Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Furnace’

Why Does My Furnace Pilot Light Keep Going Out?

Friday, December 6th, 2013

While new furnaces usually have an electric igniter instead of a pilot light, many homes still have furnaces with pilot lights. When the furnace activates, the pilot light ignites the flow of gas so that you can get heat in your home. However, if your pilot light starts to go out often, it might be time to call for repair. Here at Saddleback Plumbing we offer total furnace repair in Laguna Hills for all types of furnaces. If you’re not getting enough heat or if your furnace won’t light, give us a call and we want figure out what’s going on. Here are some of the things that might be causing your pilot light to go out.

Saddleback Plumbing can help you with your heating services in Laguna Hills, like installing a furnace.

Laguna Hills Furnace Repair Tip: Why Is My Pilot Light Going Out?

There are a few different common causes of your pilot light going out. Our experts can fix any type of issue that you’re having. While every home and furnace is different, here are some of the things that could be causing your problems.

  • Thermocouple – Your gas-fired furnace has a safety feature called a thermocouple. It detects when the pilot light is lit by constantly testing the flame with a probe and it will shut off the flow of gas if the pilot light goes out. However, if the thermocouple malfunctions, it can inadvertently shut off the flow of gas to your pilot light which will cause it to turn off. If this is the case with your furnace, our technicians may need to replace it, clean it or repair it.
  • Lack of maintenance – Another common cause of pilot light problems is just a simple lack of maintenance and cleaning. If your pilot light gets dirty because of dust, it may block the flow of gas to the unit.

If you need any kind of furnace repair in Laguna Hills just call Saddleback Plumbing and one of our experts can help you out. Call today!

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I Don’t Understand How a Furnace Works: Let a Pro Help You

Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Here in Irvine, furnace technology is almost entirely a winter concern, with the rest of the year given over to air conditioning issues. It’s one of the perks of living in Southern California. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore the importance of a good furnace to your home’s comfort, however. Our winter nights get pretty chilly, and a good gas furnace is often the best way to keep warm and comfortable when temperatures start to drop.

In light of that, it’s important for you the homeowner to understand what goes into the furnace’s functioning, this way you can react more appropriately when the need arises for a furnace repair in your Irvine home. “I don’t understand how a furnace works,” you say? Not to worry – let a pro help you with the basics.

The heating process starts when your thermostat detects that the temperature has dropped below a certain level set by you. It then activates a set of burners connected to a combustion chamber. A gas line feeds steady gas into the burners which an electronic ignition system (or a pilot light in the case of older furnaces) ignites it. The gas heats up a heat exchanger, which heats up the air blown into the furnace through a blower. The hot air then passes out from the furnace into a series of ducts, which carry it throughout your home.

Problems can arise from any number of sources, such as blocked lines, dirty burners, or problems with the ignition system. Safety features such as thermocouples automatically shut off the gas in the event of a problem to prevent the gas from flooding your household. But whenever such issues arise, you should shut off power to the furnace and call in an expert to address it.

Here in Irvine, furnace repair services are provided by Saddleback Plumbing. If problems arise and you’re saying to yourself “I don’t understand how a furnace works,” then our expert staff is here to help. We can hunt down the source of the problem and put your furnace back in the pink. Let a pro help you when your heating isn’t what it should be. Pick up the phone and give us a call today for all of your Irvine heating needs.

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Is a Furnace the Best Heating Option for My Home?

Monday, November 4th, 2013

In Irvine, furnace systems see use in a wide variety of homes. They’re simple and easy to operate, they don’t cost much in monthly bills, and when trouble arises, repair professionals can usually fix them without a great deal of difficulty. Considering our warm Southern California climate, however, you may want to consider an alternate option for your heating needs. “is a furnace the best heating option for my home?” the answer depends on your unique circumstances.

The central issue is usually one of up-front costs vs. long-term savings. For instance, a heat pump – which combines the functions of an air conditioner and a heater into a single unit – often uses less energy than a gas furnace, though it costs a little more to install. Similarly, a hydronic floor system – which runs tubes filled with hot water beneath the floorboards of your house – delivers warm temperatures without the drafts or cold spots that appear in “forced air” gas furnaces. Both save you considerably in monthly heating costs, as well as improving the resale value of your home.

On the other hand, those savings come at the price of a big up-front cost, and you need to weigh your current finances against the future savings you will enjoy with a different system. They can also involve extensive installation operations, particularly with hydronic systems, which need to be inserted into your floors in order to function efficiently. Heat pumps usually involve a connected indoor and outdoor unit, which can damage the aesthetics of your home.

Despite that, the savings offered by alternate forms of heating are hard to ignore, especially in Irvine where mild temperatures make heat pumps a very good fit. Regardless of whether a furnace is the best heating option for your home or you’d like to explore a different option, it pays to consult with an expert. Saddleback Plumbing has the skills and experience to install a new heater in your home, or just keep your existing one in fine shape if it’s serving you efficiently. Give us a call to schedule heating service in Irvine today.

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Why Is My Furnace Making a Weird Noise?

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013

In Ladera Ranch, furnace systems still make up the vast bulk of home heating options: using ignited gas to heat the air, which is then blown into your home through a series of ducts. As with any major appliance, problems can develop from any number of sources, which you can spot by watching for certain warning signs. In particular, look for your furnace to emit a strange noise – something you don’t normally hear when it’s running and which could indicate a significant problem. “Why is my Ladera Ranch furnace making a weird noise?” you ask. The answers vary according to the kind of noise you hear.

Saddleback Plumbing can help you with your Ladera Ranch furnace service needs!

The most troubling sounds are those that involve an overloading component: usually a grinding or stuttering sound that suggests some kind of an electrical problem. Grinding sounds also take place when a given component is bent or loose from its housing, and grinds up against another component. Both conditions are severe enough to warrant shutting off your furnace immediately before they cause any more damage. Similarly, a thumping or bumping noise could indicate a loose component banging around in its housing or possibly a fan belt that has broken.

More alarming (though not strictly dangerous) noises can including a huffing or banging noise, which results from problematic gas ignition that delays the start of the heating process. It can be quite alarming, though safety measures usually prevent the leak of gas. Speaking of leaks, some noises arise because a leak has developed in the system. Air can escape through the leak, resulting in a humming or whistling noise. This isn’t as damaging as other noises, though it does rob your heater of efficiency and may introduce dust or other contaminants into your heating system.

Whatever the reason, you should call a qualified service technician any time you ask the question “what is that strange sound my furnace is making?” Saddleback Plumbing, a reputable company with years of experience in handling such matters, provides heating service to Ladera Ranch. Our trained staff operates with your complete satisfaction in mind, and we’ll work overtime to ensure that your needs are met.

Give us a call today to make an appointment.

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What is a Downflow vs. an Upflow Furnace?

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

When you go looking to buy a furnace, you may well be surprised by how many different elements go into making a good purchasing decision. There are simply so many different kinds of furnaces available now and they each are more appropriate for certain situations. That means that finding the one that’s right for you is less about finding the one best unit than it is about finding the one that is the best match for your particular circumstances.

This applies to the type of fuel the furnace uses, its energy efficiency, and whether it’s an upflow furnace or a downflow furnace. Energy efficiency and fuel types are probably things that you’re more or less familiar with. But what are we talking about when we classify a furnace as an upflow or downflow model?

Well, it’s pretty much what it sounds like. These terms refer to the direction the air flows as it is taken in and heated by the furnace. So in an upflow furnace, the cool air is taken in at the bottom, warmed, and then expelled at the top. A downflow furnace, on the other hand, takes in cool air at the top and expels heated air at the bottom.

While this is all very exciting, it may still not be obvious what impact this will have on your decision about what type of furnace to buy. The main thing you’ll have to think about when you’re deciding between an upflow and a downflow furnace is where the furnace will be placed in your house.

An upflow furnace is generally installed in the basement so that the heated air is directed towards the parts of the house you want cooled and so that the furnace can be appropriately vented outside of the house. On the other hand, a downflow furnace would be installed in your attic for the same reasons.

So where you want to have the furnace installed is probably the biggest thing to take into account as you’re comparing these two types of equipment. Of course, whether you pick an upflow or a downflow furnace, you’ll still have to select the appropriate AFUE, size and fuel source to best meet your needs. But making the choice between upflow and downflow can at least make it easier to narrow down your options.

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