A broken heater isn’t just uncomfortable during cold winter months, but it could also cause many severe health issues. Ensure to stay safe this winter by knowing what to do when your heater isn’t working correctly, the causes behind its malfunction, and why it’s essential to contact an expert to handle it. We’ll talk all about it and more, so keep reading.
How to Deal with a Malfunctioning Heater
It’s challenging to go through the winter with a broken heater. Luckily, there are a couple of steps that you can take to make it through the coldest months until you’re able to get your hands on a new one.
Close off rooms and drafty windows
If your heater is only malfunctioning in a couple of areas, try closing off these rooms or sealing updrafts to reduce the amount of cold air entering your home. Otherwise, you’re going to end up wasting a lot of energy and money trying to heat rooms that you aren’t occupying. Additionally, if your landlord is unwilling to take the necessary steps to reduce drafts, you can attempt these DIY options for draft control.
Keep yourself warm through clothes and blankets
Keeping covered is one of the best ways to stay warm during chilly days, whether it’s indoors or out. If you’re inside, make sure to crank up the heat if possible. If not, using a few more layers can help insulate your body against chilly breezes or drafts that might be coming in from outside. Make sure to get plenty of rest when at home since losing sleep due to fatigue tends to lower our body temperature.
Ensure that everyone in your household is warm
Not only should you ensure that you’re staying covered and warm, but everyone else in the household should be doing the same thing. Cold temperatures can trigger respiratory conditions such as cold and flu, so everyone needs to take every safety measure. Additionally, if someone in your family has a compromised immune system or other medical condition, make sure to take extra precautions to ensure their safety.
Turn a portable heater on for short periods
Did you know that portable heaters can be used even when the power is out? You must have a backup solution during a winter storm or other times when your electricity might get shut off unexpectedly. Portable heaters can be your best friend when the temperature drops and you need to take off for work or other reasons but don’t want to leave everyone at home in a chilly condition. There are three things to keep in mind when turning on a portable heater:
- Never use it without proper supervision
- Keep combustibles away from it
- Ensure that it has the necessary safety features (ex. tip-over switch, thermal cut off, etc.)
If you’re using a portable heater for short periods and ensuring that everyone is warm, then your household should be able to make it through some cold days without too many problems. You’ll want to keep checking on everyone to ensure that no one gets too cold, which can be difficult if you’re spending time outside of the home.
Contact an expert to inspect the issues
Even if you can get through a cold snap without too many problems, you must call an expert as soon as possible to inspect what happened and ensure that everything is working well. During cold winter months, your heater might work extra hard to keep your home comfortable. Hiring a specialist can help identify any issues that might be lingering, which can help you make the best decision for your household.
What are the Typical Causes of a Broken Heater?
It’s essential to know what’s going on with your heater before it’s too late. Knowing the typical causes of a broken heater should help you identify and resolve any issues before they take a turn for the worse. Here are some of the typical causes of a broken heater:
It’s turned off
Did you forget to turn your heater on before going out for the day? This is a pretty common mistake, but not one you should be making. To avoid this issue from occurring, set your thermostat so that it turns on about an hour before you get home. That way, when you arrive home, your heat will already be running, and everything will seem cozy again in no time at all!
The switch is broken/off
If your heater suddenly stops working when the switch was just fine yesterday, then chances are there’s something wrong with it. One of the best ways to check if something’s up with your switch is by using a voltage tester or voltmeter, which you can purchase virtually from any hardware store. If the voltage tester isn’t giving you a reading for your switch, then there’s a chance that it’s broken, and your heater will need to be fixed as soon as possible.
The pilot light won’t turn on
This issue can be pretty tricky to spot if you’re not an expert with heaters, but it is one of the most accessible problems to fix. The first thing you’ll want to check is to ensure that you correctly turn your heater on.
If so, then chances are something might have happened to the pilot light. You’ll find this part below or near where your flame should come out if everything is working well. Keep in mind that if you’re using a gas heater, the pilot light will need to be relit every time you turn it on.
There’s debris blocking your air ducts.
Having dirty air ducts can cause all sorts of issues with your heater, including not heating up properly. If there are any large pieces of debris around your home, try removing them so that they don’t block any airflow or, worse, get stuck inside your system and cause severe damage down the road.
The circuit breaker is tripped
For a good reason, circuit breakers are there, but you’ll want to ensure that yours isn’t being used too often. If your heater keeps turning off, then there’s a good chance it could be your circuit breaker.
Try turning the heater on again and see if it trips the same breaker. If so, you might have something wrong with your wiring and should call an expert right away to look at the issue before things worsen.
Why is it Essential to Contact an Expert for Heater Repair?
Expert heater repair in Phoenix, AZ can be costly. However, if you want to do everything possible to make sure that your heater is working correctly, then hiring a specialist is the best way to go about things.
While it might be tempting to try and fix things for yourself for the sake of saving money, there are many reasons why this isn’t recommended. Here are some of the main reasons why you should contact an expert for heater repair:
You could get seriously hurt or killed
Saving money on repairs by fixing your heater yourself means taking unnecessary risks with your own life and safety. Many people who attempt DIY repairs end up in dire situations when they’ve made their problem even worse than before and have no choice but to call in a professional. When trying any repairs, always think about your safety first and avoid personal injury or death at all costs.
There’s only so much you can do on your own
As mentioned above, there are many different types of problems that could arise with a heater, and the majority of them will be far outside the range of what an amateur will be able to fix quickly. While it might seem like common sense for most people, don’t attempt any DIY repairs unless you know exactly what you’re doing or have done it in the past.
Your heater could need more than just a few repairs
While it might be tempting to try and fix parts of your heater on your own, there’s a big chance that you’ll eventually come across problem areas where you know nothing about. Rather than wasting time working around these problems, contact an expert as soon as possible to have everything sorted out in one appointment.
You could end up paying much more than you initially thought
If your heater keeps having problems and you’ve attempted to make repairs yourself in the past, there’s a good chance that it might be time for an entire replacement. Don’t try anything new or take any risks with your heater when this is the case, but call expert heating repair right away to save money over replacing everything at once.
The safety of your family is the top priority
Your family’s health and well-being should be your primary concern when dealing with any type of heating issue. This means that you’ll want to make sure that repairs are made as quickly as possible, especially if there’s a real potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Don’t attempt to deal with this issue alone or let anyone in your home use the heater until an expert has sorted everything out.
Call Mountainside Air Conditioning & Heating for Heater Repair in Phoenix, AZ
Heater repair in Phoenix, AZ calls for professional assistance whether you’re dealing with a broken blower motor, a faulty circuit board, or anything else. DIY repair can be tempting, but it’s always best to call a professional who will be able to help you out with all of your repair needs. Call us today at (602) 540-5640 to schedule an appointment.