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

Here’s Why You Should Never Try to Repair a Gas Furnace Yourself

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015

When something in your home needs repair, it may seem like an opportune time to take on an exciting new project by yourself. Replacing a loose doorknob, adjusting a crooked cabinet door, or reinforcing a shaky table leg are all jobs that are relatively simple for a homeowner to do with the proper tools and perhaps some helpful information on the internet. But repairing a broken gas furnace is never as simple as screwing in a door handle.

In today’s guide, learn why gas furnace repair in Park Ridge, IL, is a job reserved for professionals, like the friendly folks at Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning.

The Issue May Not Be What You Think

One of the most important reasons to leave furnace repair up to a professional is that the part that you believe is broken may not necessarily be the part that’s causing trouble. Guides and tutorials online can give you a few reasons as to why your furnace is making noise or why you only feel limited heating. But any number of parts can contribute to a single problem, and replacing the part you believe is at fault may end up proving a waste of money. For example, you may think you need to replace the draft inducer when you system shuts off after only a few minutes of heating, when the problem could actually be with the air pressure switch, a less costly replacement part.

Repairing a Gas Furnace on Your Own Is Expensive

Perhaps you own a set of tools found standard in most homes, like a set of screwdrivers and a hammer. Or maybe you’re the type of homeowner with an array of tools like socket wrenches, torque wrenches, and hacksaws. But even so, chances are that you do not own all of the tools necessary for gas furnace repair. Experts carry the costly specialized equipment that can detect improper voltage, poor air pressure, and other problems you cannot perceive visually.

Professionals Know the Safest Way to Work with a Gas Line

Professionals also know the safest ways to repair a gas heating installation without the potential for gas leaks or carbon monoxide leaks. Technicians will take the time to inspect your equipment thoroughly before and after a repair to check for any potential danger, while an amateur may not always know what to look for.

Call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment for professional furnace repair service in Park Ridge, IL, a company trusted for heating and air conditioning repair since 1904.

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Potential Causes of Reduced Efficiency in Your Gas Furnace

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Gas furnaces are a staple of many homes, providing safe and efficient heating at a very reasonable cost. Like any appliance, however, your furnace can suffer from a loss of efficiency over time, as age and wear-and-tear take their toll. Here in Park Ridge IL, gas furnace repair services are on hand to correct such problems, but it helps to understand the potential causes of reduced efficiency in your gas furnace before you need to call in a professional. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, as they say, and the more you can do to prevent the loss of efficiency, the better off both your furnace and your wallet will be.

In many cases, reduced efficiency arrives with the simple accumulation of dust and detritus in your furnace. Burners can become clogged with gunk, which lowers their heating potential and may shut them down entirely if they become too clogged. Similarly, dust can create increased friction on moving parts, which affects their ability to do their jobs and makes wear and tear worse over time. This is especially true with such key components as the fan motor, without which heated air cannot reach your home.

In addition, damage and build-up can result in reduced air flow throughout your ducts, which forces the furnace to work harder to warm your home. The same principle holds true with loose parts and fittings, which can create breaches in the air flow or cause individual components to rattle in their housings. The blower fan could become bent or broken, the fan belt may become frayed, and in some cases, the flow of gas into the furnace may become blocked by build-up in the lines.

None of these things will shut your furnace down, but they will sap its ability to do its job effectively: coating you additional money in monthly energy bills. A good technician can fix the potential causes of reduced efficiency in you gas furnace, either as part of our regular maintenance program or with a formal repair call. Gas furnace repair and other heating services in Park Ridge, IL, can be provided by the experts at Shavitz Heating & Air Conditioning. Call us today and let us show you what we can do for you!

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