5 Signs Your HVAC Blower Motor Needs to Be Replaced

Forced air furnaces are equipped with a blower, sometimes known as a fan, which works to blow the freshly conditoned heat or cooled air through the ducts. This fan is powered by a motor, and like most HVAC components, that motor sometimes fails. The older your furnace is, the more likely this is to happen. Luckily, residential HVAC contractors can usually replace or repair broken blower motors. Here are the signs you need to give your residential heating repair company a call about this problem.

1. No Airflow

If you notice that there is no warm air at all coming through your heat registers, then you may have a broken blower motor. This generally means the blower motor has failed completely, which may indicate there have been problems for a while. If you keep an eye out for the other signs on this list, you can often have your blower motor repaired before it fails completely.

2. Less Airflow

If your blower motor is struggling but still functioning, you may notice a decrease in airflow through your registers. The airflow may be stronger at the vents close to the furnace, but weaker at the far-away vents, such as any that are located upstairs.

Low airflow can be caused by all sorts of blower motor problems, from a bad capacitor to dirt accumulation. Having a furnace tune-up performed every year prior to heating season can help prevent these issues.

3. Rattling Or Screeching Noises

Listen closely when your furnace starts blowing out warm air. Do you hear a rattling noise? If so, your blower motor may need a ball bearing, or there may be a loose screw that needs to be tightened.

Screeching noises while the furnace is running can also indicate a blower motor problem. Usually, screeching is caused by a frayed or torn belt. This is a common problem in older, belt-driven furnaces. Thankfully, HVAC technicians can replace frayed belts if the motor is in otherwise good shape,

4. High Energy Bills

There are many possible causes of high energy bills. You may have leaky windows or a malfunctioning water heater, as an example. If you’ve ruled out these and other probable causes, then it’s time to consider your blower motor. If the motor is really dirty, it won’t work efficiently. This could lead to breakdowns if not addressed promptly.

If you have a variable speed blower motor, high energy bills could also mean the motor is stuck at one speed. Having your heating contractors fix it will help bring your energy bills back down to a reasonable level.

5. Strange Smells

If you notice an overheating odor or the smell of burning dust when you turn on your furnace, this could indicate an issue with your blower motor. It may just be dirty, or there could be some components rubbing against one another, generating heat and odors.

If you suspect your blower motor may be malfunctioning, call your heating contractor sooner rather than later. Feel free to contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning if you’re looking for heating and air conditioning companies in the Delaware Valley.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/5-signs-your-hvac-blower-motor-needs-to-be-replaced/

The Signs & Symptoms of a Bad Capacitor on a Gas Furnace

Your furnace works by warming air and then blowing that warm air through your ducts. The fan, specifically, is responsible for the blowing part of this function. Inside that fan, there is a motor, and inside the motor, there is a part called the capacitor.

Your furnace capacitor works to regulate the amount of electricity that the fan motor receives. It’s a small part, but if it is not working properly, your furnace won’t be able to heat your home until a heating contractor replaces the capacitor. So, what are the signs that something’s wrong with your furnace capacitor?

1. Humming Noises

The capacitor allows electricity to flow to your furnace’s fan motor, permitting the motor to turn on. If the capacity is not functioning properly, you may hear a strange, low-humming noise when your furnace first turns on. Sometimes, after a few seconds of humming, the furnace may start blowing air. Other times, the humming noise may continue indefinitely and you won’t get heat at all.

2. Clicking Sounds

If you listen closely when your furnace is working well, you’ll hear a single “click” when the furnace turns on. This is normal.

When your furnace capacitor is malfunctioning, you may instead hear click after click, but the furnace won’t turn on. The clicking might go on for a few minutes before ceasing, or it may happen just a few times before the furnace “stops trying.” In either case, repeated clicking means you need to call a residential heating repair contactor about your capacitor.

3. Short-Cycling

Sometimes when a capacitor is not working well, the furnace will turn on, but it will quickly overheat. When the furnace overheats, there is a limit switch that turns it off in order to prevent fires and additional damage to the unit.

What this looks like to the homeowner is the furnace turning on, then off, then on, then off — in quick succession. This furnace behavior is known as short-cycling, and it can indicate a number of furnace problems, but a bad capacitor is definitely one of them. Have a residential HVAC contractor come take a look to prevent future furnace damage and the high energy bills that can come with short cycling.

4. No Heat

Another potential sign of a bad capacitor is a total lack of heat. Your furnace won’t kick on at all. If you try turning the thermostat up a few degrees, you still don’t get results.

Now, a lack of heat can mean almost anything. You could have a bad gas valve, a faulty thermostat, or even a broken heat exchanger. However, the capacitor is one of the most common furnace parts to break, leading to a loss of heat, so it’s an important possibility to consider.

Keep an eye out for these signs of a bad capacity, and make sure you schedule a yearly furnace tune-up to keep your heating system in good shape. Contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning if you’re looking for a heating and air conditioning company to service your equipment.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/the-signs-symptoms-of-a-bad-capacitor-on-a-gas-furnace/

Should I Turn Off My Heater When I Go on Vacation?

When your on vacation, you may feel like it’s wasteful to keep heating the home you’re not spending time in. But should you really turn the heat off before you leave town? In most cases, heating contractors agree the answer is “no.” However, there are other ways you can more safely save on heating bills during travel.

Why Turning The Heat Off Is A Bad Idea

You might figure that since you’re not home, it doesn’t really matter if your home’s indoor temperature falls to 40 or even 30 degrees F. However, your heating system exists for reasons other than simply keeping you warm. Allowing your home to become too cold could cause damage to building materials, appliances, and even decorative items like paintings and photos.

Even in the spring and fall, when temperatures are milder, there may be the occasional freezing day. You don’t want to turn your heat off and potentially subject your home to those freezing temperatures.

Another reason not to turn the heat off is your pipes. Your plumbing system is designed to be kept warm to some degree. Residential HVAC contractors do not recommend turning your heat off while your on vacation because this may cause your pipes to freeze. As the water expands inside your pipe, it can cause the pipes to burst, leading to extensive flooding. Keep the heat on, and you’re far less likely to come home to a flooded home.

Safe Ways To Save On Heat While Traveling

What you can do to save money on heat while traveling is turn your thermostat down. If you set it to 55 degrees F for the duration of your stay, the home won’t get cold enough to allow pipes to freeze. Most appliances and building materials do perfectly well at 55 degrees, too.

If you’re leaving pets at home while you’re away, you’ll want to set your thermostat a bit higher. Most dogs and cats do just fine at 60 degrees F. If your pet is older or has short hair, you might want to leave the home a bit warmer.

Pay close attention to the thermostat settings as you adjust the temperature before travel. After adjusting the setting to your desired temperature, push the “hold” or “vacation mode” button. Otherwise, the thermostat will return to its regularly scheduled program while you’re away.

To save more on heating, it’s also a good idea to schedule a furnace tune up. This way, you can be confident your furnace is working as efficiently as possible while you’re away. Additionally, you can turn your water heater temperature down and unplug other electronics to save energy during your trip.

While turning your heat off while you’re on vacation is not wise, turning your thermostat down is a safe, smart way to save. If you’re in need of residential heating repair before you go away, contact H&H Heating and Cooling. We’re a heating and air conditioning company serving the Delaware Valley since 1985.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/should-i-turn-off-my-heater-when-i-go-on-vacation/

Identifying Your Home's Heating System

When you call a heating and air conditioning company to schedule service, one of the first questions they typically ask is “what kind of heating system do you have?” If you recently moved into your home and the system was installed by a previous homeowner, you may not know the answer to this question off-hand. Luckily, it’s easy enough to find out. Keep reading to learn about the most common types of home heating systems and how to identify them.

Furnaces

Forced air furnaces are really common across the country. These systems burn fuel — usually natural gas, but sometimes propane or oil — to generate heat. The heat warms the air, which is then blown through a system of ducts to the various rooms in your home.

Furnaces are usually paired with a separate air conditioner. If you have one piece of equipment that generates heat, plus an indoor and outdoor unit that provides air conditioning, then you probably have furnace heating. Scheduling a furnace tune up or repairs should be easy since almost all HVAC companies work on these common systems.

Boilers

Boilers heat water. Either that water or steam generated by heating it are then forced through a series of pipes and into radiators, which are located throughout the home.

If your heating system includes radiators, which are metal units that get hot when the heat kicks on, then you probably have a boiler system. Sometimes these radiators are long units that stretch across a baseboard, and other times they are compact, rectangular units situated in the corners of rooms.

Boilers are not as common as they once were, but they are a good choice for allergy sufferers since they don’t blow air and dust through the home. Not all residential heating repair companies work on boilers but may do.

Heat Pumps

A heat pump is a type of heating equipment that is reversible. In the winter, it pumps heat into your home, and in the summer, it pumps heat out of your home. Heat pumps are electric, and they work similarly to refrigerators.

If you have a heat pump, there will typically be an outdoor component to your HVAC system. It may sit on a concrete pad, or it may be mounted on your wall. Heat pumps and air conditioners look similar, but if you read the label on the equipment, you can tell which one you’re looking at. Also, if you have one of these units and no separate furnace or boiler, you can assume it’s a heat pump, not an AC unit.

Knowing which type of heating system you have will make it easier for you to work with heating contractors to schedule repairs and services. If you’re having trouble identifying what type of system you have, feel free to contact us. H&H Heating and Cooling employ knowledgeable residential HVAC contractors who have experience working with furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, and more.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/identifying-your-homes-heating-system/