Heating Archives - Page 4 of 4 -

Furnace Blower Keeps Running But No Heat

The mysterious furnace.
Have you ever had a problem with your furnace blower keeps running but no heat and realized no one you know has a clue on what to do to fix it?
Including yourself?

I have had my share of embarrassing moments, calling out HVAC repairman only to find that I haven’t changed the filters.

And though I don’t like being embarrassed, it’s not that part that is the worst. It’s the amount of money that I spent on such a lame mistake that puts the icing on top.

Sure there are plenty of times when something can malfunction, that I don’t have the first clue on how to diagnose or repair,

But what I have found is that most of the time that is not the case. And the fix for getting the furnace working again turned out to be super simple.

Furnace blower keeps running but no heat

The Most Common Issues that you may find when the furnace blower keeps running but no heat is:

1. Filters are dirty, or
2. Ignition sensor is dirty and the furnace wont ignite.

It’s a pretty common problem to turn the heater on but have cool air coming out. One of my first experiences with calling out a HVAC tech for the shop I work in was because the heaters were simply not getting hot.

I decided to pay for the complete HVAC inspection package.

The guys ( 2 older guys) show up and do their thing then appear from there mysterious HVAC work holding two filters that are completely caked over with about a inch of fuzz and debris.

Humiliating.

1. Check your filters

Your heater furnace needs good airflow to work and if you’re filters get too dirty it will not blow warm air. Dirty filters are one of the main reasons the heater is not working and one of the easiest things to check and maintain.

Cold air blowing out of vents when heat is on

2. Furnace not igniting burners

This is another one that I’ve had an experience of calling out a tech.
And believe me, I check the filters first but that didn’t do anything.

So this time the guy shows up ( one of the same guys) and I told him I already check the filters. I’m on top of this.

He proceeds to get a ladder, stick his head up into the Attic, get down and then look at the thermostat.

Next. (You would think you’d want to keep this part secret) he pulls out a tiny piece of sandpaper out of his front pocket then goes back up the ladder.

He gets down and tells me that’s it. He’s done.

I ask him what he did with the sandpaper and he told me that my ignition sensor was dirty so sanded it off a little bit to clean it.

$140.00. And he didn’t even replace anything.

Not all furnaces have ignition sensors.
Many furnaces have pilot lights. Sometimes the pilot light can get blown out. If you have a wall furnace, that is many times the case.
If you find that your pilot light will not stay lit then it is most likely a issue with not getting enough fuel.

Thermostat not turning heat on

By this time, it probably seems like I’m a real dope. I probably am, but no one else seems to know the answers either.

Check the batteries in the thermostat.

Did you know that thermostats have batteries? I didn’t.

If you have a thermostat that is not turning on your furnace and seems to be glitching out, there’s a good possibility your batteries need changing.

And while you’re at it, make sure that the thermostat is set to Heat and Auto.

Super simple things to check but if you don’t know then you just don’t know.

If you change the batteries and it’s still not working, thermostats do go bad.

It might be time to change the thermostat, and though it may not be something you want to tackle on your own, it’s not exactly rocket science.

I’ve had two separate occasions where the heat wouldn’t come on and it was the thermostat.

The first was in a rent house so I didn’t have to pay for the repair, but the second time it was in my own house and the price of the thermostat plus the installation was $295.00

$295 is incentive enough to replace my own thermostat for now on.

Make sure there’s nothing covering your vents.

This is another bonehead move that I have made and called and HVAC technician to solve.

Central heat and air units have supply Air and return air vents.

Sometimes these events can get dirty themselves and not allow for the air to flow freely which will inhibit the amount of warmth you get from your vents.

But even more common, and one I am guilty of, is putting something directly in front of the return vents. In my case it was a sheet of plywood.

Imagine if you were an HVAC technician and you are sent out to diagnose a heating problem only the find that someone is put a piece of plywood in front of the return vents and blocking off the air from actually blowing at all.

This is the kind of stories these guys have to tell daily. And I’m proud of being able to supply them with so much content.

Long story short..

Make sure your vents are all open and that there is nothing covering them.

Of course not all problems or that easy to solve when it comes to your furnace not blowing out heat, but it is incredible how many easy fixes there actually are.

Do yourself a favor, and your pocketbook, and make sure that you’re not making some of these little mistakes they can end up costing you a lot of money.

The furnace doesn’t have to be that mysterious and it’s well worth it to get even a little bit of knowledge to help you help yourself and not have to pay a hefty bill every time you have a problem.

AC Dry Mode

Set the Temperature to 72 Degrees?

True story. I was sitting with my wife recently, eating dinner at a restaurant and got into a conversation about the thermostat and what was the ideal temperature to put it on and she said 72 degrees, and she said it like I was the only one in the world that did not know that. Duh.

Who came up with 72 degrees? Why am I just now hearing this?

As it turns out that 72 degrees is a very popular belief about thermostats. It is widely believed that 72 degrees on the thermostat is setting that it is the most comfortable.

But when it comes to the heating and air system in your home, comfort, unfortunately, is not the only thing you have to consider.

Controlling the climate in your home is also the most expensive thing on your energy bill you have to think about.

Is it better to keep your thermostat at a constant temperature?

A thermostat is a contentious object in my house.

Another true story. This past cold season, I got home one day to a sweltering house only to find my teenage daughter running around in shorts and flip flops in the middle of winter. She has cranked the thermostat up because she got cold.

Really?

At that point, I told the kids if they are not allowed to touch the thermostat!

So keeping the thermostat at a constant temperature in my house is necessary to avoid fluctuations in temperature based on any one of my teenage kids whims.

But even though socially it might make sense,
cost-wise, leaving the thermostat set at the same temperature all the time just means wasted energy and a higher energy bill.

Turning the thermostat up or down ( depending on the season) when you go to bed will help save money and you don’t need the temperature to remain as cool or warm when you are asleep.

Another example is during the day when everyone is at work or school,
adjusting the thermostat either down in Winter or up in summer a few degrees will help you save money on your electric bill as well.

Another reason I don’t let no one touch the thermostat is that they go way overboard. They get a little cold and they turn it up five degrees, or they get a little hot and they turn it way down.

But the heat and AC will not work any faster because you turn it way up or down.

It will only cause the machine to keep running longer do you realize you made it too hot or cold.

A big waste of energy.

Why all 72 may be a popular temperature to keep the house it is also not really the best.

What is a reasonable temperature for the house in winter?

68 is the recommended temperature to set the thermostat on in winter. It is basically the temperature that takes the average of comfortability and cost.

For many people, 68 may be too cold. Regardless, there is no hard rule about it. And no significant change in the energy bill if you raise or lower it.

The ideal is that you keep it as low as you can and still feel comfortable so that you can keep your energy bill down.

What temperature to set the thermostat on in winter when away?

If you’re away for a normal 8-hour workday, setting the temperature on the thermostat to 62 is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bill.

If you’re going away on vacation you should not set your thermostat below 55 degrees.

Why? Frozen pipes. Anything lower puts you at risk of coming home from your vacation to cracked and leaking pipes.

What temperature is too cold for the house?

Once the cold weather hits, you can no longer worry just about your own comfort and the cost of your energy bill, you have to store considering what is too cold for your plumbing. Water freezing inside of your pipes is a problem that no one wants to have to deal with.

According to the Energy company, 55 degrees is the lowest you want to set your thermostat in winter to avoid cracked pipes and damage to the air handler.

is 72 a good temperature for air conditioning?

72 degrees is a comfortable temperature but one that will cause your energy bill to be higher.

78 degrees is the temperature that is recommended for your thermostat in the summer.

78 degrees is optimal to maintain comfort and a lower energy bill. But it is unlikely to be the temperature of choice.
But the point is to raise your thermostat to a point that it is comfortable enough and doesn’t kill your electricity bill.

The best temperature for sleeping in summer.

Turning your thermostat up at night and using a fan or open window can save you a significant amount over the summer on your energy bill.
By setting your thermostat to 78 or even 80° at night, you should see a markable difference.

Though obviously these rules are just guidelines and not everyone is going to have the same Climate or experience.

But if you’re interested in saving money on your electricity bill and remaining comfortable then hopefully you can get some use from these suggestions.

Does Running Furnace Fan Cool House?

Does running furnace fan cool house?

Because the location of the furnace is usually in the attic, and the fact that the attic is the hottest area in the house, you can expect the air coming out of the vents from the furnace fan to be on the warm side rather than cool.

Running furnace fan continuously in summer

Using the HVAC furnace fan continuously in the summer can be a good Idea for a few reasons.

First the ductwork is not only the system that delivers warm and cool air throughout the house, it is also the system that filters the air throughout the house.

Particulates like pollen and pet dander, as well as mold spores and bacteria can be much worse indoors than outside even in industrial areas.

Keeping the fan on your furnace and AC running is one way to combat indoor air quality issues.

HVAC filters are not the only air cleaners that can be employed with the ductwork.
Many people take advantage of in duct air purifiers that use technologies like plasma bipolar ionization.

These air purifiers require that the blower stay on 24/7 to be able to clean the air efficiently.

Running furnace fan continuously in winter

One reason it is a good idea to keep the furnace fan running continuously in winter is that heat rises.
Keeping the fan on will circulate the air throughout the house and keep the temperature more even across the house.

When the thermostat is set to auto, the fan automatically turns off after the temperature is reached.
But since there is nothing to keep the heat moving around down low, it will automatically rise and leave cool spots in the house.

Houses with multiple stories are especially prone to this problem.
The bottom level of the home can get chilly why all the upstairs gets hot.
Keeping the fan on helps move the warm air through the house evenly.

Should I run my furnace fan continuously

Though the consensus is usually to set your furnace fan on auto because of what seems to be the obvious savings in in energy, the opposite, can actually be true as well.

As an example, when the blower fan is left on, the warm air generated by the furnace is circulated and keeps the temperature more consistent throughout the house, eliminating cool spots that would normally indicate to the thermostat to fire on.

Which takes more energy than a constant running fan.

Although there is the extra expense of replacing the filters more often, the trade off could be worth it.

Thermostat fan on or Auto in winter

Furnace fan on auto or circulate

The pros of leaving the thermostat fan on auto are:
Less expense upfront in the form of power consumption and fewer filter replacements.
The pros of leaving the thermostat are:
Keeping the heat rounded up more evenly throughout the house.
Cleaner air quality.

Should fan be on when heat is on?

The fan is the part of the furnace that pushes the warm air throughout the house. It stays on while the furnace is heating. if you want the fan to turn off when the heater is not running, you can set your thermostat to auto. If you prefer to have the fan running after the heater has turned off, then turn your thermostat to on.

furnace fan runs after heat shuts off

The simplest things to check when your furnace fan keeps running are:

Is the thermostat set to Auto or on?

Sometimes it’s the simplest things good make the biggest impact. The fan running all the time could be as easy as someone accidentally turning the fan to the on setting which will keep the fan running continuously.

Another one of the easiest things to check when you’re having any type of problem with your heat is the filters.

If it doesn’t seem like you were fan ever turns off, it could be that you are not able to get the room up to temperature
Because the filters are too dirty.

I would like to see the invoices over a year for a local HVAC technician that was able to fix a problem that someone was having by replacing the furnace filters.

It happens way more than you would think.

If the problem of the fan not turning off doesn’t fall within these simple tips, then there’s probably a malfunction in the thermostat or the fan motor.

Thermostats are pretty easy to replace but they do cost a little more.

Taking a chance on a guess the thermostat is going out maybe a little more than you’re willing to risk.

It’s probably time to call out the technician at this point.

Summary

Running the furnace fan continuously has many benefits like helping provide cleaner air to breathe and eliminating cool spots from the house.

But using the fan on the furnace to cool down the house it’s not something that is easily achievable because the furnace is usually in the Attic where the air is the hottest.

Many people will decide to keep their fan on auto because it creates less expense upfront.

But leaving the fan on continuously can help keep the temperature more even for longer periods of time so that the furnace doesn’t have to kick on as much.

That is also a way of thinking about it that will save you money.
But the are continuously blowing through the filters will mean that they will degrade faster and you will have to purchase more replacement filters throughout the year.

If your furnace fan runs after the heat shuts off,
Do a quick check to make sure that you’re not missing the easy solution first.
Which would be that the fan is set to the on position.

Another easy fix is replacing the filters if they have not been changed in a while.
When the filters are clogged, the air cannot get through and the furnace has a much harder time getting up to temperature.
Clearing the obstruction by replacing the filter maybe the answer you need.

AC Dry Mode -When to use it

20 Ways to Lower the Humidity in Your House

Are you wondering how to lower the humidity in your house? You are not alone, as a lot of people feel a sense of discomfort and unhappiness when they deal with super high humidity levels. And that’s why it makes a lot of sense to find new, creative ways to lower home humidity as quickly as possible. With that in mind, here you have a few tips that will help in this situation.

1.Use a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is one of the simplest tools you can use to keep the humidity levels as low as possible. It’s highly recommended to invest in a good dehumidifier since it allows you to ensure proper airflow circulation, all while eliminating any humidity from the air. Ideally you want to keep the unit away from furniture or any walls, unless it has air vent on the top.

2. Clean the downspouts and gutters

You want to do this because they will carry water away from your home. It’s a good idea because if you don’t do this, you will end up with high humidity levels in your home. Plus, it’s a good idea to restrict watering plants to bare necessities, just to be safe. The more restrictions you have in this situation, the better it will be as you do want to avoid complications.

3. Keep fresh-cut firewood outside

Why is this important? The most important aspect to consider is that freshly cut firewood has large amounts of water in it when you store it indoors. You want to leave the firewood outside so all that water will evaporate. If you don’t do that, then you will increase the humidity levels inside. Even if it doesn’t feel like a lot, in a situation like this, every little thing counts, so you might as well want to take that into consideration just to be safe.

4. Bring all your plants outside

Don’t keep plants indoors. They end up increasing the humidity levels and that’s the type of thing that you want to avoid. Ideally you want to keep them outside and you will be just fine. You could also keep them in a single room, however that room will have lots of humidity, so you really need to figure out what works for you here.

5. Keep the AC drip pans and drain lines clean

If you keep them clean and unobstructed, it will be a lot easier to avoid any humidity issues. The AC will remove all the humidity from your room. However, if the AC is not working properly, then you will have issues with this approach. You need patience to do this right, but it will be worth it.

6. Vent your clothes dryers outside

The reason you want to do that is that you end up generating a lot of humidity if you do this inside. There’s no real benefit coming with performing this activity inside anyway, so you have to figure out what works for you and how you can adapt to the entire process.

7.Add double-glazing to your windows

When you do that, you will have less humidity and that on its own can be a very important aspect to consider. Double-glazing really brings in front great results, and the best part is that you can avoid severe condensation without spending a whole lot of money. It’s the best of both worlds and you should totally check it out.

8.Aerate your attic and basement

Normally these are two of the places in your home where you will have a lot of moisture. If you start bringing in fresh air in there, you will start removing more and more moisture naturally. It’s one of the best approaches you can have and it does work really well if you do it right. We recommend you to test it out and perform this task often to avoid moisture and dampness in your home.

9. Use a fan in your kitchen

If you cook often, you will generate humidity in your kitchen. It makes a lot of sense to use a fan or anything that will bring in fresh air and push the humidity away too. This is an important aspect to think about, and it will offer you a very good experience every time. In a situation like this, you need to start easily, and this approach does make a lot of sense.

10. Open the fireplace damper

The fireplace damper allows you to push moisture away from your room. It’s a good way to lower the humidity naturally, and we believe that you should always consider it as one of the first things you can do when you deal with lots of humidity inside your home.

11. Open up the windows

This is simple, but it helps you push humidity away, all while bringing in dry air from outside. You have to figure out what approach works for you, and it all comes down to delivering the best results and having the right approach here.

12. Cover your food while cooking

Another interesting thing to do when you are cooking is to try and cover the food. This will keep the humidity under control. Alternatively, you could use a slow cooker, which brings pretty much the same experience and great results you would expect. It’s always a good idea to find alternative solutions, and it can be very well worth the effort all the time without any worries.

13. Take cold, short showers

Hot showers will generate steam and that will obviously increase the humidity levels in your home. Not only that, but if those hot showers are long, then you are further increasing the humidity levels. You need to pay a lot of attention to this, because the more you take hot showers, the more humidity you are generating within the entire home.

14.Replace the carpet if it’s a model that retains moisture

Some types of carpets like the fluffy or very thick ones tend to retain a lot of moisture. They will also end up capturing dust mites and bacteria. It makes a lot of sense to replace your carpets with simpler ones. Make sure that you go with carpets that are not going to retain any moisture. And if you do that properly, it will be more than ok.

15.Add wrap or tubular insulation

Insulating tubing works great for the cold water pipes. It will help decrease sweating, and the best part is that you will have less humidity in your home. Even if it seems like a simple thing to do, it will make quite the difference.

16. Repair the door and window frames

When you have issues with the window and door frames, the first thing you want to do is to repair them. These frames can bring in moisture into your home, and that’s the last thing you want to have. Even some simple repairs can make quite the difference, and all you need is to give these a try, it will be well worth it in the end.

17.Insulate the crawl spaces

The best method you can use for insulating crawl spaces is through using a plastic vapor barrier. This is not that hard to do actually, and it will bring in front some pretty impressive results. The idea is to know how to perform proper insulation, and if you do it right, it will be a very good experience.

18. Waterproof the concrete basement walls

Waterproofing these walls will be a major way to deal with excess humidity. Most of the time concrete walls will bring in humidity to your home. That’s why waterproofing them is so important, and you should treat this as a priority to avoid any possible problems.

19. Treat the foundation with Hydroclay

Hydroclay is known for waterproofing tunnels. It’s a water-absorbing clay, and it will seal the basement where you have water infiltrations. Waterproofing your foundation with this will make quite the difference, and it will help you keep your home safe. Plus, you get to deal with humidity the right way, and that on its own can deliver quite the difference.

20. Vinyl wallcovering

Using vinyl wallcovering can be a very good idea. The trick here is that this type of wallcovering will help trap the moisture and basically keep it out. If you ignore this, it will lead to mold growth. So that’s certainly something to keep in mind.

Conclusion

It’s very important to find great, creative ways to keep the humidity levels as low as possible within the entire home. If you have low humidity levels within your home, you will breathe better, your skin will feel better, and you will have a great sense of well being. It’s important to take all of this into consideration, and the results can be very good every time. If you still have high humidity levels within your home, it’s a very good idea to hire a professional and solve this issue!