As our Midwest summer winds down and cooler nights creep in, Madison County, Illinois homeowners wonder when it’s time to switch from A/C to heat. Nobody wants to be faced with a cold house the first time they switch on the heat. Turn your heat on today to ensure it’s in working order. Check out what the Ernst Heating & Cooling experts say about fall HVAC problems and how you can address or avoid them.
Dirty air filters
Your air filter is your first defense against pollen, dust, mold, and other nuisances. Ernst Heating & Cooling recommends checking the filter monthly and replacing it every 30-90 days. Start your fall with a fresh air filter, which can also cut down on the strain on your furnace.
A noisy furnace
Your furnace took the summer off, and now you need it to be in working order. Listen to what’s going on the first time you flip the thermostat from “cool” to “heat.” Do you hear whining or squealing? Cranking or pinging? Sometimes your system just needs its loose pieces tightened, and other times it might need a thorough cleaning or motor replacement. These are not DIY projects. Luckily, Ernst Heating & Cooling offers professional furnace maintenance.
A faulty ignition sensor
Here you are, giving your furnace its first test run before the cold takes hold in Illinois. You hear the furnace clicking, but it’s not firing up. Chance are you have a problem with the pilot light or ignition sensor. Some homeowners may feel comfortable removing the sensor or ignitor and giving it a good cleaning. Please make sure you turn off the gas to the furnace before you open the unit! Unscrew the panel near the front, remove the ignitor with a screwdriver and clean it. If the furnace fires up, pat yourself on the back for your proactive effort. If your idea of DIY is picking up the phone and calling an expert, Ernst Heating & Cooling will be happy to come out and take a look.
A faulty or broken thermostat
The problem might not be your furnace. Instead, the fault may be in your thermostat. Pull out your owner’s manual to review the operating instructions and ensure you’re pushing all the right buttons. The change of seasons is a convenient time to change the batteries in your programmable thermostat. These simple steps can save you the cost of a service call.
A dirty evaporator coil
Your furnace’s evaporator coil heats the air that keeps your home toasty on a cold winter evening. If you haven’t changed your air filter regularly, the evaporator coil’s small air passages can become clogged or obstructed, cutting down on airflow and making your furnace less effective. Our Ernst Heating & Cooling technicians will thoroughly check your evaporator coil during your fall maintenance check and clean or replace them as needed.
At Ernst Heating & Cooling, we want our customers to stay warm over the winter. Let us do the dirty work of keeping your furnace in tip-top shape. Call us at 618.217.1836 or schedule an appointment online.