You
asked and we listened! Our “Ask the Experts” blog series is a way that you, our
valued customers, can find out everything you’ve been dying to know about your
home, from the guys that you trust – Bill Howe technicians! With the winter
months quickly approaching we had customers asking about forced air unit
(FAU)/heater repairs so we sat down with Bill Howe
Heating & Air field supervisor, Eric Sanchez, to get
answers to our customers “FAQs on FAUs.”
Q:
How many years have you been in the heating and air conditioning industry and
where did you receive your training?
Eric:
I’ve been in the HVAC industry since 1997. I went to school for it at a trade
school in San Jose. After graduation I worked for HVAC companies in San Jose
and Sacramento before moving down to San Diego.
Q:
How long have you been specialized in HVAC service and repair (as opposed to
HVAC installations)?
Eric:
I went to school specifically for service and repair of all types of equipment
and brands, but once I got out in the field I did a lot of HVAC installations.
For the past several years I’ve come back to what I really enjoy which is
service and repair and personally I find it more satisfying.
Q:
What are the most common causes of heating problems?
Eric:
It really depends on the age and type of the furnace. If we’re talking about an
old furnace, it’s really common that the pilot light is out, especially at the
beginning of the cold season. Other times it’s usually a problem with the gas
valve, the thermocouple or sometimes air leaks that are killing the pilot
flame. Sometimes the unit isn’t heating because of the air filter is full of
debris and the system isn’t receiving enough air flow.
With
newer systems, common causes include electrical shorts or a defective ignition
device. Even with newer systems, a dirty air filter can cause issues as well.
Common
issues with heat pumps are usually low refrigerant or a dirty filter.
Q:
Are there any signs (other than just not getting any heat) that would indicate
a problem with a heating system?
Eric:
Yes, certain sounds and smells can be a good sign that there
may be an issue with the unit. For instance, if the blower motor is out of
balance it will make the unit rattle or sometimes the unit will hum because
there’s a problem with the motor. We also receive a lot of calls from customers
who are concerned about smells that come from their air ducts when they turn on
their unit. That’s due to a lack of service on the unit. Sometimes dust will
come through the vents and even set off smoke detectors. Customers can avoid
this by having a tune-up before they need to use the unit, but if it’s too late
and the smell/dust is already there, they can have a professional come out to
clean the heat exchanger. Eventually this dust and smell will go away on its
own, but it tends to take awhile. Sometimes, if it’s a really old unit, that
smell is not going to go away and the unit is too rusted beyond any type of
repair.
Q:
How long does the average repair take?
Eric:
Heater repairs are not usually as complicated as air
conditioning repairs. The average heater repair will take between one and two
hours. If the unit is having problems intermittently, sometimes the problem
doesn’t present itself when we’re onsite. That’s when we’ll leave the unit on
overnight and go back the next day to fix the problem.
Q:
Are heater repairs expensive?
Eric:
It really depends on the parts that are needed, but sometimes the problem is
solved by fixing wiring issues or cleaning the unit and doesn’t even need
parts. On average, repairs costs around $200 to $350.
Q:
If my pilot light is out, can the customer just light it?
Eric:
Yes, however we strongly advise customers to proceed with
caution, especially if it’s an older unit. The safest thing to do is have a
professional light the pilot (SDG&E can also do this), however there are
directions on the unit that shows the customer how to do it themselves. A lot
of the time we get calls because the customer has tried lighting the pilot
light themselves, but it won’t stay lit.
Q:
What is the average lifespan of a heater?
Eric:
For energy efficiency, the average lifespan is about 10 to
12 years, however, heaters can last many more years, the unit just loses
efficiency.
Q:
How long is the warranty period for a heater repair?
Eric:
At Bill Howe Heating & Air Conditioning, our heater
repairs come with a one year warranty on the parts that we supply and a 30 day
warranty for the labor.
Q:
What is the average lifespan of a thermostat?
Eric:
The newer digital thermostats will usually last between 5
and 8 years.
A
lot of customers still have the old thermostat with the mercury inside. I’ve
found that customers like these thermostats because they’re easy to use, but
they’re not always efficient or accurate and mercury isn’t safe to have either.
There are a lot of benefits to upgrading to a digital thermostat (e.g.
programmable thermostats will ensure the customer is not wasting energy/money
when they aren’t at home and some of the newer thermostats will actually learn
the customers’ habits and program the system to the customers’ needs without
them having to do anything).
Q:
What are unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the house?
Eric:
Every gas appliance in the house (i.e. gas stove, furnace,
etc.) is going to produce between 0 and 9 parts per million (ppm) which is a
safe level of carbon monoxide. Many homes still don’t have a carbon monoxide
detector, and they should. If customers have one, the detector will go off if
levels go above 9 ppm.
Q:
What is the best method of filtration?
Eric:
There are several different filtration methods and the best
ones out there can get pretty expensive. Some really good methods that are also
affordable include UV lights and electronic air cleaners. Also, the air tends
to get really dry when using the heater so sometimes customers will have us
install humidifiers into the system to improve air quality and reduce
dryness.
For even more information on FAUs or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians visit our website at www.billhowe.com or give us a call at 1-800-Bill-Howe (1-800-245-5469).
