ThermAll Heating, Cooling & Electric Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

3 Common Furnace Repairs and the Signs of Each One

Monday, October 7th, 2024
Happy couple staying warm indoors during winter, suggesting a well-functioning furnace after repair.

As we head into fall and winter, your furnace will be crucial and keeping your home warm and your family comfortable. It’s a good idea to stay ahead of any problems by identifying the signs of common furnace problems so you can address them sooner rather than later if they impact your system. Know when it’s time to replace your furnace rather than just repair it.

Just give our team a call to schedule a furnace repair in Yakima, WA. Even if you’re not exactly sure what’s wrong, our team can troubleshoot and offer a solution. If nothing else, you’ll have peace of mind that your furnace is working great for the cooler months ahead. 

What Are Common Signs You Need HVAC Repair Service?

You may need HVAC repair service if you notice:

  • Loud booming sounds when the furnace starts
  • Uneven heating or rooms that never feel warm enough
  • A thermostat that will not respond or hold the right temperature
  • Weak airflow coming from vents
  • Dirty filters, damaged ductwork, or blower motor problems
  • A furnace that shuts down early or struggles to complete a heating cycle

Common Furnace Repair Problems and Warning Signs Homeowners Should Know

If your furnace isn’t working properly, here are three common problems that often require furnace repair, especially in a Yakima home where wide seasonal swings bring scorching summers over 90°F and freezing winters in the 20s:

  • Ignition problems: A loud boom when the furnace starts may indicate delayed ignition, which can stress the system.
  • Thermostat malfunctions: Inconsistent heating or poor temperature control often points to a faulty or miscalibrated thermostat.
  • Poor airflow: Weak or uneven airflow may result from clogged filters, damaged ductwork, or a failing blower motor.

Addressing these issues early is key to helping a professional determine the cause before it leads to more serious and costly furnace breakdowns. If your air conditioner is also struggling to deliver cool air, our hvac service team can troubleshoot a full range of heating and air conditioning issues, including a heat pump, to help customers save money. Just give our team a call to schedule an appointment for furnace repair in Yakima, WA.

3 Furnace Repair Signs You Should Never Ignore

  • Loud booming sounds at startup may indicate ignition delays and potential gas buildup
  • Inconsistent heating or a non-responsive furnace could point to thermostat malfunctions
  • Weak airflow from vents often results from clogged filters, damaged ductwork, or blower issues

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Should You Keep Repairing Your Heater Or Replace It After This Winter?

Monday, March 11th, 2024
Man in a sweater shivering near a thermostat, indicating possible need for heater maintenance.

Congratulations, you have survived December, January, and February, the three coldest months in the Ellensburg, Washington area with average low temperatures of 25°F to 27°F. Your heating system has worked hard this winter, but you can still encounter various heating issues in March and even April.

If you have encountered one or more heating issues this winter or your system is 12-15 years old or older, you should start to think about replacing it–especially when facing a large repair bill. Here are nine common heating repairs in Ellensburg, WA you may experience that indicate your older heating system will likely need to be replaced or at least repaired soon.

When Should You Choose HVAC Repair Instead of HVAC Replacement?

Choose HVAC repair if:

  • Your HVAC system is newer and has not needed many repairs
  • The problem is minor, such as a faulty part or simple performance issue
  • The repair cost is manageable compared to replacement
  • Your energy bills have not increased significantly
  • The system still heats and cools your home reliably

Consider HVAC replacement if:

  • Your unit is 12 to 15 years old
  • Breakdowns are becoming frequent
  • Energy bills keep rising
  • The repair estimate is close to half the cost of a new system

Should You Repair or Replace Your HVAC System?

You should choose HVAC repair service if the issue is minor and your system is still relatively young. Consider replacement if repairs are becoming frequent or costly. Here are the key factors to help you decide:

  • System age: Units over 12 to 15 years old are often less efficient and closer to failure.
  • Repair frequency: Multiple service calls in a short period signal deeper problems.
  • Rising energy bills: Declining efficiency can mean the system is wearing out.
  • Repair cost: If a repair approaches 50 percent of replacement cost, upgrading may be smarter.
  • Overall performance: Uneven heating, strange noises, or constant cycling suggest it may be time to replace.

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Why Carbon Monoxide Detectors Are Critical for Homes

Monday, February 26th, 2024
smoke-detector-co-detector

The modern standard for homes is to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in various rooms. These devices are common enough that most people don’t think about them—until they have to. 

We deal with carbon monoxide (CO) in homes as part of our job. We install CO detectors and offer carbon monoxide testing Ellensburg, WA for HVAC devices to help keep homes safe. Today, we want to explore in more depth the importance of having a detection system in place to protect your home against the dangers of carbon monoxide. We’ll examine why CO is dangerous and where it comes from in your home.

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Watch Out for the Ways a Malfunctioning Thermostat Can Affect Your HVAC System

Monday, February 12th, 2024
advanced-thermostat-on-hot-day

When you need to change the comfort levels in your home, what do you do? You go to the thermostat and make adjustments, either changing the programming or doing a temporary override. That’s just part of life in your home, something you take for granted like turning on light switches and using appliances like the dishwasher.

The thermostat, however, is a complex device. Because it’s connected to the HVAC system that controls your home comfort, any malfunction can lead to unusual heating and cooling behavior. You may not immediately know that the thermostat is the culprit, which is why it’s always best to call for professional HVAC repair in Yakima, WA from our team. We can track down the problem, and if it’s a thermostat issue, we know what to do to fix it.

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What’s Causing the Uneven Heating in Your Home?

Monday, December 18th, 2023
Man shivering in a sweater while checking thermostat, suggesting need for heating system maintenance.

You’ve noticed something wrong in your house now that the weather’s colder and you’ve turned your central heating system on. Not all the rooms are getting as warm as they should, and you’ve got family members complaining. A central heater is supposed to provide heat to all of the living spaces, but your heater isn’t living up to that promise.

What’s happening? There are several possibilities, and the remedy may require that you call our technicians for heating repair in Yakima, WA. We deliver timely service and back up our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

What common maintenance issues cause uneven heating throughout your home?

  • Clogged air filters reduce airflow and prevent even heat distribution
  • Short-cycling causes the heater to shut off before fully warming the home
  • Leaky ductwork lets warm air escape before reaching certain rooms
  • An aging heating system may struggle to deliver consistent heat to all areas

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How to Make Your Winter Heating Less Costly This Year

Monday, December 4th, 2023
money-in-piggy-bank

As the winter season approaches, keeping your home warm for your family will become one of your top priorities. This article focuses on residential heating solutions in the Yakima Valley, where using energy to heat your home doesn’t come for free, and sometimes the cost of running your central heating system will take a large toll on your budget. You don’t have the option to simply leave the heater off, not with our winters, but you do have ways to cut down on those high utility bills, often in the form of lower utility bills thanks to improved energy efficiency.

In this post, we’ll explore practical tips to make your winter heating more cost-effective, with a special focus on the valuable assistance our heating services in Ellensburg, WA can provide. We’re your home comfort hero, and these tips are especially relevant for residential properties, ready to make your winter both warm and budget-friendly!

Introduction to Heating Systems

When the cold weather sets in across Yakima, WA, having a reliable heating system is essential for keeping your home or business comfortable and safe. A well-chosen and properly maintained heating system not only keeps the chill at bay but also improves the overall quality of life for you and your family. At ThermAll Heating, Cooling & Electric, our experienced technicians are dedicated to helping you find the perfect solution for your unique needs, whether that’s a high-efficiency furnace, a versatile heat pump, or another system designed to keep your Yakima home warm all winter long. We offer comprehensive heating services, from expert installation and regular maintenance to fast, effective repairs. With our team on your side, you can trust that your heating system will operate efficiently, providing dependable warmth and comfort throughout the coldest months in WA.

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Why Won’t Your Heating System Turn Off Regularly?

Monday, November 20th, 2023
Houses-Cold-Hot

Once you turn your heating system during the fall, you’ll expect it to follow a standard pattern. When the temperature becomes cold enough, the heater will turn on and run in cycles around 15 to 20 minutes long, then shutting down for around 10 minutes and turning back on if the temperature is still low. 

But you may run into a problem with your heater turning on and off at odd times. Maybe it’s running for too long, not turning off when you expect it to and making the house too hot. Or maybe it’s turning off too frequently, starting and stopping throughout the day so that it never keeps on long enough to properly warm the house.

We’re going to look into the reasons you’ve got a heating system that isn’t turning off with its normal regularity. In some cases, you can solve the problem on your own. In others, you’ll need to call professionals for heating repair in Ellensburg, WA.

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The Secrets of High-Efficiency Furnaces

Monday, October 23rd, 2023
White residential furnace unit with vent slots and gauge, representing furnace maintenance.

The energy efficiency of natural gas furnaces continues to improve as technology advances. Once, standard furnaces had an AFUE rating of 70, which means the furnace would convert 70% of its fuel source (natural gas) into direct heat, losing 30% to exhaust. Today, many standard furnaces have 85 AFUE, and special high-efficiency furnaces can score in the high 90s. That’s an enormous change in efficiency that can mean significant savings for a household over the winter.

If you’re considering a new furnace installation in Ellensburg, WA or elsewhere in our service area, we recommend you look into high-efficiency furnace models. They cost more than mid-efficiency furnaces, but the long-term savings will help these furnaces pay for themselves in a few years. 

If you’re curious about what allows high-efficiency furnaces to use so much less power to do the same job, follow us below. Know when repairs stop being worth it so you can confidently decide between fixing or upgrading your system.

Why High-Efficiency Furnace Maintenance Saves You Money and Energy

  • Condensing furnaces use a secondary heat exchanger that requires regular cleaning to maintain peak energy efficiency
  • Variable-speed blowers reduce wear and energy use but need periodic inspection to ensure consistent performance
  • Modulating burners operate at multiple levels and must be kept clean to maintain smooth, efficient heating cycles
  • Sealed combustion systems rely on intact air intake and exhaust paths, which require regular checks for safety and performance
  • Electronic ignitions eliminate standing pilot lights but need occasional testing to ensure reliable startup

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Important Tips for Furnace Safety

Monday, October 9th, 2023
furnace-old

When the weather begins to cool down during the fall, you’ll turn your home’s furnace on for the first time in many months. But before you do that, we want to recommend that you go over some valuable tips for furnace safety.

Gas furnaces are built with safety as a priority, and they feature several safety features such as flame sensor and flame-roll out switch that will activate to help protect your home. But you can increase your margin of safety with these important precautions.

What essential maintenance steps help keep your furnace safe?

  • Schedule annual maintenance to catch cracks, loose parts, or malfunctioning safety systems
  • Maintain at least one foot of clearance around the furnace for proper airflow and fire prevention
  • Replace the air filter every one to three months to prevent overheating and reduce fire risk from lint buildup
  • Test carbon monoxide detectors regularly and install them near sleeping areas for early warning of gas leaks

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Give Your Furnace a Grade for the End of the Season

Monday, April 10th, 2023
checkmark-green

The weather is warming up, although we can expect to have a few more cold days come our way through the spring. It isn’t time to shut off your heater for mid-year.

Not yet. But it is the time to consider your heater’s future based on how well it performed over this last winter.

You never want to let a major furnace breakdown sneak up on you. It’s better to replace an ailing furnace before it has a chance to trap you in an unheated home.

To help you get a better understanding of how well your furnace is currently doing, we want you to try this thought experiment: give your furnace a grade (“A” through “F”) for how well it performed over the previous winter.

Below, we’ll examine what these grades may mean for your furnace’s future and what steps you might need to take, like furnace replacement or furnace repair in Yakima, WA.

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