Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Electric Furnace Repair’

How Maintenance Prevents the Need for Electric Furnace Repair

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

One of the advantages of electric furnaces for home heating is their flexibility. Because almost all homes are wired for electricity, electric furnaces are options everywhere. They are also safer than gas furnaces because they don’t pose any hazards from toxic or combustible gases. Although electric furnace models tend to be less energy-efficient than gas models, current technology is far superior to what it once was and makes electricity a competitive option for reduced energy use.

But perhaps the greatest advantage of electric furnaces is their longevity and durability. An electric furnace will often last 10 years longer than a gas furnace, and they need fewer repairs in general. However, they still require regular maintenance to help ward off repair calls. If you neglect regular maintenance for your electric furnace, you can’t expect it to give you a long and productive service life.

To help avoid unnecessary electric furnace repair in Northbrook, IL, arrange for annual furnace maintenance from HVAC professionals. The maintenance program at Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning will see that your electric furnace is prepared for the winter. Call us today for more details.

The Importance of Maintenance for Preventing Furnace Repairs

Electric furnaces work through resistance heating: power runs through the coils of the heating elements inside the furnace cabinet, turning them hot, which in turn heats up the air which is then blown out through the ductwork. This places a great deal of stress on the heating elements, which can burn out if they are not regularly cared for and occasionally replaced. During maintenance, the technician will inspect the heating elements to make sure that none of them are in need of repairs of replacements in the near future.

The technician will also look over the whole electrical system that powers the furnace to make adjustments and tightenings. This will help ward off potential electrical failures that could shut down the entire system.

Another crucial part of an electric furnace that a technician investigates is the air handler: the blower fan responsible for sending the heated air from the cabinet and distributing it into the ventilation system. The technician will make sure the motors are lubricated and not dirty, and that none of the capacitors are on the verge of failing.

After the maintenance session is done, you will have a furnace that is in the best condition possible for the coming winter. If the technician does locate places that need preventive repairs, he or she will tell you about them and help you schedule the repair work that will fix them before the cold weather arrives.

Call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today and sign one of our Residential Maintenance Agreements. When you agree to have maintenance from us, you’ll actually need us less…since your furnace will keep working so well you shouldn’t need to contact us for repairs. However, in the event anything goes wrong, you can always count on us for fast electric furnace repair in Northbrook, IL.

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3 Common Issues Connected with Electric Furnace Repair

Friday, March 28th, 2014

Electrical furnaces use coils or similar components to create heat. Some units use a fan to help distribute that heat, while others simply rely on the principles of radiant heating to transfer the warm temperatures. Electrical furnaces differ from more traditional forced-air furnaces, which burn natural gas to generate heat. Here in Park Ridge IL, electric furnace repair is usually provided by any qualified company that offers “traditional” (gas-powered) furnace repair. The problems they need to address can often differ from that of other types of furnaces, however.

Here are 3 common issues connected with electric furnace repair.

  • No heat
    A lack of heat can be caused by an electrical short in the system, which prevents it from getting power. That can being an overloaded circuit, faulty wiring, trouble with the fan motor or an issue with any other electrical component. A trained technician can hunt down the source of the electrical problem and replace the faulty component.
  • Low amounts of heat
    This differs from no heat at all in that you’re getting at least a little. But it never reaches the levels you want, which can actually be worse than no heat at all sine you can limp forward with the issue and possibly cause further damage to your heater as a result. Low levels of heat can be caused by clogged air filters, blocked air filters or a problem in the heating mechanism.
  • Rapid cycling
    Rapid cycling means that the furnace turns on and off multiple times in succession. It’s a problem because that uses a lot of energy, as well as increasing wear and tear on internal components. The issue can stem from a clogged blower, a problem with the fan motor, or a thermostat that is incorrectly reading the temperature in your home.

Here at Shavitz Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer professional heating system services in Park Ridge, IL including furnace repair all the time, and we know how to respond quickly to a service call. In Park Ridge IL, electric furnace repair needs to be fast and efficient before the next cold front rolls in. Give us a call if you have a problem, and let us show you what we can do!

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Electric Furnace Problems From Lack of Maintenance

Friday, December 13th, 2013

If you have an electric furnace, chances are you don’t pay it much mind until a problem arises. We all have so much going on in our lives that as long as the furnace is running, we’re not inclined to worry too much about it. Here in Wilmette IL, electric furnace repair services are standing by to help, so fixing a problem quickly usually isn’t an issue. Even so, a number of problems arise solely from a lack of maintenance. A routine “tune-up” session can help you prevent them.

Your electric furnace suffers from the same wear and tear that any other major appliance does. Parts wear down, bolts become loose, fittings wear out, and dust builds up over months of non-use during the summer. All of these are relatively easy to correct, but all can result in long-term damage if they’re not treated. Dust increases friction in moving parts and can clog the important components over time, preventing them from working. Loose components can rattle in their housings, increasing the strain on them and other components will need to work harder in order to heat your house. That not only raises your monthly bills, but increases the chances of a more serious breakdown taking place in the near future. It may also shorten the life of your furnace, hastening the day when you will need to pay to replace it.

Contrast that with regular maintenance sessions conducted by a trained professional. The dust and dirt are cleaned up, reducing friction and ensuring that the components function effectively. Loose elements are tightened down to keep them from rattling, and thus reduces the strain on them. If any significant repairs are required, the technician can spot it and schedule it before it affects any other parts of your furnace.

All of that can eliminate a number of electric furnace problems from lack of maintenance, or at least reduce the risk of them considerable. In Willmette IL, electric furnace repair services can be addressed by Shavitz Heating and air Conditioning.

Call us today to schedule a regular maintenance session, and help keep your electric furnace running as smoothly as it can!

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What’s the Difference Between a Gas and Electric Furnace?

Friday, November 8th, 2013

Since furnaces first came into existence, they have used many different fuel sources. The earliest modern furnaces in homes and businesses relied on wood or coal. Over time, furnaces became cleaner, more refined, and more efficient. Most contemporary furnaces use natural gas, electricity, or propane. Propane has started to fade, however, with many homes converting over to gas. If you are considering a furnace for your home for the coming winter, your choice will most likely come down to gas or electric.

In this post, we’ll explain some of the differences between the two to help you make a choice. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but since your home has specific heating needs (as well as fuel availability), you should turn to professionals to help you make the final decision and then install your new system.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has a long history with gas and electric furnace repair in Winnetka, IL, and we’ve done numerous installations of both. Contact us for the help you need.

The two furnaces share a distribution system: blower fans that move heated air through ducts and out vents into your home. However, the way they generate that heat is where the differences appear.

When the thermostat signals to a gas furnace that it needs heat, a silicon nitride igniter activates the gas-powered burners. Gas jets ignite and create heat in a combustion chamber. The heat transfers to the air through a heat exchanger. Air blows around and through the heat exchanger (usually a series of steel chambers), and this heated air then gets picked up by the blower fans and sent into the ductwork.

An electric-powered furnace doesn’t have burners or a combustion chamber: instead, the cabinet contains an array of heating elements, which are sets of electric coils that burn hot when current runs through them. The more heat the thermostat requires, the more heating elements will turn on. The blower fans then distribute the air warmed from the heating elements.

Electric furnaces have the advantages of lower initial installation costs and generally smaller sizes. If your home doesn’t have a gas line, an electric furnace is usually the best option. Electric furnaces also have no safety issues from potential gas leaks. However, natural gas furnaces tend to cost less to run because gas is a cheaper energy source than electricity, and they usually provide more effective and even heating.

Don’t try to make the decision between electric or gas on your own. A technician from Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning can come to your home and help determine which one will do the best job for you.

For installation, maintenance, or repair on an electric or gas furnace in Winnetka, IL, make Shavitz your number one choice. And of course, feel free to learn more about all of our Winnetka heating services.

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