A couple of months ago, the HVAC unit in my home started malfunctioning. The temperature inside my home soared to over eighty degrees Fahrenheit, even though my air conditioning system ran nonstop. After inspecting my air conditioning unit, my knowledgeable HVAC contractor recommended I purchase a new system. He discussed the pros and cons of installing different sizes of HVAC units with me. After considering my HVAC contractor’s advice, I decided to purchase a three and a half ton HVAC unit. Shortly after my HVAC contractor installed my new air conditioning unit, my house started feeling more comfortable. On this blog, I hope you will discover how an HVAC contractor can help you select the right air conditioning unit for your home. Enjoy!
DIY heater maintenance is a great way of saving costs on your heating problems. However, there are heating repairs that novices cannot or should not handle and are best left to the professionals. For example, if you are running an oil furnace, here are some of the problems that will probably require a technician's input:
Serious Smoke from the Chimney
A fully functioning oil furnace should give off little to no smoke, whether from the chimney, combustion box, or exhaust vent. Therefore, when you see smoke coming from the chimney, you should know there is a malfunction somewhere in the system. The smoke usually means that the oil isn't being combusted totally. This may occur, for example, if the oil is not being ignited immediately when it gets into the combustion chamber. This is a dangerous situation that can lead to an explosion or a fire outbreak if not immediately checked. Therefore, shut off the furnace and call a technician as soon as possible.
Burner Doesn't Run Even Though It's On
Even though oil is the main fuel of this type of furnace, it requires electricity for ignition purposes. Therefore, the burner will not run if there is no electricity, so you should check that you have power in the house, the breaker hasn't tripped, and the switch is on to confirm that it is not an electrical issue. If you have confirmed that the furnace is not coming on, despite the availability of eclectic power, then the problem is probably beyond your limited skills and calls for the attention of a professional technician. Don't try to force the burner to operate, for example, by resetting it multiple times, because that would be dangerous and cause further problems.
The Burner Emits Odors
You may suspect an oil furnace to emit odors when operating because, well, it is burning oil. However, these furnaces are efficiently designed and they shouldn't emit any odors while operating. An odor definitely means there is a system malfunction, and it is probably something you shouldn't try diagnosing or fixing on your own. For example, it may be that the oil is leaking and burning outside the combustion chamber. That is also a dangerous situation that can lead to a fire outbreak, so it calls for shutting down the furnace while waiting for the technician to arrive.
A furnace technician can help you with any problem whether it seems serious or not. Therefore, consult a technician any time your furnace is acting up, even if you aren't sure it's a serious problem.
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