Repair & Maintenance Tips for Your Edmonton Furnace

Most furnaces are extremely easy maintenance, which is highly beneficial considering how important regular maintenance ensures the system works efficiently. Some maintenance tips are viable for all different types of systems. Here are some of the different problems and issues that will arise, and how you can fix them quickly and effectively.

Cooling and heating system problems can arise due to component issues. Usually, the components will be:

• The thermostat
• The distribution system
• The source for the cold/heat

 You should always take these steps before you start work on any system:

1. Check that the power is working. Look for any tripped circuits and blown fuses on the panel. Your furnace may have an entrance for the power that is separate to the main section. You should check this too. You will also need to find out whether you have fuses mounted within the unit.
2. Does your system have a reset button? If so, press this after waiting for the motor to cool for 30 minutes.
3. Try the reset button again after another 30 minute wait if it doesn’t work at first. You can try this one more time after this.
4. Check any separate power switches are turned on.
5. Look at the settings for the thermostat to make sure they are set correctly.
6. Check the gas supply if this is the fuel used. You should also check the pilot light is on. Check the oil supply if this is the fuel used.

You also need to remember the following safety measures when maintaining your furnace:

1. Turn off all power before working on your system. You can trip the circuit or remove the system’s fuse to isolate the power to the system. However, if you don’t know which circuit your system is currently working on, you will need to turn the power off from the whole house until you get it fixed.
2. If you find that there are repeated problems, like blown fuses or tripped circuits, it is a sign that there is a more difficult and serious problem. Don’t keep replacing things or try to fix it yourself. Call someone experienced and qualified to deal with this.
3. If you can smell gas, avoid using the light switches or trying to turn the gas off. You should leave windows open and walk out of the house immediately. Call the fire department or your gas company, and only enter the home when either say that it is safe to do so.

You should have any cooling or heating system serviced on a yearly basis to ensure it is properly maintained. For your furnace, have it serviced at the end of the winter period. Your furnace has worked hard, and many companies offer discounts due to it being off-season. It is usually worth getting your cooling system checked with the heating system for ease.

If you enjoyed this article, check out 5 Tips for Replacing Furnace Parts.

Popular Gas Furnaces Used By Edmonton Homeowners

The most highly popular fuel for heating in Edmonton, Alberta is gas. The gas heater or furnace in your home is an extremely vital appliance that you need to work reliably, quietly and efficiently. 

Have the knowledge of the different types of available gas furnaces prior to talking to professional in Edmonton about getting a replacement furnace. Apart from this, have an idea of what makes gas furnaces different and their expected efficiency.

Types of Gas Furnaces 

As a result of the various technologies utilized to meet the efficiency of energy, different types of forced air furnaces came to being. 

There are two broad types of gas furnace.

• Condensing furnace
• Conventional furnace

The by-products of burning natural gas for heating your home using your furnace are combustion gases; these gases must be expelled out of your house.

Using a conventional furnace which is under 90% efficient, combustion gases are expelled via a vertical vent incorporated with your system. A definite amount of heat is always lost as the combustion gases get expelled out through the vent. 

Highly efficient conventional furnaces remove excess heat with the aid of an additional exchanger; this maximizes efficiency of energy and you save more money.

Furnace Burner and Blower Operation 

Furnaces are broken down in stages based on the operation of the burner and the blower. “Stage” is the term used to denote the furnace’s burner operation and the operation of the blower; and it is also used indirectly to refer to level of complexity of the technology regulating the burner and the blower. The stages of mention are:

• One-stage or single furnace
• Two-stage or dual-stage furnace
• Modulating furnace

The one-stage or single furnace is the least expensive among the three stages; this implies that both burner and blower has a one (single) “on” stage.

The two-stage or dual-stage furnace possess electronic regulators that permit the flame of the burner to be set to high or low, depending on the preferred level of heat.

A modulating furnace also has electric controls but they are for controlling the burner and motor of the blower. These controls permit very adequate regulations to the setting of the burner and the speed of the blower motor, and modulate both to retain the temperature of the room near to the setting of the thermostat.

Furnace Efficiency Ratings 

The gas furnace currently in your house, or you’re planning to get one, can be categorized into the following based on the class of efficiency:

• Low Efficiency Furnace (78% AFUE)
• Mid-Efficiency or Standard Gas Furnace (80-83% AFUE)
• High Efficiency Gas Furnace (90-98% AFUE and this is the minimum AFUE for new gas furnaces in Canada)

The metric that is used for measuring furnace efficiency is known as AFUE rating. The full meaning of AFUE is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and it measures the quantity of fuel that is converted to heat. 

ENERGY STAR^® is an international high-efficiency product mark. This familiar mark allows easy identification of the best performing energy in the market. 

The EnerGuide program of Canada is a grading and labelling system that permits consumers to get the products that are most efficient in their class. The EnerGuide program supplies verified data about the performance of a product’s energy.

Furnace Repair Edmonton − How To Repair Gas Furnaces

Furnace Repair Edmonton − Introduction

Natural gas burns cleaner than fuel oil.  Moreover, gas furnaces experience fewer operational difficulties than oil burners. 

The typical problems that affect gas furnaces include the:

• Thermocouple;
• Pilot light; or
• Electrical system.

Furnace Repair Edmonton − Safety

A safety feature of gas furnaces is control shutoffs to prevent gas leaks.  However, although it doesn’t happen often, gas leaks do happen. If you smell gas in your Edmonton home, immediately leave your home, leaving the door open.  Once safely out of your home, immediately call the gas company or fire department.  Only re-enter your home when the gas company or fire department says it’s safe.

When leaving your home, do not turn any lights on or off, and do not try to shut off the gas leading to the furnace.  

Furnace Repair Edmonton – General Tips

On some gas furnaces, the pilot light assembly is covered.  To get to the pilot burner, either pull the door out of the furnace housing or remove the panel.

The pilot assembly, at the front of the furnace, includes the:

• Pilot light controls;
• Reset buttons;
• Gas valves; and
• Thermocouple.

You will find the furnace limit switch on the main chamber or main duct junction on the upper part of the furnace. 

Furnace Repair Edmonton – Do-It-Yourself Tips 

A furnace can stop working for many reasons.  Fortunately, many of the solutions are extremely easy to apply yourself. Before calling a repairman to fix your furnace, you may be able to save a few dollars by fixing the problem yourself with the following tips.

1. Furnace Stopped Working
1. Power is off
•  Look for blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
2. Poser switch is off
•  Turn on separate power switch on or near your furnace.
3. Motor overloaded
•  Wait 30 minutes and press reset button.  Repeat if necessary.
4. Pilot light is out
•  Re-light pilot.
5. Gas not getting to furnace 
• Fully open gas valve to furnace.
2. Insufficient Heat
1.  Thermostat is set too low
• Raise thermostat setting 3°C.
2.  Dirty Filter
•  Clean or replace filter.
3.  Clogged blower
•  Clean the blower assembly.
4. Registers closed or blocked
•  Open all registers; ensure that registers are not blocked by drapes or furniture.
5. System out of balance
•  Call a professional in Edmonton at 587-409-5683.
6. Loose or damaged blower belt
•  Adjust or replace belt.
7. Dirty burner
•  Call a professional in Edmonton at 587-409-5683.
3. Pilot Will Not Light
1.  Pilot opening blocked
•  Clean pilot opening.
2. No gas 
• Ensure the pilot light button is fully depressed and gas valve to furnace is fully open.
4. Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
1. Loose or faulty thermocouple
•  Tighten thermocouple nut slightly; if no results, replace thermocouple
2. Pilot flame set too low
•  Adjust pilot to increase flame to about 5 centimeters long.
3. Electric pilot faulty
• Call a professional in Edmonton at 587-409-5683.
5. Furnace Continually Turns On & Off
1. Dirty filter
•   Clean or replace filter
2. Motor and/or blower needs lubrication
•  Lubricate oil ports (if ports available)
6. Blower Continues To Run
1. Wrong setting for blower control
•   Reset thermostat from ON to AUTO.
2. Limit switch set wrong
•  Reset limit switch for stop-start cycling.
3. Limit control needs adjustment.
• Call a professional in Edmonton at 587-409-5683. 
7. Louder Than Normal Furnace
1. Loose access panels
• Attach and tighten access panels.
2. Tattered or impaired belts
• Spray belts with WD-40 or belt dressing; replace tattered belts.
3. Loose or tight blower belts
• Adjust belt
4. Loud motor and/or blower  
• Lubricate oil ports (if ports available)
5. Dirty burner  
• Call a professional in Edmonton at 587-409-5683.