4 Things to Check When Your Furnace Won’t Turn On
It’s cold outside and your furnace won’t turn on… now what? It’s easy to panic when your furnace isn’t turning on and the temperature in your home starts to drop. Before you run and call for an emergency furnace repair, there are a few things you can check yourself to rule out the possibility of a quick fix.
Check your Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat could have lost power, be on a schedule, been reset from a power outage, or even accidently bumped. Always start with checking the thermostat to make sure your furnace is simply being told to not turn on in the first place.
Check your Circuit Breaker
If there is nothing wrong with the thermostat, make sure your furnace is getting power. A tripped circuit breaker can be an easy fix if your furnace won’t turn on. Check the breaker in your electrical panel that is associated with your furnace. If it’s in-between on and off, that means the breaker was tripped. Flip it to the off position and then flip it to the on position. If it continues to trip, you’ll need to replace the circuit breaker.
Check the Furnace Filter
If all things thermostat and electricity look good, it’s time to look at the furnace itself. A very common reason for a furnace to malfunction, have low airflow or not turn on at all is a dirty filter. A dirty filter inhibits proper airflow through the furnace, preventing the furnace from producing enough warm air to heat your home to your set temperature. Sometimes the filter is so dirty the furnace won’t even start up.
Check the Pilot Light
If you have a gas furnace, always check the pilot light. If the gas supply to your furnace has halted, the pilot light will go out and your furnace will not turn on. If the pilot light is discolored, we recommend calling an HVAC specialist immediately.
When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to call a professional. Not having a furnace during cold temperatures in Denver is uncomfortable and can become unsafe. Whether you have questions about troubleshooting your furnace or need a repair, Grand Home Services is here to help. Contact us online or call us to get help now anywhere in the Denver Metro Area.
When your air conditioner or furnace stops functioning and needs repair, you put your full trust in a local HVAC contractor to fix the problem efficiently and honestly. Unfortunately there are some technicians that do not operate their business in the most ethical way.
Below are 8 of the most common HVAC repair scams that you should look out for. Click here to see the best ways you can avoid these scams.
1. Bait and switch
Dishonest HVAC companies will generate more business by making amazing offers that are hard to refuse. Once they are in the door, they will take advantage of this time to sell you on other services, or mislead you on the condition of your unit to sell you more than you expected. Whether it be a cold call offering a service you “need” or a technician offering a service that’s “free”, be weary there is a catch.
If you get a quote from an HVAC contractor that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always get a second opinion if you think the technician is scamming you.
2. Refrigerant recharge and overpayment
If your unit is short on refrigerant, it means there is a leak. Refrigerant runs through a closed system and should never run low. The “recharging” scam is a dishonest technician’s way of unnecessarily billing you for refrigerant you shouldn’t even need. The leak is the source of your problem, and your technician should tailor their service accordingly. If the technician only tops off the refrigerant, they are putting off the repair that really needs to happen and thus you will be paying for the refrigerant more than once. They will likely call you again to offer another recharge because they know you will need it.
Another popular air conditioner scam is charging for more refrigerant than you received. If you think you are being scammed, try to supervise the process. The technician should be charging you by weight, measuring the difference in the refrigerant container before and after they filled your unit.
3. R-22 is illegal
This is a very recent scam and a hard one to decipher. Some contractors are telling customers that R-22 is illegal because it is being phased out and cannot be used anymore, and this is not true. As of January 1, 2020, it is no longer legal to produce or import virgin R-22 in the United States. That does not mean R-22 refrigerant is unavailable, more expensive, or illegal. It just means systems that use R-22 will have to rely on existing stocks of virgin refrigerant or use reclaimed refrigerant, both of which are readily available.
4. Cracked heat exchanger
Furnace heat exchangers do eventually crack if not properly maintained or installed, but this also happens to be a popular furnace repair scam. If a technician says your heat exchanger is cracked and you need to get it replaced immediately, you may want to get a second opinion or ask for proof. This repair is quite expensive and you should not give the green light without seeing the crack yourself. Also ask if your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide. A reliable HVAC technician will have combustion analyzers and ambient carbon monoxide meters with them.
5. Replacing parts unnecessarily
A service technician may tell you a part needs to be repaired or replaced when it is perfectly fine. If this is the case, chances are the part is very expensive and the cost of replacing the entire system is not far off from the repair cost. This includes a contractor saying you need to replace equipment just because it is old!
A big red flag is when a technician suggests you need to replace several parts. This is very rarely the case. In the vast majority of air conditioner and furnace failures, one defective part compromises the integrity of the whole unit. Though it is rare, you will see several parts fail if the unit is poorly maintained or the initial repair needed to happen a long time ago. Always get a second opinion!
6. Oversized unit
Bigger is not always better when it comes to air conditioners and furnaces. There are contractors who will push the biggest unit they have with no regard for the type of unit or size of your house/building. Units that are oversized are more expensive to install so the contractor can charge more for the job. They are also more expensive to run in the long term and will cost more in service and maintenance.
7. No price breakdown
A common scam we see here in Aurora, Colorado is contractors not giving a cost breakdown and saying the repair is very expensive, sometimes so expensive that the unit should be replaced. You should always confirm what is wrong with the unit, what needs to be replaced or repaired, and ask for the price breakdown (service fees included). An honest HVAC technician should be able to give you those numbers without question. If something does not seem right, do a little research and ask for a second opinion.
8. Upfront cash payment
No reputable HVAC company asks for payment before providing you with any services. If a repairman asks for payment up front, he or she might try to take your money and run. There is no reason for air conditioning or furnace repair companies to employ this policy unless they are hoping to get away with something.
Grand Home Services in Aurora has been helping homeowners and property managers throughout the Denver Metro Area for over a decade. We know an HVAC scam when we see one and we would be happy to give you a second opinion if you have any suspicions. Contact us today for all your Aurora furnace and air conditioner repair, maintenance, inspection, and installation needs!
4 Most Expensive Furnace Repairs and How to Avoid Them
Winters in Denver can be hard, especially when your furnace is not heating your home correctly. If you turn on your furnace only to find that it is not working, is not heating your home correctly or it is making strange noises, you will want to call for furnace repair.
Some furnace repairs can be quite costly. Here are four of the most expensive furnace repairs and how you can avoid them.
Blower Motor and Capacitor: $500 – $1,500
Simple blower motor repairs might run $150 to $450 while complete replacement could cost $1,500 depending on the brand. This motor and fan, known as a squirrel cage fan, pushes the air through your ducts. Lack of regular cleaning leads to unbalanced or damaged blades.
How to avoid: Regular inspection, cleaning, and keep up with air filter replacements. It is important that the blower motor be inspected and cleaned every so often to ensure it is running at full power.
Draft Inducer Motor: $500 – $1,500
A simple fan wheel in the draft inducer motor is inexpensive to replace, but replacing the entire unit can cost up to $1,500, depending on the model and brand. The draft inducer motor pulls the combustion gasses through the heat exchanger and pushes those gases out the flue to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, so it’s very important to fix if broken.
How to avoid: Regular inspection and a reliable carbon monoxide monitor.
Circuit Board: $500 – $1500
Replacing a furnace circuit board can cost up to $1500 depending on the brand and age of the unit. The circuit board is responsible for operating every component in the furnace and without it your furnace will not function. High efficiency models will cost quite a bit more while single-stage models may be less than $1000.
How to avoid: Regular inspection and cleaning. Unfortunately, a circuit board is a piece of technology and simply fails sometimes, but if the furnace is not well maintained, the circuit board’s lifespan shortens.
Gas Valve: $400 – $1,000
A furnace gas valve allows natural gas or propane to flow to your unit. Furnace gas valves occasionally stop opening and closing properly with age. If this valve does not function, it could be a hazard to your health and home as gas or propane will freely flow from the furnace without combustion. Gas valves are rarely repaired because the labor cost surpasses the cost of a new part.
How to avoid: Regular inspections and cleaning. If there are particles interfering with the gas valve’s ability to close completely, gas could be leaking into your home.
It is very important to take preventative measures with a furnace because one small issue can cause many more. Many of these issues can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning.
Are you in need of a furnace inspection, cleaning, or repair in the Denver Metro Area? Grand Home Services is located in Aurora, Colorado, and provides HVAC and heating services throughout Denver. Contact us today!
8 Warning Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair
When the weather gets cold, you rely on your furnace to keep your home comfortable and to prevent seasonal issues like bursting pipes. It is very common for your furnace to need repair when it is working hard for half the year, and even more common if your furnace is old or hasn’t been properly maintained.
To prevent more issues and extend the life of your furnace, it’s important to know what warning signs to look for. Here are 8 common warning signs your furnace needs repair and what they mean.
1. Your furnace is old
If your furnace is older than the average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today—between 16 and 20 years—your furnace likely needs attention. It’s not a bad idea to start shopping for a replacement just in case of an emergency, but it’s important you get an older furnace inspected and cleaned to prolong its life. If you are in the Denver Metro Area, we can help you with this.
2. Water is pooling around the furnace
If water is pooling around your furnace, it’s important to figure out why rather quickly to keep your house warm. Pooling water is usually caused by a clogged condensate drain line. This drain line removes water that is released when the evaporator in the unit converts refrigerant from a liquid to a gas. Fixing the problem is not as simple as just unclogging the drain line, so it’s best to work with a professional who has HVAC and plumbing expertise.
3. You smell gas
If you smell gas, turn off your furnace immediately. Then, look for a gas supply valve on the gas pipe near the furnace and close the valve. Make sure to call a local HVAC contractor as soon as possible to get the gas leak fixed.
4. It’s making persistent and strange noises
No furnace is silent, but loud and persistent noises can indicate a serious problem. Pay attention to the sounds you hear and, if possible, describe them to your HVAC contractor. Squealing and whistling noises may come from belt or fan issues while banging or groaning can result from broken and loose internal components. All these noises are signs that your furnace needs to be repaired.
5. Air blows weakly
From a minor problem with fans to a major problem with belts and motors, weak air flow can be caused by several things and can cause other problems if not fixed. Because the cause can be difficult to identify, it’s important to call a professional.
6. The thermostat is not working
If you have to turn your thermostat higher and higher to get heat, it’s definitely a sign your furnace needs repair. This malfunction is likely caused by an electrical issue like blown fuses, loose wiring, or tripped circuit breakers. Because it is likely an electrical issue, it can be dangerous to fix if you haven’t had any formal training. Call a trained HVAC professional you trust.
7. Your bill rises
As furnaces age, it is very common for them to lose their efficiency, especially if they have not been consistently maintained. As a result, your furnace will have to work harder and longer to provide the same amount of heat causing your gas & electric bills to go up. If you get your furnace repaired or replaced, you will likely save a lot of money in the long run.
8. The pilot light is discolored
A healthy pilot light usually appears blue. A pilot light of a different color, especially yellow, can indicate a ventilation problem like the carbon monoxide isn’t dissipating as it should. This is not only a health hazard for you and your family, but it can make your unit more combustible if not addressed.
If you notice any of the above warning signs or your furnace is not working as it should, give us a call. We offer 24/7 emergency service throughout the Denver Metro Area and have a lot of experience inspecting, repairing and installing furnaces.
