Written on: December 21, 2020
Every year, we hear from customers whose furnace or boiler has been working well for years, but now seems to be on the fritz. Has this happened to you? If so, we have a few ideas for what you can do.
If a CO detector in your home goes off, you should IMMEDIATELY get everyone in your home, pets included, out of the house, and call 911.
Every level of your home should have at least one CO detector, including your basement. A CO detector should be set up outside every bedroom. Installing a CO detector can be a do-it-yourself job, or you can call a local electrician to take care of it. CO detectors should be replaced every five years, and the batteries should be replaced every six months. Test your CO detectors regularly to ensure they are working properly.
If your air is too dry, you could see damage to your flooring, furniture, woodwork or electronics. Even worse, it could create issues if anyone in your home has a weakened respiratory system. The solution? Add a whole-house humidifier to the heating system in your home, and you’ll see quick and effective results.
Here are a few D-I-Y solutions to try before calling for service if your heat goes off. First make sure your pilot light is lit, if you have one. Check to see that all power switches are in the “start” or “on” positions. If any are not turned on, turn them on now. And check your circuit breaker to see if it was tripped. Next, if you have a forced-air system, the next step to take is to check your vents. Make sure your air filter doesn’t need to be changed or cleaned and that all areas in front of your vents are clear. Finally, if you have an oil-fired boiler or furnace, try resetting the red burner switch. However, you should only try this once—doing this repeatedly can flood your system with oil.
Of course, there is the possibility that you’re out of fuel. Check your propane or heating oil tank. If you have run out, CALL us! Please do not email for emergency fuel.
If your system goes on and off more than it should, check to make sure your thermostat is working properly. If you don’t have a faulty thermostat, then check to see whether your air filter is dirty. If it is, change it out or clean it. If neither of these are the cause, please contact us.
If you have drafts or cold spots in your home, try adding caulk and weather stripping around your doors and windows. You can also add door sweeps to cut back on drafts. Another solution is to move curtains, rugs, furniture, toys and other obstructions away from vents so that air can circulate more easily in your home.
Finally, if your home doesn’t have enough insulation, you’ll want to add some wherever it’s needed. If you aren’t comfortable taking care of this, or simply don’t have time, consider hiring a local home improvement service to handle the job.
If you have not had your annual tune-up, contact us today to set it up! Contact us anytime with questions about heating your Western New York home.