We’ve reached the second half of February, and that means the official end of winter is only a month away. That doesn’t mean we can relax when it comes to heating our homes. The furnace, heat pump, or radiant heating system that provides your family with warmth has already put in a great deal of work, and this stress can mean it faltering when it comes close to the finish line. Don’t let late season repair needs go without attention! When you notice the following issues, it probably means the heater needs help—call our repair team right away.
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Top Winter Heating Problems to Watch For
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017Why Is My Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air?
Friday, February 17th, 2017Heat pumps are incredibly useful systems for providing year-round home comfort. They improve upon the concept of the air conditioner to use the same system of heat exchange to also provide warm air. It’s as easy as turning a switch to move from heating mode to cooling mode.
But what if one day your heat pump stops doing half its job? If it’s winter, and your heat pump starts to blow out only cold air, there’s something wrong that will require professionals to investigate and repair it. If you need this sort of work on your heating in Fairfax, VA, give the technicians at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. a call, any time of the day or night.
Reasons your heat pump is staying in cooling mode
The most common reason for this occurrence is a problem with the reversing valve. This component is one of the key parts that differentiates a heat pump from a standard air conditioner. The reversing valve changes the direction that refrigerant flows through the heat pump, and this is what makes the heat pump switch from being an air conditioner to a heater and back. An electric charge to the valve controls whether it is in one mode or the other. If the heat pump malfunctions, it will remain in one mode until professionals come and replace it. Do not attempt to change a reversing valve on your own.
Another possibility for a heat pump remaining in cooling mode is a miscalibration in the thermostat or a thermostat malfunction. A miscalibrated thermostat may not know to turn the heating on because it is misreading the temperature. If trouble occurs in the thermostat wiring, the unit may lose its ability to signal to the heat pump to switch modes. Repair technicians will be able to quickly discover the source of the problem and fix it.
There are a few other possibilities that could result in a heat pump experiencing this trouble. Because of the complexity of a heat pump’s operation, you’ll need to have trained heating technicians examine the unit to diagnose the issue and how to target repairs.
Our trained repair staff at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. is ready 24/7 for the repairs you need to keep your heating in Fairfax, VA up and running. Whether your heap pump is stuck in cooling mode or something else is stopping it from giving you the comfort you need, trust to our service to fix it.
When Your Heating System Just Won’t Heat: Steps to Follow
Wednesday, February 15th, 2017Last month, we discussed the importance of ensuring your heating system is regularly serviced to maintain the efficiency of the system. Sometimes though, despite your best efforts as a diligent homeowner, you find yourself facing a detrimental winter problem: your heating system just won’t heat.
Leaks in Radiant Heating Systems
Friday, February 10th, 2017Radiant heating systems are a terrific option for home comfort that has spread from Europe into the United States and gained great popularity. Most radiant heating systems use hydronic (water) power to send heat through pipes under your floorboards and provide you with toasty warmth right under your feet. There are some electronic radiant floor systems that you can have installed as well.
But using hydronic power always comes with the risk of leaks developing. Modern radiant floor heating is built to resist leaks because they are fixed systems that do not permit oxygen to enter and degrade the piping. But leaks can still occur. When you need professional repairs, or installation, for your heating in Arlington, VA, contact our specialists at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. Even if we didn’t install your radiant heating, we can repair it.
The most common cause for leaking to occur in radiant floor heating is from construction stress. When these leaks develop, they will usually start underneath floorboards or floor stones and will cause damage to building material. This is similar to what plumbers refer to as “slab leaks”: pipe breaks that occur under concrete, leading to extensive damage unless fixed.
When you suspect that you have a leak in your radiant heating system, you need professionals to perform leak detection to discover exactly where the water is coming from and how best to access the pipes and repair them. The precision technology used to locate leaks means that technicians can pinpoint the location so exactly that they usually need to do only a minimum amount of removal of floor material to access the leak.
Sometimes, radiant floor heater leaks do not require excavation in order to repair. An injection of a type of sealer additive into the water system can take care of minor leaks, and this will also prolong the life of the system.
If you have leaks in your radiant heating system, you will need repairs… fast! That’s why we offer 24-hour emergency service at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. We know these problems almost never occur when it’s convenient, and we are ready to help when you need it.
We can be there for all your troubles with heating service in Springfield, VA and northern Virginia.
“Great timely service. Knowledgable and neat techs. Good value.”
“Would absolutely use their services again. Arrived on schedule.”
-Springfield, VA
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How Sealed Furnace Combustion Improves Over Older Furnaces
Wednesday, February 8th, 2017There’s never a wrong time of the year to arrange for installing a new gas furnace for your home. Whenever you notice that your current furnace is failing in its job and is past the point where furnace repairs in Springfield will do much good—or last for long—then don’t delay calling HVAC professionals to arrange for a replacement. If you have a furnace that has seen more than 20 years of service, it’s also time to get a brand-new unit. That old furnace is probably costing you too much money to run each time it comes on, and it may even turn into a safety hazard.
Why is My Furnace Producing No Heat?
Saturday, February 4th, 2017Sometimes, a problem with your furnace can be very subtle, requiring a little detective work to successfully ferret out. A furnace that produces no heat, however, isn’t one of those cases. You pretty much know right away if no warmth is coming out of your vents, and a call to a qualified service technician is probably next on the agenda. If you need furnace repair in Arlington, VA, the experts at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Inc. can resolve the issue properly.
You may be asking yourselves, “why is my furnace producing no heat?” – we’ve included a brief outline of the issue below.
A lack of heat stems from one of two basic sources: no heat being generated and no air being blown through the system. In the former case, there’s no heat being made at all. If the unit is one, it may indicate a problem with the burners (they may be clogged or otherwise inoperable), or it may be a problem with the thermocouple or ignition system. The thermocouple regulates the flow of gas into the furnace and if the pilot light is out or some other problem exists, it won’t release any gas to start the heating process. In every case such as this, a technician can solve the problem by cleaning, repairing or replacing the faulty part.
In the event that no air is being blown into the house, the technician can check the air filter or for a build-up of dust and similar particles preventing the air from flowing. The trouble might also be with the fan mechanism, such as a faulty motor or a misaligned fan blade.
Whatever the cause, OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Inc. hunt down the source of the problem and correcting it. Our trained Arlington, VA furnace technicians are on call to answer your questions and we conduct ourselves with your satisfaction in mind at all times. Call us today to schedule an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!
What Is Gas Furnace Short-Cycling and Why Does It Happen?
Monday, January 30th, 2017
We hope you’ve been enjoying a pleasant winter here in Northern Virginia. The weather is mild right now—but that still means it’s cold enough outside that you’ll need a home heater for comfort, especially in the evenings.
If your home is like the majority in the area, it uses a gas furnace for a heating system. One of the more common troubles that a gas furnace might run into during the winter is something called short-cycling. Because our technicians often fix this problem, we’d like to share some information about it: what it is, and why it might happen with your gas furnace. If you have a short-cycling heating system and need furnace repair in Springfield, VA or the surrounding areas, we have the 24/7 emergency service to fix it.
Electrical Problems and Heating Repair in Fairfax, VA
Sunday, January 29th, 2017Most home heating systems use either gas or electricity to operate. Electrical heaters are dependable and have high energy efficiency, but they do sometimes malfunction and break down. In this post, we’re going to address electric-powered systems and the troubles they can have that require professional repair. If you need heating repair in Fairfax, VA, contact the experienced team at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc.
If your electric furnace is no longer producing heat, it may mean that the heating elements are not working. The trouble could be a simple as a tripped circuit breaker or an incorrectly set thermostat. If these don’t solve the problem, you should schedule professional repairs to fix or replace the electric heating elements.
Sometimes the electrical problem is in the thermostat, so no matter how you set it, the heater will not turn on. If this is the case, it will probably require getting the thermostat replaced.
When an electric furnace malfunctions, you should do the same checks with the circuit breakers and thermostat. The trouble could be an overloaded motor. Try leaving the furnace off for 30 minutes before hitting the “reset” button. If none of this works, then the problem may lay with the heating elements, which have a different set-up than in a water heater. Where most electric water heaters use two heating elements, an upper and lower one, electric furnaces use multiple elements that turn on in stages. The more heat your home needs, the more heating elements will switch on to maintain it. If one or more of these fail, the furnace will not be able to provide as much heat as before. A technician can use a device called an ammeter to test which of the elements aren’t working. Attempting this fix yourself puts you at risk of a high voltage shock, so leave the job to the professionals.
OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. can give you the personal attention you need to fix the electrical problem in your heating system. When you need experienced repair work, call OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc.
Is Radiant Heating Right for My Home?
Sunday, January 22nd, 2017There are many different types of heating systems in Alexandria, VA homes, many more options are available today beyond boilers and gas furnaces. A option you might want to consider is radiant heating systems, which warm your home directly through the floorboards. Radiant heating offers a number of advantages, including lower monthly bills and less wasteful heating: no small concerns for a homeowner with his or her eye on the bottom line. Even so, radiant heating isn’t always the best fit for everyone. Houses are unique, and each one needs a system that fits its particular needs.
For starters, radiant heating entails a fairly hefty installation cost. Because it adds tubes or electrical coils beneath your floors, there is a considerable disruption of your household entailed as well, and while you may reap the benefits in lower monthly bills and an improved resale value for your home, such an undertaking may not be right for you or your family at this particular moment. This is especially true if you have an existing duct system or similar apparatus that doesn’t exhibit any real problems.
On the other hand. hydronic radiant heating systems are known for providing consistent, reliable heat. As opposed to a furnace or heat pump, which goes through on and off cycles to keep your home warm, the radiant floor can remain a steady temperature all day. As a result, many people find it more comfortable than central heating. It is also a great choice for people with allergies, as it doesn’t circulate airborne pollutants through air ducts as central heating systems do.
Radiant heating works well for many types of homes and can be a perfect fit for you. The Alexandria, VA heating experts at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. can provide sound advice on the type of heating system that works for you, and perform installation and repairs with efficiency and care. Pick up the phone and call us today. You’ll be glad that you did!
Heating Maintenance: Better Late Than Never!
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017Winter has arrived in Northern Virginia, and the heating systems in homes are already working away at performing their vital function keeping families warm until spring. We hope that you arranged during the fall for a maintenance visit from one of our technicians to prepare your heater (whatever type it is) for the rigors of this season.
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