Winter is here to the delight of some and dread of others. But whether you enjoy winter or not, any home that has a heating system has it running at this point. The comfort and also safety of you and your family depends on it. With the amount of reliance that we place on many of our home devices, one would think owners would be constantly checking on and taking care of them. Many homeowners, however, can be intimidated by an HVAC system and avoid its maintenance all together. This is a leading factor in the need for emergency furnace repair in Toms River. The best way to avoid this is to perform some simple DIY maintenance tasks. Winter can be tough enough to get through without having to worry about a broken furnace.

What Can a Homeowner Do

Truthfully, the items that can be taken care of by a homeowner is not long a list when it comes to furnace maintenance. However, the things you can do are important and do a lot to keep your furnace running efficiently. Plus, these simple steps can do a lot to lengthen the life of your furnace, saving you money in the long run.

Change the Air Filter

Ideally, you should be changing your filter at least every 3 months. Certain households may need to do it more or less depending on the situation. The presence of shedding animals, home renovations that produce a lot of dust and debris, or if people living in the home have allergies are just a few things that may require the filter to be changed more frequently. Also, if you live in an area that has a lot of construction constantly happening, you should check your air filter more often.  Good air flow is crucial for your furnace to function at its best. A clogged air filter can wreak havoc on your entire system and can lead to costly repairs. If you need help finding, changing, or selecting a new filter for your furnace, give us a call today!

Check the Pilot Light

Whenever you remove the door to your furnace, be sure the power is shut off. After you remove the combustion chamber door, use a flashlight to take a good look around. First, turn the power back on and turn up your thermostat to trigger the furnace to go on. Look at the pilot light and ensure it is a steady blue flame. If the flame is yellow, you could have dirty burners. When inspecting the pilot, make sure you don’t breathe on the flame as extra oxygen can also make the flame turn yellow. If you notice anything wrong with the pilot light, please contact us.

Visual Inspection and Light Cleaning

We’re not talking about anything too in depth, but if you feel comfortable doing so, a visual inspection of the inside of your furnace can tell you a lot. After you are done checking the pilot light, turn the power to the furnace off again. If you notice any amount of soot, or fine black powder, in your furnace, this could be an indication of a combustion problem. On the exterior of your furnace, make sure there is nothing blocking any vents. Also, ensure the area around your furnace is clear of debris. If there is any part of your furnace you are uncomfortable dealing with, we can help. Give us a call anytime you need a hand and we’ll schedule a furnace repair appointment with you.

Listen to What Your Furnace is Telling You

While your furnace is running, occasionally listen closely to it. Any noises that are out of the ordinary could be a signal that something is wrong. Noises like squeaking, screeching, scraping, or banging can all be cause to give us a call. If you hear any odd noises, schedule your furnace repair in Toms River as soon as possible. Noises like these that sound like metal on metal or are abnormally loud can be the first indication that something may be off inside your furnace. By calling us as soon as you hear these noises, you can avoid being stuck in the cold with a broken furnace.

Professional Inspections

Possibly the easiest furnace maintenance task is calling us to inspect your furnace. We recommend at least one inspection per year, but two is even better. While the items we’ve just discussed are important and can do a lot to prevent an emergency with your furnace, there are things that only a professional can do. Our technicians are expertly trained and know just what to look for and how to address any issues. By allowing us to take care of your furnace BEFORE things go wrong, you are saving yourself a lot of time, money, and stress.

Don’t get left in the cold this winter. Avoid an emergency furnace repair in Toms River and contact us today to inspect your furnace.

When the topic of home emergencies in winter comes up, one of the first things everyone thinks of is a broken furnace. Being without heat in the middle of winter is far from ideal. Luckily, there is one super simple step you can take to limit the possibility of this happening. Requiring furnace repair Ocean County isn’t the only thing homeowners have to worry about during the cold months. Frozen pipes are an additional worry. There are many more concerns as well like chimney fires and power outages, but this month we’ll focus on furnace repair and frozen pipes. Avoiding all emergencies all the time is impossible. However, there are always things you can do that can help to prevent these occurrences.

Call Us for Furnace Repair Ocean County

Even better? Call us before you need your furnace repaired. The best way to avoid a heating emergency during the coldest days is to service your HVAC system every year. Each fall, as the weather begins to cool, put a reminder on your calendar to contact us to schedule your annual furnace maintenance. By having your furnace inspected every year, you greatly reduce the likelihood that your machine will break. Without a professional examination, furnaces can break seemingly out of nowhere. However, one of the main things our technicians will be looking for during an annual inspection is wear and tear on your furnace that could potentially cause a problem. With early identification and furnace repair Ocean County, major catastrophes can be evaded and you can stay warm and toasty all winter long.

In the worst-case scenarios, you may be without heat for days. Even if you have been a responsible homeowner and had your furnace inspected, it is always best to be prepared in case an emergency does happen. The most obvious thing to do if your heat goes out is to stay warm so start layering your clothes. Be sure to have plenty of blankets for everyone. It can also help to hang comforters or bedspreads over doors and windows to cut down on cold air coming in and warm air leaving. We do not recommend using your oven for heat. If you do decide to use an indoor heater, it should be attended at all times. Whenever you have an HVAC emergency, contact us right away! 

Frozen Pipes are a Big Winter Concern

The concern with pipes freezing in the winter is that as water freezes, it expands. This causes pipes to burst leading to much larger issues. In order to avoid this problem this winter, be sure to take the following steps.

• If you have sprinklers, it is essential to empty the pipes of all water. If you do not know how to do it yourself, call a professional.
• Assuming you won’t be using your garden hose anymore, drain it, detach it from the spigot and store it indoors. Close the valve inside that supplies each outdoor bib, but leave the outdoor valve open to allow any water left in the pipe to escape. This helps prevent bursting pipes.
• Inspect your yard and home for unused water supplies that need to be taken care. If there are little used water accesses, they may be easy to forget about. These are the pipes that will cause an issue so you need to find them first.
• Pipes that are located in colder areas of your home like under kitchen or bathroom sinks or in the garage should be insulated. Even if they are still used, these areas don’t receive the same amount of warm air the rest of your home does so you need to give them a bit of an advantage.

If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, you need to take action immediately. Leave the faucet on because even a trickle will help thaw the pipe and prevent it from freezing again. Heat up the pipe using any safe means necessary. Space heaters, hair dryers, and towels soaked in hot water all work. Continue this process until water flows freely. If you are unable to find the frozen area or can’t reach it, contact a professional plumber right away.

Professionals are Here to Help with Furnace Repair Ocean County and More

TRHAC is here to help if you find yourself in the terrible situation of needing emergency furnace repair in Ocean County. Our experienced technicians will be able to diagnose and prepare a plan to fix the problem. If you want to avoid having to call us this winter, it is best to call us for routine HVAC maintenance now. The sooner we identify problems, the sooner we can fix them. This not only keeps your system running more efficiently but saves you money on your energy bill. Plus, having a well-heated home helps prevent frozen pipes indoors. Outdoor pipes still need to be emptied and/or insulated depending of if they are still used or not. Opening cabinets under sinks to allow the warm air to circulate around them better is a good idea also. Call us today to service your furnace to avoid heating emergencies and frozen pipes this winter.