A furnace is a big part of your life—whether you realize it or not. It keeps your Hood River home warm and can help with your indoor air quality (IAQ).

So it is important to gain a better understanding of furnace fundamentals.

Furnace Basics Training

If you are a curious new Hood River homeowner or someone who is not as familiar with how home systems like furnaces and other types of heaters actually work, then here’s a quick rundown.

While you read on and learn more about a key component of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, please keep in mind our highly trained A & E Plumbing, Heating, & Air Inc. HVAC professionals are here to explain things in more depth and lend a hand with any furnace issue that arises.

Furnace Basics: Ignition

For the gas furnace to work to provide heat, the first part of the process is for it to be ignited. The ignitor on older furnaces is called a pilot light. Newer models typically use electronic ignition.

The pilot light is a concept you may already be familiar with. It is a tiny gas flame that stays on all the time. It is used to ignite a larger flame when the furnace gets switched on.

In contrast, electronic ignition uses a chain reaction, similar to a filament light bulb. This ignites the gas burner. When triggered by the thermostat, a current of electricity runs through the filament, which ultimately creates enough heat to light the gas on fire.

According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), gas furnaces operated by pilot lights are considered heating systems with lower efficiency while furnaces that use electronic ignition are classified as mid-efficiency systems.

Furnace Basics: Combustion

The combustion chamber is where natural gas and air are combined. (As you may know, oxygen is required in order to create fire.) The furnace ventilates this chamber, feeding the fire enough oxygen to burn smoothly and efficiently. The ventilation also extracts the by-products of the combustion.

When you have a home with a furnace, it is critical to keep your combustion chamber clean by having regular maintenance appointments with one of our skilled, professional team members at A & E Plumbing, Heating, & Air Inc. here in Oregon. This gives you higher indoor air quality and provides you with a system that operates more efficiently.

Furnace Basics: Heat

Ultimately, the warm air from your furnace is produced in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located right above the combustion chamber and collects the chamber’s heat waves.

When the temperature inside the exchanger gets warm enough, the motor turns on and distributes the hot air through the ducts of the house. This process repeats until the desired temperature is reached.

Furnace Basics: Conclusion

Each of these parts of the process for heating your Hood River home is important because they work together to give off heat, which is responsible for keeping you and yours cozy. As you can now see, it is far too easy to underestimate a gas furnace and the process behind its ability to function.

We Are Your Gas Furnace Experts

We at A & E Plumbing, Heating, & Air Inc. hope we helped you learn a thing or two about your furnace. Our team wants you and all our valued customers in Hood River, OR to be informed buyers. When the time comes, call A & E Plumbing, Heating, & Air Inc. today at 541-387-3311 or request service online to schedule your furnace installation, repair, or maintenance.

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It’s crucial to take proper care of your furnace—it provides your Hood River home with the heat you need to stay warm. A simple, but often forgotten, way to keep your furnace in good condition and help provide you with desirable indoor air quality (IAQ) in your Oregon home is to consistently replace or clean the furnace filter.

But what are furnace filters, and why do they play such a critical role in maintaining a properly functioning furnace?

At AEH A & E Plumbing, Heating, and Air, Inc, our experienced team of professionals are always on hand to answer any filter questions you may have as well as to replace or clean your air filter for you.

Importance of Furnace Filters

There are dust particles, dander, and debris sifting through the air in your home. Most of the time, you can’t even see this—but it’s there and you are breathing it.

Your furnace circulates air, and the filter catches the air’s dust and debris, which helps provide optimal indoor air quality.

Dirty air will spread throughout your Hood River home without a clean furnace filter. According to the Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM), a common trigger for asthma is household dust. Regular dusting and cleaning will also contribute to a cleaner filter and air, helping those with respiratory issues.

In addition, your filter protects your heating and cooling system as well. Furnace filters remove the dust and debris to also prevent buildup inside your unit. This accumulation can cause system problems and deterioration. Air filters proactively help your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system continue to operate efficiently.

How a Furnace Heats and Filters Air

Air enters your furnace through your ducts. The heat exchanger then converts the cool air to warm. From there, the warm air cycles back out and forces more cool air into the ducts, repeating the process until your home is properly heated.

Choosing Your Filter

There are various furnace filter options available to you. When selecting a filter, be sure to choose the correct size required for your furnace. Check your manufacturer’s instructions, but if you need help with this, our AEH A & E Plumbing, Heating, and Air, Inc HVAC team would be happy to assist you.

Disposable Filters (Replaced Monthly)

Here are the most common disposable filters:

• Fiberglass filter––This type of furnace filter is typically the most popular and least expensive. However, you will have to replace this furnace filter regularly since it’s disposable, and unfortunately, it doesn’t catch smaller particles very effectively. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you may want to consider an alternative.

• Pleated filter––Another option is a pleated filter, which is typically constructed from polyester or cotton fibers. This makes it capable of catching smaller particles. Though disposable, this type of filter is considered more eco-friendly than fiberglass filters.

• Electrostatic filter––This filter offers a more advanced cleaning and filtration process compared to other types of filters. As air passes through, the fibers naturally receive a static charge. This charge attracts dust particles, which end up sticking to it. Electrostatic filters are extra tough on pet dander and cigarette smoke.

Permanent Filters (Cleaned Regularly)

Here are the most common permanent filters:

• Reusable electrostatic filter––A washable version of the electrostatic filter could be a better fit if you would rather clean your filter instead of replace it routinely. Though it initially costs more than the disposable version, this filter can last up to eight years, saving you money in the long run.

• High-efficiency pleated filter––This filter offers between four and five inches of thick synthetic wool for extra protection. Pleated filters are often used in hospitals as they are considered the best filters for those with respiratory issues.

MERV Ratings of Furnace Filters

MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is an energy-efficiency rating system for filters and can typically be found on both the filter and its packaging. The range of the MERV ratings are from 1 to 16 with the higher rating being the most efficient. Generally, the thicker the filter is, the more efficient it is.

Though you might assume the thickest filter is the best filter, you should consider what types of filters are most compatible with your furnace. Thick filters can hinder the airflow of some furnaces, which could cause them to perform less efficiently, so you need to be sure your filter is perfectly matched for your particular furnace. 

If you’re not sure which filter is best for your furnace, contact one of our AEH A & E Plumbing, Heating, and Air, Inc furnace specialists today and we will help you figure it out.

When to Replace or Clean Your Filter

It’s necessary to replace or clean your filter so you can breathe in your home without inhaling contaminants. Most disposable air filters should be replaced every one to three months, but check the manufacturer’s instructions for protocol specific to your furnace.

On the other hand, if you have a reusable filter, in most cases, you should clean it monthly. Check it regularly to be sure there isn’t too much buildup, especially if you or someone living in your home is more sensitive to dust particles and other allergens.

Contact Your Furnace Specialists at AEH A & E Plumbing, Heating, and Air, Inc

Our AEH A & E Plumbing, Heating, and Air, Inc furnace specialists want you to have clean air to breathe in your home. We are here to provide high-quality maintenance visits and any type of indoor air quality support for you here in Hood River, OR. If you have any questions regarding your furnace, call us today at 541-387-3311 or request service online.

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If your furnace seems to be producing heat inconsistently around your Oregon home to you, you’re not alone. Many homes have varied conditions from room to room causing spotty heating or cooling. On cold days, this can be a nuisance. For example, you may be confined to only a few rooms in your home. Or you might have to wear a coat and blanket just to function around the house.

We at A & E Plumbing, Heating & Air want you to be comfortable at home; you deserve to be! Here are seven furnace problems that could be causing uneven heat:

1.  Poor insulation

     If your ducts, windows, attic, or walls have poor or nonexistent insulation, you might have a problem. Heat is escaping, which can cause inconsistent heating. However, you can fix this relatively quickly.

     Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional can perform a thermal analysis in order to figure out which areas need insulating. A professional can install insulation within hours and when compared to other home improvements, it is relatively affordable.

2.  Duct problems

     Leaky or blocked ducts can lead to patchy heating. You should take a walk around inside your home to see if any ducts are being blocked by furniture or carpeting.

     Additionally, the insides of your ducts can have blockages, especially if they haven’t been cleaned recently. Leaks in your ducts are another enemy of even heating. If you think you might have leaky or blocked ducts, have a trained technician perform a thermal analysis.

3.  Thermostat problems

     Try changing your thermostat settings. If your furnace is set to Auto, change it to the On setting. This will cause it to run consistently, instead of incrementally, which may lead to more even heating.

     Your thermostat also might have heat-sensor issues or faulty wiring, causing it to produce the wrong temperature reading. A professional can diagnose this issue.

4.  Improperly sized furnace

     When a furnace isn’t in the right-size class for your Oregon home, it will usually produce poor heating. Undersized units lack the capacity to ventilate your entire living area.

     Similarly, larger units short cycle, leading to inadequate heating. One of our experts can perform heat load calculations to determine whether your system is the correct size.

5.  Lack of maintenance

     When you don’t schedule routine maintenance visits, your system can lose its finesse. Dirty coils, worn/unsecured belts, and clogged filters are common mishaps. Due to these issues, you’ll have a weakened heating system.

     But with proper maintenance, they are easily preventable. According to the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), regular HVAC maintenance reduces costly breakdowns by as much as 95 percent.

6.  Wrong-sized filter

     Good airflow is key to dispersing hot air throughout your home. If your filter is too thick for your furnace, it creates excessive resistance, leading to compromised ventilation. You can have your technician perform a static resistance test to see if it’s the right size.

7.  Need of zone control

     Some homes have varied heating needs for different rooms. Fortunately, with a zone control system, you can adjust the temperature settings in multiple areas. If you live in a home having multiple stories, large windows, or a furnished basement, zone controls may be the best solution.

Call A & E Plumbing, Heating & Air for All Your Heating Needs

Our professionals at A & E Plumbing, Heating & Air provide furnace installations, repairs, and maintenance to our neighbors in The Dalles, OR, and surrounding regions. Call us today at 541-296-0701 or request service online for any additional questions or to schedule service.

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Did you finally turn your furnace on this winter only to have cold air blowing out of your vents? Or did your furnace stop working just when you started to need it most? There are a few reasons your furnace may be blowing cold air, and there a few things to check before you need to worry too much.

At A&E Heating and Air, we are here in The Dalles to help keep your home warm and comfy this winter. If you’re having problems with your furnace, check these things first and then call us for help. 

Check Your Thermostat’s Settings

Be sure your thermostat is set on the correct setting. If it is set to ON, the blower will run continuously even when the furnace is not heating the air. The air coming through the vents will seem cool because it’s room-temperature air.

Turn your thermostat to AUTO, then the fan will only run when the furnace is heating, and you won’t get tepid or room-temperature air. 

Change the Air Filter

A dirty air filter will cause your furnace to overheat. It restricts the airflow in and out of your furnace, which can cause this issue. If it does overheat, the safety control will shut off the burners, causing the fan to blow cool air through the house versus heated air.

Check the Pilot Light

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the pilot light has gone out. It’s a simple fix; just relight the pilot.

Depending on the age of your system and its model, you may have to manually relight it yourself or you may only need to push a button. Call our A&E Heating and Air professionals if you’re unsure how to proceed. We are always happy to help.

After relighting it a few times, if the pilot continues to go out, you should contact us to come and take a look. This is indicative of a bigger problem requiring professional help. 

Reboot Your System

If you have a modern furnace, you probably have one controlled by a computer. Sometimes there is simply a glitch in the system, and it needs a simple reset—the same way you would restart your computer or smartphone.

If you turn off your furnace for 30 seconds and then turn it back on, it may reset itself and begin functioning correctly. If it doesn’t start working the way it should after you have restarted it, call one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals to diagnose and repair the issue expediently for you. 

Examine Your Ductwork

The older your ductwork is, the more likely it is to be damaged or leaky. If it is damaged or leaky, air can escape before it gets to the desired living areas in your Oregon home. The US Department of Energy (DOE) advises that leaking heated air into unheated spaces, like an attic or basement, can add hundreds of dollars a year to your energy bills.

Be sure to inspect the ductwork yourself, but it is possible you may not be able to visually detect the rips or tears causing your leak. It is best to call us at 541-296-0701 for an in-depth ductwork inspection.

Contact Us for All Your Furnace Needs

If none of these troubleshooting suggestions get your furnace up and running again, unfortunately you may have a bigger problem. Contact our A&E Heating and Air professionals today at 541-296-0701 or request service online, and we would be happy to come to you’re the Dalles, OR, home and repair any problem you might be having.

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While an air conditioner’s efficiency is measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, an electric or gas- or oil-fired furnace’s efficiency is measured by its AFUE, or average fuel utilization efficiency. This standard measurement is given in percentages, letting you know how much of your fuel is actually used to heat your Oregon home and how much fuel is wasted.

The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit is. Typically the ratings or percentages you’ll see on new furnaces range from 80 to 100 percent (contingent upon the fuel type of furnace being rated). If a furnace has an AFUE of 80 percent, this means the furnace converts 80 percent of the fuel to heat your house, while the remaining 20 percent is lost, usually out the chimney.

How Do You Use AFUE When Purchasing a New Furnace?

Keep in mind that AFUE is only the efficiency of that furnace to convert fuel into heat. The higher the number, the better it is at that conversion. So, yes, that will save in energy costs.

But the higher-efficiency furnaces also cost more than their lower-efficiency comrades. That’s something you need to be mindful of when new-furnace shopping. You need to weigh these factors against one another, as well as the cost of your type of furnace fuel, when looking to make that decision.

Angie’s List recommends using the age-old advice of always going with the most efficient furnace you can afford. Our technicians at A&E Plumbing, Heating and Air here in The Dalles are experts at factoring all these components into the best recommendations for a new furnace for you. Call us any time for an appointment.

In general, the type of fuel your furnace uses is more important in determining the optimal furnace for your home than the AFUE is. Fuels such as gas, propane, and electric vary greatly in cost and need to be one of the first decisions you make when it comes to purchasing a new furnace.

Once you’ve decided which fuel you’ll be using (you may opt to change your fuel source from your present one when upgrading), then compare the AFUE ratings on furnaces with that fuel source.

Also, be sure to compare apples to apples—don’t compare an electric furnace’s AFUE to a gas furnace’s rating. They’re totally different. And as mentioned above, if you’re doing a cost analysis on your upcoming furnace purchase, be sure to factor the fuel costs into your analysis.

Even though an electric furnace may have an AFUE rating of 100 percent, the cost of electricity is higher than gas. So while the gas furnace’s AFUE rating of 96 percent indicates it’s more costly in its efficiency than the electric furnace, it’s actually be cheaper for you to go with the gas furnace due to the high cost of electricity.

Questions to Ask When Furnace Shopping

What are my long-term goals for my home?

If you’re only staying in your home for a few years, then purchasing a furnace with a lower AFUE may be the way to go. It will cost less, and there’s no way to recoup the price difference between a higher-efficiency unit and the energy costs saved in just a couple years. If you’re planning on retiring in this home, then you would definitely recoup that cost and go on to save more with your energy bills throughout the years.

What type of furnace fuel will I use?

This question may be determined by your home’s location––suburban area versus rural area, city and state versus other cities and states. Call A&E Plumbing, Heating and Air for answers to what’s most used here in The Dalles. Also, call around for various fuel pricing. Just because you have a specific-fueled furnace now doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient now, fuel wise. You may find another even more cost effective.

Once you know the answers to these two questions, you can competently shop for your new furnace directly comparing AFUEs. Factor in your annual heating costs when comparing different furnaces with similar (or different) AFUEs, and you’ll have a sound process for helping you to decide the best furnace for your home and goals.

Contact Us Today

Talk with one of our A&E Plumbing, Heating and Air professionals with questions you may have or to schedule a furnace appointment. Here in The Dalles, OR, we can be reached at 541-296-0701 or request service online.

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It’s understandable that maintenance tasks often fall by the wayside. Many Hood River homeowners follow the mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Everyone is busy and many seemingly more important priorities tend to creep up every month to consume time and money.

However, the last thing you want to worry about when the weather takes a turn toward winter is a broken furnace. Our team at A&E Heating & Air wants to help you be prepared by providing the following furnace maintenance tips.

1.  Change Your Filter Regularly

     This is probably the easiest and one of the most important regular maintenance items a Oregon homeowner can perform. Clean filters allow air to circulate through your furnace efficiently and prolong the life of your system. Be sure to check the furnace and filter manufacturers’ recommendations on the frequency of filter changes.

     This will also help improve your overall indoor air quality in your home. And, according to Angie’s List, furnace filter changes can reduce your energy bill by 5 to 15 percent as well.

2.  Understand Your System and Recommended Maintenance

     Although most furnaces in the United States are natural gas or electric, many other heating systems such as propane, geothermal, heat pump, and radiant floor heating are now available.

     Understand what kind of system provides your home with its heat, and learn how that particular system needs to be maintained. Some systems, such as radiant floor heating, may not require any maintenance while more common systems like natural gas heating need regular inspections and tune-ups to operate efficiently and dependably.

3. Think Safety First

     If you decide to perform any other maintenance tasks beyond basic filter changes, be sure you put safety first. Turn off the power to your furnace before you begin to take things apart to protect yourself from getting injured. Consider hiring a professional to help with any inspection, cleaning, tune-ups, or repairs that are more complicated or you are uncomfortable trying yourself.

4.  Use Your Senses

     It’s easy to pass by your furnace every day and not notice it. Take the time to look at your overall system, especially in the fall, to see if you notice anything obviously amiss.

     First, if you detect the odor of rotten eggs, call your utility company immediately. That can signify a gas leak, which can be extremely dangerous in your home.

     Second, be sure the venting pipe is sitting at the correct angle and is secure. You should check to be sure all tubes are fastened as well. Listen for any unusual sounds or anything else out of the ordinary.

5.  Clean Drainage Tube

     If you are running a natural gas or propane furnace, it will create some water as a by-product. Although some moisture becomes steam, you’ll also have some water drain out into a drip pan.

     Be sure this drainage tube remains clean and clear. Backed up water can damage your flame sensor. You can use compressed air to clear the tube as well white vinegar to reduce any residual.

6.  Get Tidy

     Dirt and dust can hamper the performance of your furnace, so regular cleaning should be part of your annual maintenance. Although you can clean around your unit easily, be careful if you try to clean the inside of your furnace.

     Some components are very sensitive and can become damaged if you don’t know what you are doing. You can use a soft brush to gently loosen dust before vacuuming or contact one of our A&E Heating & Air professionals to do the job.

7.  Perform More Thorough Inspections

     If you are mechanically inclined, you can continue checking things like your burner flames to be sure they are even and blue. You can check your thermostat wires to be sure they are securely connected. Clean the flame sensor so it can continue to do its job well. This can be done with an emery cloth.

Contact Us for Your Furnace Needs

Even if you can handle many of these maintenance items yourself, it’s a good idea to have one of our trained and experienced professionals come annually and do a thorough inspection and cleaning. It keeps your system’s manufacturer’s warranty intact, as most specify professional maintenance must be performed annually.

Most maintenance services are reasonably priced and much less expensive than an emergency repair. When you are ready to invest in furnace maintenance or have questions about other ways to take care of your heating system, call A&E Heating & Air at 541-387-3311 in Hood River, OR, or request service online for more details.

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Is your energy bill too high in the winter? Are you looking for ways to cut costs? There are a number of simple things you can do at home to save money. Some of them are bigger projects, but most are simple things you can do in your day-to-day life to help reduce your heat cost this winter.

At A&E Heating & Air, we want to help you achieve the highest comfort in you’re The Dalles home at an affordable price.

Air Seal Your Home

Air leaks are where outside air enters your home or where the inside air can escape your home. Reducing this leakage is a very cost-effective way to save money on your home energy bill. Two simple-and-effective techniques are caulking and weatherstripping. If you are building new construction, talk to us about air sealing for your new home.

Adjust Your Temperature

Most of us keep our thermostats up a few degrees higher than we need during the colder months. Turn your thermostat as low as you can while still feeling comfortable. When you are not going to be home, turn it town another 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can also invest in a programmable or smart thermostat to have more direct control over your home’s temperature at different times of the day. These thermostats can be a little more expensive up front, but often you will recoup the cost within the season from saved energy.

Insulate Your Attic

We all know that heat rises, and it’s no secret that heat is lost through the roof of your Oregon home. Check the insulation levels in your attic. Be sure you have adequate depth and fill coverage of insulation. You can also have one of our professionals come out for a home-energy test and evaluate your insulation needs.

Cover Your Drafty Windows

You can get plastic window-covering kits at any hardware store. They are relatively inexpensive and will save you quite a bit of energy consumption while increasing your overall comfort level. This is a fairly cheap-and-easy way to save quite a bit of money on your bill.

Use Space Heaters

Depending on how much time you spend in your entire home versus just a few rooms, you may want to invest in a space heater. If your time is spent mainly in one or two rooms, you can turn your thermostat down quite a bit and heat the rooms with an electric space heater. It’s cheaper to heat a small room than to heat an entire house. As always, follow all safety precautions with a space heater.

Dress Warmly Inside

Turn down the thermostat a few degrees and layer up. It can be nice to snuggle in blankets and sweaters on a cold winter’s night. In addition to all this coziness, you’ll save money at the end of the month.

Change Your Furnace Filter

A clean filter is essential to being sure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. It’s also crucial to maintaining healthy indoor air quality. You should follow your furnace-industry recommendations, but we recommend changing your filter at a minimum of every three to six months. A dirty filter restricts airflow and causes your furnace to work harder than it should to maintain a constant temperature.

Have Your Furnace Cleaned and Checked According to the Manufacturer’s Recommendation

This isn’t just about safety—it’s about preventative maintenance. You can catch a problem before your furnace stops working in the middle of the night or on the weekend. This will also ensure your furnace is working at its optimum efficiency, providing you with the most heat for the least cost. Another advantage to regular maintenance is an increased system life span.

Close Your Fireplace Flue

Of course you should always keep your flue open if you are using your fireplace, but be sure you close it when it’s not in use. An open flue is like an open window, and great amounts of heat can escape. According to Indiana Michigan Power, investing in a fireplace flue sealer may be an inexpensive way to prevent air from escaping through the chimney when your fireplace isn’t in use.

Turn Down the Temperature on Your Water Heater

Most water heaters are set by default to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Check your heater’s temperature, and turn it down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind the less heat required to heat your water, the less you are paying for energy costs. This can slow mineral buildup and corrosion as well.

Contact Us Today

Call our professional A&E Heating & Air team today at 541-296-0701 or request service online. We have the needed expertise here in the The Dalles, OR, area to help you with all your heating needs.

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Short cycling is a term used in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) world to explain a situation where a furnace or air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. The “short cycle” is the period of time that your HVAC equipment is actually running, and the shorter this cycle, the harder your system needs to work. 

Our team at A&E Heating & Air wants you to understand the concept of short cycling, why it can be harmful and costly, what causes the problem, and what you can do about it.

Root Causes of Short Cycling

If you notice your HVAC system is kicking on and off more than normal, you may be facing a short-cycling issue in your home in The Dalles. Before short cycling causes expensive damage, you’ll want to get to the root cause of the problem. Here are some common causes of short cycling:

• Incorrect unit size. If you have a furnace or air conditioner that is too large for your Oregon home, it will short cycle. Essentially, an oversized furnace or air conditioner repeats the cycle of heating or cooling an area quickly and then shutting down immediately over and over again. According to ENERGY STAR®, ensuring you have the correct-sized air conditioning system can minimize this problem as well as reduce your energy bills.

• Repair issue. If you recently had a bad storm that resulted in a power outage, this could cause short cycling. In addition, breaker problems, condensate switch issues, a corroded flame sensor, or objects stuck in your vents could also be a root cause. Contact our professional team to inspect your system to help you identify the cause.

• Maintenance issues. Homeowners who fail to regularly maintain their HVAC systems may cause short-cycling issues to arise. For example, a dirty air filter can restrict airflow, which may lead to short cycles. Regular cleaning and inspections can go a long way to prevent short cycling.

• Thermostat problems. If you’ve recently installed a new thermostat, be sure it’s in a location where you can get an accurate temperature reading. For instance, thermostats that are in direct sunlight or near heat-generating appliances or vents may misread your home’s actual temperature and signal your HVAC system to turn on and off incorrectly. A broken thermostat could also be the root cause of the problem.

Before You Notice

Today’s technology does have some built-in protection against HVAC short cycling. Similar to an overload trigger on an electrical motor, shut-off controls will often prevent catastrophic HVAC equipment failure. For instance, if temperatures or pressures exceed maximum preset ranges, these safety devices will kick in and shut down your HVAC system for a certain amount of time.

Whether you notice short cycling or your HVAC system shuts down due to this issue, it’s important to resolve the root causes for the long-term health of your heating and cooling system. Living with a system that short cycles can lead to poor temperature-, ventilation-, and humidity-management; a strain on electrical and lubrication systems; and energy wastage.

What You Can Do

The most important thing you can do to prevent short cycling is to regularly maintain your HVAC system with biannual inspections and cleanings. During this process, a trained technician can spot potential problems and correct them before you experience short-cycling problems.

You can also invest in technologies such as variable capacity furnaces and air conditioners, which will adjust the output of your equipment instead of simply shutting down. Look into dead-band settings on your thermostats as well. These allow you to specify an acceptable temperature band so your HVAC equipment cycles less frequently.

Contact Us for All Your Heating and Cooling Needs

For more details about short cycling, its causes, and how to prevent it, call our professionals at A&E Heating & Air in The Dalles, OR. Our trained, experienced team can help you address short-cycling issues with repairs, maintenance, and new equipment suggestions. Call us at 541-296-0701 or request service online.

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The average furnace lasts between 10 and 15 years. But did you know you can take steps to make it last longer? There is no shortcut or hack to increase your furnace’s longevity. 

In reality, the key is treating your The Dalles system with care and respect. With just a small amount of time and energy, you can ensure your furnace will live well beyond its warranty. From our team here at A&E Heating & Air, here are four things you should do to make your furnace last longer:

1. Change Your Filter Regularly

This is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your heating system. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see how frequently you should replace your filter. 

When filters get clogged with dust and debris, it causes all sorts of problems with your furnace. The airflow becomes restricted, causing the furnace components to wear down more quickly.

2. Schedule Maintenance at Least Once a Year

You should see one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals for maintenance at least once a year. Your heating equipment might have issues you can’t yet see. 

Fortunately, a trained eye can spot them. Also, our technicians will clean any excess debris or mold from your equipment. This protects your furnace, as well as your Oregon home’s air quality.

3. Regulate Your Home’s Humidity

Protecting your furnace from excess moisture is an easy step to forget. Humid temperatures can cause your unit’s parts to rust quickly. This can lead to breakdowns. It can also lead to a cracked heat exchanger, which is expensive to replace and potentially deadly. Additionally, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, excess humidity can cause a host of other problems in your home.

4. Limit Your Use

In automotive terms, the amount of hours your furnace spends running is comparable to a car’s mileage. If you can run your heating system less frequently, you’ll get more use out of it in the long run. 

A convenient way to do this is by upgrading your thermostat to either a programmable or Wi-Fi/smart thermostat. Programmable thermostats can automatically turn down your heat during hours when no one is home. Wi-Fi thermostats allow you to adjust temperatures on your smartphone or computer/laptop when you’re home or away. You can also monitor your weekly energy usage, so you can consider ways to cut down.

Contact A&E Heating & Air for All Your Furnace Needs

A&E Heating & Air is here to help you in The Dalles, OR, and our surrounding areas to preserve your furnace’s condition. Call us today at 541-296-0701 or request service online to schedule service with one of our highly trained and experienced professionals.

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Did you finally turn your furnace on this winter only to have cold air blowing out of your vents? Or did your furnace stop working just when you started to need it most? There are a few reasons your furnace may be blowing cold air, and there a few things to check before you need to worry too much. 

At A&E Heating & Air, we are here in The Dalles to help keep your home warm and comfy this winter. If you’re having problems with your furnace, check these things first and then call us for help.  

Check Your Thermostat’s Settings

Be sure your thermostat is set on the correct setting. If it is set to ON, the blower will run continuously even when the furnace is not heating the air. The air coming through the vents will seem cool because it’s room-temperature air. 

Turn your thermostat to AUTO, then the fan will only run when the furnace is heating, and you won’t get tepid or room-temperature air.  

Change the Air Filter

A dirty air filter will cause your furnace to overheat. It restricts the airflow in and out of your furnace, which can cause this issue. If it does overheat, the safety control will shut off the burners, causing the fan to blow cool air through the house versus heated air.

Check the Pilot Light

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the pilot light has gone out. It’s a simple fix; just relight the pilot.

Depending on the age of your system and its model, you may have to manually relight it yourself or you may only need to push a button. Call our A&E Heating & Air professionals if you’re unsure how to proceed. We are always happy to help.

After relighting it a few times, if the pilot continues to go out, you should contact us to come and take a look. This is indicative of a bigger problem requiring professional help.  

Reboot Your System

If you have a modern furnace, you probably have one controlled by a computer. Sometimes there is simply a glitch in the system, and it needs a simple reset—the same way you would restart your computer or smartphone. 

If you turn off your furnace for 30 seconds and then turn it back on, it may reset itself and begin functioning correctly. If it doesn’t start working the way it should after you have restarted it, call one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals to diagnose and repair the issue expediently for you.  

Examine Your Ductwork

The older your ductwork is, the more likely it is to be damaged or leaky. If it is damaged or leaky, air can escape before it gets to the desired living areas in your Oregon home. The US Department of Energy (DOE) advises that leaking heated air into unheated spaces, like an attic or basement, can add hundreds of dollars a year to your energy bills. 

Be sure to inspect the ductwork yourself, but it is possible you may not be able to visually detect the rips or tears causing your leak. It is best to call us at 541-296-0701 for an in-depth ductwork inspection.

Contact Us for All Your Furnace Needs

If none of these troubleshooting suggestions get your furnace up and running again, unfortunately you may have a bigger problem. Contact our A&E Heating & Air professionals today at 541-296-0701 or request service online, and we would be happy to come to your The Dalles, OR, home and repair any problem you might be having.

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