As we move further into fall, you’re probably going to start relying on your heat pump more and more often to keep comfortable. The more you use your heat pump, the more likely it will be for problems to crop up over time. The faster you can get these problems repaired, the better shape your heat pump will be in. Let’s take a look at some of the problems your heat pump can run into, and when you need to call for repairs.
Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Heat Pump Problems to Watch for this Fall
Monday, October 19th, 2015Furnace Problems You Need to Know About
Monday, October 12th, 2015Summer is over, and heating season is here. As you start to use your home’s heating system more and more in the coming months, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for the various problems that can afflict your system. Furnaces, for example, have a number of issues that can decrease performance or cause a breakdown. It is important to know the symptoms of these issues, so that you can call for repairs as soon as possible. Let’s take a look at some common furnace problems now.
How Zone Control Helps Improve Your Heating System
Monday, October 5th, 2015Heating season is here, and while we may be in for a few more hot days between now and winter the daily temperature is going to drop steadily. That means it’s time to get your heating system ready for the cold season. While central heating has plenty of advantages to recommend it, there are a few disadvantages that you should be aware of. The biggest issue with central heating is that it is unable to change its level of output between rooms. This causes the system to waste a lot of energy on rooms that don’t need it, such as empty rooms or rooms that are better insulated. Fortunately, there is a way to solve this problem. Read on to find out about the benefits of zone control.
Now is the Time to Schedule Heating Maintenance
Monday, September 14th, 2015With summer winding down, the time is coming near for you to turn off your air conditioner for the rest of the year. Before heating season gets into full swing, however, it’s a good idea to schedule heating maintenance. You don’t want your heating system to break down in the middle of winter, after all. Let’s take a look at why heating maintenance is so integral to keeping your system in good shape.
3 Major Benefits of Radiant Heating Systems
Monday, April 6th, 2015Radiant heating systems are boiler-based heaters, which use hot water to distribute heat throughout a house. The boiler heats and distributes water through pipe networks in the walls and subfloors of each room. As the water flows through the pipes, it transmits heats through the pipes and into the rooms. The concept of radiant heating dates back to ancient times, when the Romans would have hot water channeled through canals under their floors.
Despite its long history, however, in modern times radiant heating has been eclipsed in popularity by forced-air systems. This is unfortunate, as modern hydronic radiant heating offers a lot of unique advantages. Let’s take a look at 3 of the major benefits that you can garner from installing a radiant heating system.
Energy Efficiency
Having an energy-efficient heating system is a great way to reduce your home’s operating costs. The average forced-air heating system loses around 20 to 30 percent of its output to leaks in the ductwork, according to the US Department of Energy. Radiant heating uses water pipes instead of ductwork, which enables it to deliver far more of its heat to the target destination. As water is a much more effective thermal conductor than air, a room serviced by a radiant heating system will also heat up faster and stay warm for longer.
Health
Forced air heating systems often negatively affect the indoor air quality of the homes in which they are installed. Airborne contaminants have a tendency to collect in ductwork, and are circulated throughout the house whenever the heater is turned on. Using a forced-air heater too much also has a tendency to dry out the air in the house. These two factors contribute to allergy attacks and illnesses. Radiant systems circulate heat without affecting the air quality inside your home, so you can use them as much as you want without worry.
Comfort
When warm air is pumped into a room, it will immediately rise to the ceiling. As it cools, it will slowly sink to the floor of the room. This creates uncomfortable hot and cold spots in rooms heated by forced-air systems. Hydronic radiant heaters, by contrast, don’t use air as a medium to transport heat. The thermal energy moves directly through solid objects, keeping it near the floor of the room where people are most able to benefit from it.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of radiant heating, call Saddleback Plumbing. We provide heating services throughout Orange County.
Furnace Short-Cycling: Why It Happens, What to Do About It
Friday, April 3rd, 2015If your furnace is turning on and off rapidly, more often than it should, it is short-cycling. This is a problem since it will put extra strain on the furnace, raise heating bills, and create repair issues. If you need help with a short-cycling furnace, call on Saddleback Plumbing. We have many years of experience in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA with furnace repair, installation, and other services. With more than three decades of helping Orange County stay warm, we are the contractor you should trust for furnace repairs.
Reasons that short-cycling may occur
The bad news first: if you have a new furnace that is short cycling, the problem may be that the furnace is the wrong size for your home. Putting in a furnace that is too large for the area it is supposed to heat is a common error that amateurs make, and one of the reasons you should only entrust furnace installation to experience professionals. If this is the case with your furnace, you usually must start over and have experienced technicians put in a new furnace.
Now for reasons a furnace might short-cycle that require less drastic repairs:
- The air filter is clogged: This is a common problem, but thankfully it’s easy to fix. Check on the furnace’s filter; if it is congested with debris, change it (and keep doing it every month when the furnace runs on a regular basis) so the furnace receives proper airflow once more. If the furnace continues to short-cycle, call for professional repairs.
- Thermostat trouble: A malfunctioning thermostat that reads the incorrect temperatures will cause a furnace to shut off before it should. Check to see that the thermostat isn’t exposed to drafts or extra heat. In some cases, the thermostat may need to be moved to a new location.
- The furnace is overheating: Contemporary furnaces have safety devices to prevent them from overheating. These precautions will shut off the furnace if one of the heat exchangers grows too hot. This will cause short-cycling, and is a repair you need have taken care of immediately.
Please, do not attempt to investigate any furnace short-cycling on your own. Furnaces are complex appliances, and only trained professionals should repair them. This is especially true for a natural gas furnace, the most common type found in homes today. Let Saddleback Plumbing handle the job of finding out what problems are causing your furnace to short-cycle and fix them. We are the Rancho Santa Margarita, CA furnace service professionals who will see that the job gets done right.
3 Things You Should Know about Your Gas Furnace
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015Gas furnaces are the most common type of heating system found in homes today, a position they have held for decades. Furnaces have retained this top spot because of their high energy output as well as their affordable operation. If you have a home with a gas connection, chances are high that you have a gas furnace to take advantage of the lower costs of natural gas compared to electricity.
Here are three things that our technicians at Saddleback Plumbing would like you to know about your furnace in Mission Viejo, CA. These facts will help you increase your understanding of how your furnace works and how to best care for it so that it continues to work its best. You can always call our technicians whenever you need assistance with your furnace, whether it’s repairs, regular maintenance, or a replacement. We are proud of the quality heating we have provided for homes in Orange County since 1981.
#1. Your gas furnace isn’t inherently dangerous
The common conception that natural gas furnaces are major risks for homes is erroneous. Gas furnaces can create hazards from carbon monoxide, but it is extremely rare for this to happen with contemporary furnaces. Manufacturers construct furnaces with multiple safety measures in them, such as furnace limit switches and automatic gas shut-off valves. However, you still must see that your furnace receives regular professional care and prompt repair work whenever necessary so you can reduce the potential risks to their lowest level possible.
#2. Your furnace won’t run without electricity
A furnace may burn natural gas to create heat, but it also has a number of components necessary for its operation that run on electricity. The blower fan must have electricity to power it, and without a blower fan a furnace cannot distribute heat. Most modern furnaces use electronic ignition systems (which are safer and more energy-efficient than standing pilot lights), so if the power goes out, you won’t be able to turn the furnace on.
#3. You must schedule annual maintenance
No heating system should go without an annual inspection and tune-up from a professional, but with gas furnaces it is especially important to schedule this service to keep it working safely. The best time to arrange for maintenance is during the fall before the colder weather arrives. However, if your furnace has gone for more than a year without maintenance, you should schedule it right away and avoid the possibility of repairs, safety hazards, or inefficient performance.
The next time you need service for your furnace in Mission Viejo, CA, or if you are interested in installing a new furnace, give our heating experts at Saddleback Plumbing a call. They will be glad to arrange for whatever work you need.
Why a Heat Pump Won’t Switch from Cooling to Heating (and Vice Versa)
Friday, January 30th, 2015As you probably already know, part of what makes heat pumps such great choices for home heating is that they can fulfill both heating and cooling roles. This saves you money and space by removing the need to install an air conditioner in your home. However, being able to provide both of these functions also makes the heat pump a more complicated system. The more complicated a system is, the more ways it is possible for the system to break. If your heat pump won’t switch from cooling to heating, or vice versa, read on to find out why.
How a Heat Pump Works
Heat pumps are not combustion based systems. They don’t burn any kind of fuel to create heat. Instead, they siphon heat from the surrounding air and move it from one place to another. This is done through the use of the two primary parts of a heat pump, the inside unit and the outside unit. These two units are connected to each other by a conduit that both provides power and refrigerant. When the heat is turned on, the outside unit evaporates refrigerant inside a coil to draw thermal energy out of the air. The refrigerant gas, now carrying all of that thermal energy, flows inside to the inside unit. The inside unit then condenses the refrigerant back into a liquid, releasing the thermal energy so that it can heat the home.
The Reversing Valve
The direction the refrigerant flows through the system is what determines whether the heat pump is in heating or cooling mode. If the refrigerant is flowing one way, the outside unit captures heat to send it inside. If the refrigerant flows the other way, the inside unit captures heat and sends it outside. The part that determines the direction of refrigerant is called the reversing valve.
The reversing valve is a 4-way junction in the heat pump’s refrigerant line, which determines the direction that refrigerant flows through the system. In heating mode, a slide in the valve forces the refrigerant to flow in one direction. In cooling mode, the slide moves to force refrigerant to flow in the opposite direction. If a heat pump won’t switch modes, it’s a sign that the reversing valve is stuck in one position. If the valve can’t move, the refrigerant flow can’t be reversed and the heat pump becomes stuck in one mode.
If your heat pump is having issues, schedule an appointment with Saddleback Plumbing today. We provide professional heat pump repair throughout Lake Forest, CA.
The Heat Exchanger: The Secret of a Furnace’s Success
Wednesday, January 7th, 2015Furnaces have a number of components that help them to operate safely and effectively, but there are 3 key components that could be dubbed the “workhorses” of the system: the blower, the burner and the heat exchanger. While every component is necessary, should a problem develop with any of these 3, you most likely won’t have any heat, or won’t have safe, sufficient and efficient heat. Today we’re going to talk about the heat exchanger: how it works, why it’s important and how a cracked heat exchanger can be a serious problem. But remember that for any furnace repair issues you may have in Orange County, the experts from Saddleback Plumbing are always available.
What Is a Heat Exchanger?
The heat exchanger in your furnace is a medium-sized, serpentine component that sits directly above the burner. The tube of the heat exchanger is open at both ends, which allows the toxic combustion byproducts to enter at the burner level and exit through the flue, which is connected to the top of the heat exchanger. The warm air that is generated on the outside of the heat exchanger is the warm air that is blown into your home.
Why Does a Heat Exchanger Work Like This?
The heat exchanger is the component that separates the toxic byproducts from the combustion, including carbon monoxide, from the warm air; without it, these byproducts would be blown into your home along with the heat.
Why Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Heat exchangers have an average lifespan similar to that of your furnace: about 15-18 years. The heat exchanger is constantly heating and cooling, which causes the metal to expand and contrast regularly throughout the winter months. After years of this action, cracks can develop in the heat exchanger. The reason this is dangerous is that a crack in the heat exchanger can allow the toxic byproducts to escape and enter your home, including carbon monoxide. Heat exchangers can’t be repaired once a crack develops, but they can be replaced.
The best way to ensure that your furnace is repaired properly is to hire a professional. The trained and certified experts at Saddleback Plumbing are available for any furnace repair in Orange County that you may have, so if you are experiencing problems with your furnace, call us today.
Does Ductless Heating Installation in Laguna Hills Make Sense?
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014Choosing a heating system for your home can be a daunting task due to the number of options homeowners have. But needing a new heating system can be an opportunity to consider a different type of heating system for your home. One system you may want to consider is ductless heating. Many people are familiar with ductless air conditioning systems, but you can also use a ductless system to provide heat for your entire home. Installation for any heating system should always be handled by trained professionals, so if you need heating installation in Laguna Hills, CA, call who have been in business since 1981: Saddleback Plumbing.
How Does a Ductless System Heat?
Ductless systems heat your home by employing heat pump technology. This means that the outdoor unit of the ductless system has a component called a reversing valve. This valve allows the system to change the direction of the refrigerant flow, which enables the system to both heat and cool your home.
What Are the Components?
The components for a ductless heating system are the same as for cooling, except with the outdoor unit has a reversing valve. The components are:
- Outdoor unit – holds the compressor, condenser and reversing valve
- Indoor blower – has a small fan, evaporator coil and filter
- Conduit – a conduit drilled into an exterior wall connects the outdoor unit to the indoor blowers
- Dual-mode thermostat – allows the homeowner to switch between modes
Benefits of a Ductless Heating System
- Very energy efficient – a ductless system does not need fossil fuels to operate; it uses only a small amount of electricity, making it very energy efficient.
- Easily installed – ductless system are minimally-invasive installations as no ductwork is needed. The outdoor unit is installed and the indoor blowers are mounted flush against walls or hung from ceilings. They are connected by the conduit, which contains the refrigerant line, power cord and condensate drain pipe.
- Customized comfort – each indoor blower operates individually, allowing you to set each blower at a temperature you want.
Ductless systems can also be great for older homes without ductwork and for adding heating and cooling to new home additions. If you are ready for a new ductless heating installation in Laguna Hills, CA, call Saddleback Plumbing today!