What They are, Common Problems with Heating Systems in South Florida & How to Make Your Heaters Run Smoothly
Heaters are an essential part of many homes in the South Florida area. They keep you warm during the winter months and make it possible to enjoy your home year-round. However, heaters can break down or stop working at any time due to faulty wiring or issues with their thermostats. If you find that your heater is no longer functioning, contact JMAK Heating and Cooling for heater repair in Meritt Island! We offer top-quality services at affordable prices while using only high-quality parts on all our repairs.
What is a Heater
Central heating units typically have a location for the heating device, which could be outside your Florida home or indoors in the garage, where heat is generated and distributed throughout the building. Most houses, apartment complexes, and commercial buildings have these. Modern central heating systems are so efficient that they rarely require additional energy-wasting localized or space heaters.
A central heating system makes use of some form of energy combustion or release, whether it comes from a furnace or a furnace and boiler combination. A furnace or boiler, in essence, is the mechanism that generates the heat that your central heating system will then distribute to keep your home warm. A central heating system that does not include a furnace and boiler is not much.
Common Problems with Heating Systems in Florida
Many people end up in Florida because they despise the idea of being too cold. Most of us are relieved that truly frigid days are few and far between. However, that does mean that when it's cold outside, we want heaters to work correctly so we can ignore the weather for a while!
Overall, heating systems don't get much use in our area. Nonetheless, they experience problems in the same way that any other heating system does! However, due to their configuration and volume of use, these issues may differ from what you'd expect in other climates. Here are some of the most common issues that arise with heaters in our warm climate.
HEATING ELEMENT BROKEN
The majority of heating systems in Florida are electric. These employ electrical resistance heating, which generates enough electricity to generate heat, then is transferred to a few heating elements within the system. Heat is transferred to the home via the air by blowing over these heating elements.
A heating element may eventually fail. Your technician may be able to repair it, or it may need to be replaced. Even one missing heating element means you're not getting enough heat into your home. Aside from the discomfort, this can significantly increase your energy bills and wear down additional heater components.
SEQUENCER DEFICIENCY
If all of the furnace heating elements mentioned above are turned on simultaneously, it could cause havoc on your electrical system. You may have to reset the circuit breaker regularly, but the furnace's sequencer prevents this. It ensures that only one heating element is activated at a time.
If the sequencer fails, the furnace may not even start. Otherwise, there may be a delay between furnace elements heating up, preventing you from receiving the necessary heating.
THE BLOWER FAN MOTOR STOPPED
A blower fan is shared by both heating and air conditioning systems, which means it works harder and more frequently than any other component of your HVAC system. It's not surprising, then, that the blower fan is the component most likely to fail in a Florida heating system, necessitating frequent replacement or fine-tuning.
LOW REFRIGERANT
"Refrigerant?" you might ask. "Didn't I think we were talking about heating?" Yes, refrigerant is a chemical blend used in central air conditioners for refrigeration. However, if you have a heat pump, the same process can be used in your heating system.
Refrigeration uses refrigerant to move heat from one location to another. For the majority of the year, this entails removing heat from the home's interior for the air to cool. However, with a heat pump, heat can be absorbed from the outside air and moved indoors! If you have a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling, the low refrigerant may cause decreased cooling or efficiency and a system breakdown.
How Do You Know if Your Heater is Not Working?
The most common way to know if a heater is not working correctly is to blow cool air. If your heater turns on but blows cold air, turn it off and check to see if anything obstructs the blower.
If you clear any debris or blockages and the problem persists, you may have a faulty heating element. If this is the case, you must replace it with the same voltage and wattage part. Depending on the age of the heater, your best option is to repair it right away!
Other issues arise as well when your heater has issues. Watch out the following is occurring your heater may have issues and will need a repair:
Controls are malfunctioning
The heater won't shut off
The heater will not stay on
The heater smells like it is burning
If your heater does not turn on at all, check the circuit breaker and switch to ensure they are turned on. If this doesn't work, try turning up the thermostat as high as possible before shutting it off again.
What Would Cause a Heater to Stop Working?
There are several reasons your heater could have stopped working. These machines are durable but also prove to need plenty of maintenance if you want them to function properly for decades to come. Here is a list of several reasons why your heater may not be working:
Improper maintenance: The most common reason homeowners contact JMAK experts during the winter is a failure to maintain their furnace. If your furnace won't start, it's almost always because it hasn't been tuned in a long time. Frequently, the problem is that the heating system is simply dirty.
If your furnace's blower is dirty, it could cause equipment failure. The heat exchanger in the system cannot function unless there is enough air moving across it to keep it from overheating. To summarize, a clogged blower can cause the heat exchanger to fail.
The thermostat is experiencing problems: Another common complaint among homeowners is the thermostat not turning on the heat. Usually, the root cause of the problem is that the thermostat is malfunctioning or improperly set.
The function of your thermostat is to regulate the amount of heat generated by your furnace and when that heat is generated. Most thermostats in the market today are pretty reliable and will typically give you years of hassle-free service. However, every thermostat will eventually develop problems and require repair or replacement.
The Blower Capacitor Is Dead: If you've never seen your heater's blower capacitor, it's the part of your furnace that looks like a giant battery. The capacitor turns on the furnace when the setting on your thermostat tells it to. Tolerance levels are present in all capacitors. If the tolerance level is less than a certain level, the blower may not reach the desired RPM.
When the capacitor is dying or dead, the blower will not start. The straightforward solution is to have JMAK experts replace it.
Who Can Fix My Heater
Common problems with heater systems in South Florida include a lack of maintenance, leading to more significant issues down the road. If it's been a while since you last had your heater inspected and serviced, call JMAK Heating & Cooling today at (321) 720-7571 for an appointment.
JMAK Cooling & Heating is a dynamic company that services residential, commercial, and new construction. We specialize in air conditioning, air purification, heating, air ducts, system installation, and many other options. We are committed to serving Brevard County.
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