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As winter continues, temperatures will turn from cool to just plain cold. Even in warm states, the temperature can descend dangerously low. It is important for your health and the health of your family and pets that you keep temperatures warm indoors, especially overnight. Therefore, homeowners will be firing up their furnaces harder than ever and blindly expecting them to work perfectly for several months throughout the winter and into the first chilly days of spring. Unfortunately, machines break down, usually when you least expect them to. Heaters work the same way. The only way to prevent your heater from leaving you to chill on a cold day is to schedule heating and air repair in Anderson, SC. Oddly enough, some homeowners may actually be breaking their own heating systems. Why would anyone do that? Actually, they do it without realizing what kind of damage they are causing. Read to find out if you may be setting yourself up for a chilling experience at home with any of the following habits. What Breaks First? The heat exchanger is a vital and pricey part inside most heaters. If this important part is broken, you will probably need to have your furnace replaced. Sometimes, this part can be covered under a warranty, but this is not common. What is the heat exchanger? It is a snake-like hot coil that transfers heat between the system and the air inside it in order to create hot air. This air is then released through your vents in order to warm the room or your entire home if you have a centralized heating system. Here is how it works: when the blower sucks cool air from the environment into the system, it passes through the heat exchanger. The exchanger essentially shares its heat with the air the way that cold water would boil in a hot pot simply by means of coming in contact with one another. This exchange process cools the heat exchanger a little while making the air warm enough to keep you comfortable. The heat exchanger, therefore, is the core of your furnace, the most essential part. How Does It Break? Because the heat exchanger is built to generate and transfer heat, it is not meant to stay hot for a prolonged period of time. Essentially, if not enough cool air flows over the coil, it will overheat, causing it to expand and then crack, essentially breaking it. So the most dangerous thing for your heat exchanger is a lack of airflow. Below are several ways that homeowners block airflow to their furnaces, allowing their heat exchanger to overheat. -
Forgetting to Change the Filter: Depending on what type of heater you have, you should try to change your filter monthly. When the filter is clogged with dirt, dust, and other matter, it forms a barrier that prevents air from being sucked back into the system. While some people feel that a dirty filter simply results in stinky or dusty air, it can actually break your heater! - Closing the Vents: Some people close vents for comfort or to clean them and may accidentally leave them closed. Your blower is meant to work with a certain air pressure, which means that closed vents will cause your blower to work at a slower speed. This will prevent a sufficient amount of air from passing over the heat exchanger.
- Accidentally Blocking the Vents: Vents might not be the prettiest features in your home, but that does not mean that you should cover them. Blocking your vents can be as dangerous as closing them. Do not hang art, curtains, or electronics over your vent; do not place furniture immediately in front of the vent. Even if furniture does not touch the vent it can limit the amount of air that can be pulled in by the blower.
If your heater is not working correctly, contact heating and air repair in Anderson, SC, immediately. It would be wise to have your heat exchanger--as well as the rest of your heating system--tuned up even if you do not know of any problems with your heater, especially if you are guilty of any of the actions above.
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