As the fall comes to an end in the Wilmington area, the temperature starts to drop and in comes the cool, crisp air. When the weather outside is cold, who doesn’t like to relax in a nice, warm home? The last thing you want on a frigid winter day is for your heat to quit working, but unfortunately, it does happen. The good news is that when your system does have problems, O’Brien is here for all your heating system repair needs, and we offer 24-hour emergency service!

When to Call for a Heating System Repair

There are a few signs to look for that could mean your heating system is experiencing problems. Some obvious ones are unusual noises and smell. That being said, keep in mind that different systems make different noises, so just because you hear a noise doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. Also if you’re turning your heat on for the first time, it is not uncommon for there to initially be an odor. Other signs to look for are if your energy bill is abnormally high, or your system is having trouble maintaining the set temperature. Ultimately though, the best time to call for a heating system repair is when you first notice an issue. By having a professional take a look right away, they could possibly prevent a major, costly repair.

Before Calling for a Heating System Repair

There are a few things that you can check before calling for a heating system repair that might solve the issue your system is experiencing.

If your system is not heating, here are a few issues and their possible solutions:

If you have a gas system, your gas might be turned off. The recommended actions would be to check the gas valve at the gas company meter, check the shutoff valve at the furnace, and check for other shutoff valves. Contact the gas company to have the gas valve turned on or call O’Brien.
Your system could be turned off or unplugged. In this situation, you should check both your thermostat as well as your heating system to make sure both are plugged in.
Your thermostat may be on the wrong setting or may be turned off. Check that your thermostat is set to heat, and that it is set to your preferred temperature.
Your circuit breaker may have tripped. If this is the case, check your circuit breaker box, and reset the circuit breaker.

If you have limited or no airflow, there may be a few different causes for why this could be occurring. Here are a few of the reasons that you may have restricted airflow, and some recommended solutions:

Your filters could be dirty, in which case you may need to clean or replace them. This is one of the most common causes of air restriction. This, as well as energy costs, is why it’s very important to change your filters regularly. If the problem persists then give O’Brien a call.
Your heating system might have frozen up due to a dirty coil. Our recommended action, in this case, would be to call O’Brien to come to check the system. In the meantime, you can shut the thermostat off for 1-3 hours to see if it will defrost. If it does defrost, you’ll still want a professional to come and evaluate it to prevent the issue from happening again in the future.

There are several other reasons to call for a heating system repair, such as your system constantly running, an overflowing drain pan, or high utility bills. If you don’t feel comfortable diagnosing the issue by yourself, don’t hesitate to call! No repair is too small or too big! Also, remember to leave major heating system repairs to the professionals. And don’t forget, the best way to prevent a repair is to have your heating system maintenance inspection done annually!

“Outstanding service! William was professional, knowledgeable and efficient. The problem was diagnosed and resolved in short order. I would be pleased if he was assigned to do our annual check up this fall. I highly recommend O’brian Service Company.” -Robert G. (Wilmington 28409)