Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Your Heater Is On, But Not All the Rooms Are Warm—Why?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2020
cold-man-with-thermostat

This may be the first week you’ve had your home’s heating system on since… well, maybe since February. But Southern California hit a cold-spell this weekend, and there will be more ahead. Many heating systems clicked on during this time after long periods of hibernation.

Did your heater work up to your expectations when you fired it up? If it came on and started working, great. But if you noticed some rooms weren’t getting as warm as they should be, you may have problems. This uneven heating is a common trouble and one that may require you call us for heating repair in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Below, we’ll examine some of the possible causes of uneven heating in a house.

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Electric Furnace Won’t Work? Let’s See What’s Going On

Monday, November 2nd, 2020
heating-element

We’re getting the first cool weather of the season here in Orange County, which brings some relief from a long, often extremely hot summer. Now is when you’ll turn on your electric furnace for the first time in… well, we wouldn’t even want to guess how long. 

Because your electric furnace has sat unused for a long time, you might feel nervous when you have to turn it on. Maybe it won’t work? And if it does work, how long will it continue to heat the house?

Okay, as the post title makes clear, we’re here to talk to you because your electric furnace isn’t working. You may need our technicians for furnace repair in San Juan Capistrano, CA. But first, let’s take a look at why an electric furnace might be giving you trouble. It’s possible there’s a simple issue you’ve overlooked.

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When It’s October, It’s Time for Annual Heating Maintenance

Tuesday, October 6th, 2020
service-reminder

It still feels like summer here in Southern California, and we know that plenty of people are hoping for cool weather—and especially a few days of rain. But the cooler weather is on its way, and we want to make sure our customers are ready for it with working heating systems.

Yes, it’s once again time for you to schedule your heating maintenance in Orange County, CA. Why not get it done early in the month so you can worry about the busier time of year that’s just up around the corner? All you have to do is call Saddleback and sign up for our HVAC Value Plan or our ALL STAR Value Plan, which includes plumbing maintenance as well. We can get on the schedule right away to have your heating system inspected and tuned-up, and you’ll be ready for the cooler weather.

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What Is “Too Old” for a Furnace?

Monday, January 27th, 2020
Furnace-standard

No furnace can last indefinitely, and there’s no such thing as “the last heating system you’ll ever need to buy.” Even in warm Southern California, furnaces gradually wear down from use. In fact, homeowners often neglect to have routine service for their furnaces because they don’t rely on them often. This will speed up the furnace’s decline.

If you’ve come to this post, it’s because you suspect your furnace is past its expiration date—whatever that may be. What is considered “too old” for a furnace? We’ll take a look at this question, which has several answers.

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Clogged Air Filter: A Simple Problem With Big Consequences

Monday, December 30th, 2019
pleated-air-filter

No matter what climate you live in, the clogged air filter in the HVAC system is a major problem. Here in Orange County, our heating systems don’t put in a huge amount of work, but you’ve probably had yours running regularly over the last few weeks when night and morning temperatures dropped into the high 40s. You’ll likely have reason to turn the AC on again before the winter is over—that’s just how our climate works.

No matter if you have the air conditioner, the heater, or just the central fan of the HVAC system running, you’ll need to pay attention to the HVAC filter and have it changed routinely to avoid having it become clogged. This is a basic part of HVAC maintenance in Irvine, CA—one of the few parts of maintenance you can do on your own. We recommend checking on the filter once a month. You’ll know it’s too clogged if you hold it up to the light and the filter blocks out the light. Expect to change the filter every one to three months.

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The Truth About Electric Furnace and Gas Furnace Efficiency Ratings

Monday, October 21st, 2019

twenty-dollar-bill-foldedFall is the usual time for homeowners to make changes in their central heating systems. Even in sunny Orange County, where the only snow we see is on the distant peaks, a central heating system is necessary for homes that often get drafty on the winter nights. Sometimes the upgrade for a heater is to buy a new one.

If you’re home is like most, you use a furnace for central heating. The two common types of furnaces people use are natural gas furnaces and electric furnaces. You might not face a choice about which type of have—if you don’t have a natural gas line, you definitely won’t get a natural gas furnace! But when you do have to make a choice, be careful that you don’t make the mistake about furnace efficiency ratings that has often misled customers into making the poorer system choice.

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Is an Electric Furnace the Best Choice If My Home Doesn’t Use Gas?

Monday, January 14th, 2019

question-mark-badgeThe use of natural gas is widespread, but it isn’t universal to all homes in Orange County. Some homeowners prefer not to use natural gas at all because of concerns about safety. Of course, it’s easy to operate a home entirely through electricity—but it can present a few tricky questions when it comes to an appliance like a heating system. Homes with natural gas will almost always use a gas furnace—it’s simply the most powerful and most energy efficient option. There are also gas boilers, but these are less common in Southern California.

The heating option for all-electric homes that most commonly springs to mind is the electric furnace. Is this the best choice, however? Well, like so many things in life, it depends.

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A Reminder About Maintenance for Your Heating System

Monday, December 17th, 2018

service-reminderWinter may not be ice-cold in Orange County, but it’s still a busy time of the year for almost everyone. This makes it easy for many routine tasks to slip off our personal “To-Do” lists, or fall so far down them that they never go from “To-Do” to “Done.”

One of the most often neglected of these December jobs is heating maintenance. Even when the weather gets a touch nippy, heating systems aren’t foremost on residents’ minds.

We’re here to remind you that professional heating maintenance is a job to schedule each year! It’s not too arduous, since the expert technicians do most of the work. You only have to remember to call to set a date.

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Keep Your Furnace in Good Shape With These Tips

Monday, January 15th, 2018

Gas-BurnerFurnaces are put under extraordinary strain during the winter, even in a relatively warm area like Southern California. If you’re using your furnace at all this winter, and we’re going to assume you are if you’re reading this blog, then you should make sure to take some steps to help the system deal with the added demand you’re placing on it. If you take care of your furnace, after all, it will take care of you. The following are two of the best tips you can follow to keep your furnace functioning properly this winter.

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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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