifying the need for boiler repair is the first and most vital part of keeping your home heating system up and running efficiently and effectively. While you can leave the diagnostics and repair duties to the professionals, the responsibility of recognizing your heating needs is yours alone. In this post, the Princeton boiler repair experts at Heritage Air & Heat would like to inform you about some common indications that you need boiler repair. As one of the leading experts in the area, you can count us for quick, reliable boiler repair service. Call us today!

  • Boiler won’t turn on. This is often an electrical problem, such as blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. You thermostat may also need to be calibrated. Another problem may be that the thermocouple has detected that your pilot light is out and has shut off the gas supply valve. The thermocouple is an electronic safety device designed to prevent the buildup of un-combusted gas in the boiler when the pilot light is not on.
  • Inadequate heating. If your boiler was professionally installed and appropriately sized then it should easily meet your minimum requirements for heating. Inadequate heating is often due to airflow problems. There may be a leak or crack in your ductwork, or your air filter is clogged and impeding the movement of heated air throughout your forced air distribution system.
  • Leaks. If you see any visible water surrounding your boiler or on the surface of any of its components, there might be a thermal stress crack on the unit itself. Alternatively, the piping surrounding the unit may have undergone enough wear and tear to spring a slow leak. But keep in mind that the pressure release valve is supposed to drip and drain to release a bit of pressure from inside your boiler.
  • Banging noise. If when you turn on your boiler, you hear a loud banging or swooshing, then there may be too much air in your system, or that the water pressure is too low inside your boiler.

We hope this brief guide helps you to make a decision about whether to call for professional assistance. When you need boiler repair in Princeton, call Heritage Air & Heat.

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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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Toms River, NJ Heating Repair Tip: Boiler Sounds to Watch Out For

Monday, February 25th, 2013

If your boiler begins to make strange or unusual sounds, it may be in need of repair. The sounds that emerge from a heating system can be indications of a serious problem. Your boiler sometimes runs both your hot water and your heat, and this dual functionality is an important part of its continuing appeal to homeowners. But a problem with your boiler can have dual consequences as well: it can shut off both your hot water and heat at the same time. Keeping an ear out for boilers sounds is therefore an important part of maintaining the effectiveness of your heating system in Toms River, NJ. Call Heritage Air & Heat to schedule heating repair service. We’ll come take a listen, and determine the best course of action.

Boilers heat the water and air in your home by converting energy from a fuel source such as oil, natural gas or propane into hot water or steam. Hot water is run through a system of copper piping baseboards, or steam through a system of radiators. There are some common sounds to look out for:

  • Very loud bang when the boiler fires – This is a potentially dangerous issue that needs to be dealt with by a professional. If your gas-fired boiler makes this sound, it is likely a fault in the balance between the fuel supply and the timing of the ignition, whether by pilot or electronic ignition.
  • Knocking-A knocking sound may be an indication that you have too much air in the piping system, which needs to be removed by a boiler technician. This may cause problems in the heating efficiency of your home.

One of the most revered characteristics of boilers is how durable they are. This type of heating system is known for its reliability. If you hear an unusual sound, or if strange noises combine with cold spots in your home, call a Toms River heating repair technician at Heritage Air & Heat. We offer boiler repair and maintenance services in Toms River, Brick NJ, and the surrounding areas on the Jersey Shore.

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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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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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West Windsor Heating Repair Question: What Does a Furnace Thermocouple Do?

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Modern appliances are equipped with an array of safety measures to make sure that they operate safely in your West Windsor home. This includes gas furnaces, which are harmless when working correctly but can be unsafe if something goes wrong. Perhaps the most crucial safety feature of a gas furnace is the thermocouple, also called a flame sensor.

Essentially, a furnace thermocouple works as a kill switch to shut off the furnace in case the gas is not igniting, like if the pilot light is out. Here is how it works.

The thermocouple is made up of two pieces of metal which are welded together at one end, called the “hot end” because it actually sits directly in the path of the furnace flame. On the cold end, it is wired to a circuit. Under normal circumstances, when the furnace is switched on, gas flows through the line and is ignited by a pilot light, ignition spark or glow coil. The flame heats up the thermocouple, and the furnace stays on.

However, sometimes the gas may not ignite, for example if the pilot light is out or the glow coil is faulty. In these cases, if there were no thermocouple, gas would continue to flow out without being lit, creating a very dangerous, poisonous and potentially lethal situation.

What the thermocouple does is detect heat, so if the furnace is on, but the hot end of the thermocouple has not heated up, that circuit up at the cold end kills the power to the furnace so that gas cannot continue to flow out unchecked. That way, you do not have to worry about a gas leak building to dangerous levels without being aware of it.

Sometimes, the thermocouple can malfunction, causing the furnace to shut off even if the burners are working just fine. Usually that is just the result of build up on the hot end over time, which can be fixed with some sand paper or emery cloth. If you suspect a problem with your furnace’s thermocouple, give Heritage Air & Heat a call today!

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Jackson Heating Question: Can Your Heating System Warn You of a CO Leak?

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

As everyone in Jackson knows, carbon monoxide is a serious health risk. It is an odorless gas that is produced as a natural byproduct of combustion. So, any time something burns, carbon monoxide (CO) is released into the air.

As long as the area is properly ventilated, the carbon monoxide cannot build up in the air to a dangerous level of concentration. For example, if you are around a campfire or charcoal that is burning outside, you are generally safe.

In the home, the danger arises when combustion is not properly ventilated and this toxic gas is allowed to seep into our living spaces. If you use any gas, fuel or wood burning appliances in your home, you are at risk for exposure to carbon monoxide. To help mitigate that risk, it is important to know some warning signs. Your heating system gives off some warnings that can tip you off to danger, so be on the lookout for these three signals:

  1. Carbon monoxide detector goes off. Some heating systems these days have built-in carbon monoxide detectors, which can provide an extra measure of safety. Whether you have one of these systems or not, your home should still be equipped with a CO detector. If it begins sounding the alarm, get everyone out of the house immediately.
  1. A fume vent is leaking. Fuel-burning furnaces have vents to move combustion gases out of the house safely. If you notice this vent is leaking on your heating system, CO may be seeping into your house. Shut down the furnace, open windows for ventilation and have the fume vent repaired immediately.
  1. Smoke backing up from the fireplace. If you have a fireplace and you notice smoke in the room while using it, stop using it immediately. Your chimney may be blocked or leaking, preventing the smoke from rising and venting properly, which means CO can e getting into your house. Do not use the fireplace again until you have had the chimney inspected.

Please take care and note this is just a simple guide. There are other risks and warnings of carbon monoxide. If you have any suspicion that there is something wrong with your Jackson home’s heating system, give Heritage Air & Heat a call!

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