Ask the Experts: FAQs on FAUs with Eric Sanchez

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).