Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Furnace’

Why Your Furnace Is Making That Clicking Sound

Monday, January 9th, 2023
woman-shocked-by-loud-noise

Now is not the time of year when you want to encounter furnace trouble. Sometimes, though, the problems show up anyway and the best thing you can do is know how to handle them.

With our extended season of sweater weather, your furnace is working hard lately. That’s why it pays to know if and when it needs repairs. One of the warning signs that your heater is in trouble is when it begins making strange new noises. Odd noises are often an early sign of a repair need in your furnace.

Today, we want to focus on if and when you should reach out for assistance in handling a furnace clicking sound.

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Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair

Monday, December 4th, 2017

Gas-BurnerHave you ever turned on your furnace for the first time of the season, and smelled something burning? A lot of people do, and they think that something is actually wrong with their furnace. Not to worry, though. That’s typically nothing to worry about. Most of the time, that’s actually the smell of the dust particles that have built up in the furnace over the year burning away as the system starts up. After a few hours of operation, that smell should go away. However, there are plenty of other symptoms of furnace issues that you absolutely should take seriously. Read on to find out more about these signs.

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Why Having Your Furnace Air Filter Changed is a Good Idea

Monday, November 14th, 2016

We’re not into the coldest part of the year yet, but we’re not far off either. Chances are, you’ve been using your furnace more and more often over the last couple of weeks. If you haven’t had your system professionally checked yet, you should do that as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a broken furnace in the middle of the coldest part of the year. Let’s take a look at one specific problem that can be prevented by furnace maintenance.

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Furnace Sounds That Indicate a Problem

Monday, December 7th, 2015

Furnaces make all sorts of sounds during operation. If you’ve had yours for any appreciable length of time, though, you probably know which sounds are normal and which are not. If you start noticing any unusual noises coming from your furnace, you should call for repairs right away. The sooner you can have your furnace repaired, the more damage to the system you can prevent. Read on for more information on specific sounds, and the problems they indicate.

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Should I Replace My Furnace?

Monday, November 16th, 2015

Winter is upon us, and now is the time to make sure that your furnace is in good shape. If your furnace isn’t up to the task of keeping your home warm for another winter, it’s time to replace it. No one wants to have their furnace break down on them in the middle of winter. So, it’s best to replace it now before the weather gets really cold. Read on for some of the signs that your furnace is in need of replacement.

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Furnace Short-Cycling: Why It Happens, What to Do About It

Friday, April 3rd, 2015

If your furnace is turning on and off rapidly, more often than it should, it is short-cycling. This is a problem since it will put extra strain on the furnace, raise heating bills, and create repair issues. If you need help with a short-cycling furnace, call on Saddleback Plumbing. We have many years of experience in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA with furnace repair, installation, and other services. With more than three decades of helping Orange County stay warm, we are the contractor you should trust for furnace repairs.

Reasons that short-cycling may occur

The bad news first: if you have a new furnace that is short cycling, the problem may be that the furnace is the wrong size for your home. Putting in a furnace that is too large for the area it is supposed to heat is a common error that amateurs make, and one of the reasons you should only entrust furnace installation to experience professionals. If this is the case with your furnace, you usually must start over and have experienced technicians put in a new furnace.

Now for reasons a furnace might short-cycle that require less drastic repairs:

  • The air filter is clogged: This is a common problem, but thankfully it’s easy to fix. Check on the furnace’s filter; if it is congested with debris, change it (and keep doing it every month when the furnace runs on a regular basis) so the furnace receives proper airflow once more. If the furnace continues to short-cycle, call for professional repairs.
  • Thermostat trouble: A malfunctioning thermostat that reads the incorrect temperatures will cause a furnace to shut off before it should. Check to see that the thermostat isn’t exposed to drafts or extra heat. In some cases, the thermostat may need to be moved to a new location.
  • The furnace is overheating: Contemporary furnaces have safety devices to prevent them from overheating. These precautions will shut off the furnace if one of the heat exchangers grows too hot. This will cause short-cycling, and is a repair you need have taken care of immediately.

Please, do not attempt to investigate any furnace short-cycling on your own. Furnaces are complex appliances, and only trained professionals should repair them. This is especially true for a natural gas furnace, the most common type found in homes today. Let Saddleback Plumbing handle the job of finding out what problems are causing your furnace to short-cycle and fix them. We are the Rancho Santa Margarita, CA furnace service professionals who will see that the job gets done right.

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3 Things You Should Know about Your Gas Furnace

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Gas furnaces are the most common type of heating system found in homes today, a position they have held for decades. Furnaces have retained this top spot because of their high energy output as well as their affordable operation. If you have a home with a gas connection, chances are high that you have a gas furnace to take advantage of the lower costs of natural gas compared to electricity.

Here are three things that our technicians at Saddleback Plumbing would like you to know about your furnace in Mission Viejo, CA. These facts will help you increase your understanding of how your furnace works and how to best care for it so that it continues to work its best. You can always call our technicians whenever you need assistance with your furnace, whether it’s repairs, regular maintenance, or a replacement. We are proud of the quality heating we have provided for homes in Orange County since 1981.

#1. Your gas furnace isn’t inherently dangerous

The common conception that natural gas furnaces are major risks for homes is erroneous. Gas furnaces can create hazards from carbon monoxide, but it is extremely rare for this to happen with contemporary furnaces. Manufacturers construct furnaces with multiple safety measures in them, such as furnace limit switches and automatic gas shut-off valves. However, you still must see that your furnace receives regular professional care and prompt repair work whenever necessary so you can reduce the potential risks to their lowest level possible.

#2. Your furnace won’t run without electricity

A furnace may burn natural gas to create heat, but it also has a number of components necessary for its operation that run on electricity. The blower fan must have electricity to power it, and without a blower fan a furnace cannot distribute heat. Most modern furnaces use electronic ignition systems (which are safer and more energy-efficient than standing pilot lights), so if the power goes out, you won’t be able to turn the furnace on.

#3. You must schedule annual maintenance

No heating system should go without an annual inspection and tune-up from a professional, but with gas furnaces it is especially important to schedule this service to keep it working safely. The best time to arrange for maintenance is during the fall before the colder weather arrives. However, if your furnace has gone for more than a year without maintenance, you should schedule it right away and avoid the possibility of repairs, safety hazards, or inefficient performance.

The next time you need service for your furnace in Mission Viejo, CA, or if you are interested in installing a new furnace, give our heating experts at Saddleback Plumbing a call. They will be glad to arrange for whatever work you need.

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Advantages of an Electric Furnace

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Electric furnaces have come a long way over the last few years, providing excellent heat in an energy efficient way. There are a number of benefits an electric furnace in Irving can offer your home, as we’ll out line below. It is important to note that any whole-home system requiring a large load of electricity should always be installed by a professional, so call the certified experts you can count on: Saddleback Plumbing.

How Does an Electric Furnace Work?

An electric furnace uses hot coils to generate heat. These coils are heated until they are red hot, and a fan at the bottom of the cabinet draws air into the system and over the coils. The warm air is distributed throughout your home via your ductwork.

What Are the Benefits of an Electric Furnace?

  • Low initial costs – electric furnaces are some of the most inexpensive furnaces available. The average price is around $900 for purchase versus $2,000 for gas or oil furnaces.
  • Very good energy efficiency – because electric furnaces do not burn fossil fuels, they can have an energy efficiency rating as high as 100%. This can be great for your home and the environment.
  • No need for a gas line – some homes do not have access to a natural gas line, and some are not very accessible for fuel delivery. However, electricity is widely available, and as such, may be the best choice for a homeowner challenged with these situations.
  • Safety – while no heating system is guaranteed to be 100% safe, there is no need to worry about toxic fumes with an electric furnace.
  • Clean – because an electric furnace doesn’t use a burning fuel to operate, the system stays clean, which is helpful when it comes to annual maintenance.

Electric furnaces can offer homes without easy access to fossil fuels the ability to heat with energy efficiency and comfort. If you think an electric furnace may be a good fit for your home, call Saddleback Plumbing today and schedule an appointment with one of our trained experts for professional furnace installation in Irvine.

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Installing a New Furnace: What You Need to Know

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

Installing a new furnace can be a big investment, and before you pull the trigger you want to make sure you have your ducks in a row. If set up properly, your new furnace can provide years of problem-free service and may even save you money on monthly repairs to boot. Here in Mission Viejo CA furnace replacement makes a lot of sense this time of year, when heating season is over and you won’t need to warm your home for a while. A good technician can explain the specifics to you, but here’s what you need to know when installing a new furnace.

  • Get it properly sized
    By the size of the furnace, we mean its heating power, which needs to match the specifics of your home (square footage, sunlight exposure, the amount of insulation and other factors which will influence its heating needs). If the furnace isn’t powerful enough, it won’t do the job. If it’s too powerful, it will cycle on and off rapidly throughout the day. Either way, the results will increase the wear and tear on your system, as well as costing you more in monthly bills.
  • Aim for efficiency
    Furnaces measure efficiency with an AFUE rating, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace. If possible, you want to get a new furnace at least as efficient as your old one: more so if you can afford it.
  • Consider bells and whistles
    If you have an older thermostat, this is a good opportunity to install a new one with features such as smart technology and remote programming from your phone. You might also want to install a zone control system that lets you turn off the heat in parts of the house you aren’t using.

For more on installing a new furnace, or for further details on what you need to know, contact the experts at Saddleback Plumbing. We work throughout Mission Viejo, CA, furnace installation is a fundamental part of our heating system services, and we’ll work with you to ensure that you get exactly the furnace you want. Give us a call today to make an appointment!

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Can Zone Controls Be Installed with an Existing Furnace System?

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

You may have heard of zone control systems, which divide your home up into individual sections which can be heated and cooled one at a time. It’s an incredibly versatile tool – allowing you to set one temperature in the kitchen and another in the bedroom, for instance – and by letting you shut off the heat in rooms you aren’t using, it can save you a great deal on energy costs. On a more abstract level, it can improve the resale value of your house, which may offset some of the cost of installation. Here in Irvine, furnace technology reigns supreme, which may appear to present a problem for installing a system such as this. Most people associate zone controls with ductless HVAC systems: multiple small units scattered throughout the home. Can zone controls be installed with an existing furnace system? In point of fact, they can.

The key to zone control is compartmentalization, which allows you to adjust the temperature in one area without affecting any other areas.  That wouldn’t seem possible with a traditional central furnace, which distributes heated are via a system of ducts. The solution is to install valves and shutters within the system itself. The valves can be placed at key locations in the ductwork, with multiple thermostats installed to let you control each one. The air handler and a few other components need to be modified as well, but the duct system itself remains intact, giving you an efficient zone control system without having to uproot your existing system.

In most cases, the installation process takes less than one day, provided it’s performed by experience professionals. In Irvine, furnace installation services like Saddleback Plumbing can install zone controls with an existing furnace system. We’ll thoroughly inspect your home and draw up a plan for installing the system, then explain every step to you before performing the operation with professionalism and care. We’ll treat your home like it was ours and are completely dedicated to your satisfaction at every stage. Give us a call today to set up an appointment for your next heating service in Irvine.

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