Emergency Heater Repairs In Virginia
Virginia might be famous for its long, hot summers, but as long-time residents know, winters can get pretty chilly.
The average low in January is 48°F – definitely time to crank up the heating and huddle up indoors.
That’s all well and good when the heating’s working.
But when it’s on the fritz, the winter can be pretty miserable.
We’re going to take you through the most common emergency heater repairs in Virginia people experience.
Then we’ll show you what you can do right now to make sure you’re not left in the cold this winter.
Types of Heating in Virginia
There are two common types of heaters in Virginia. The most common are heat pumps.
Heat pumps look a little like air conditioners. They work by taking heat from outdoors and pumping it into your home during the cooler times of the year.
They don’t actually generate heat themselves and use ducts to move warm air around your home.
Furnaces are less common in Virginia than in colder parts of the country. They work by using gas or propane to heat air, which is then blown around your home.
Heat pumps are more energy efficient and have been a popular choice for years.
But like any appliance, they can sometimes go wrong.
Emergency Heater Repairs – No Heat
The most obvious sign that there’s something wrong with your heating system is that the house is cold.
Before you call out a heater repair service, carry out a few checks.
Dodgy Thermostat
First, check the thermostat. Could it be something as simple as flat batteries? If the thermostat appears to be working fine and you still can’t crank up the heat, take a look at your air filters.
Clogged Air Filters
Both heat pumps and furnace heaters use air filters.
This helps them to draw clean air into the system and move it around the house. If they get clogged, the heater can’t work effectively.
If they get very dirty, they could even cause the system to overheat and stop working completely.
Most manufacturers recommend changing them every month or two and more often if you have pets.
If changing the filters doesn’t help, head outside.
Inspect the Outdoor Unit
The heat pump needs to be able to draw in air from outside to extract the heat from it.
If the outside unit is clogged with yard debris, this could be stopping it from working properly.
Either clear this out yourself, being careful to avoid damaging the pump, or call a heater repair company to clean it for you.
A heater repair service can also check if there are any refrigerant leaks.
If there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system, the heat transfer can’t happen, and there won’t be enough heat to warm your home.
Leaking Air Ducts
Whether you have a furnace or a heat pump, you rely on the ductwork to get the hot air where it needs to go.
If you’ve got warm air escaping into your roof space, you’re not getting the benefit of it where you need it.
It can be tricky to check ductwork because a lot of it is out of sight.
If you can access it, check the joins to see whether there is warm air leaking out. You can use duct tape to make a temporary repair.
For a thorough inspection and for ductwork cleaning, call in a local heater repair company to fix the problem.
Air Handler Not Working
If you’ve made all the checks above and still can’t figure out what’s wrong, the problem may be your indoor air handler.
The air handler’s job is to move warm air from your heater around the house.
If the outdoor unit is running and the thermostat is configured correctly, check whether your air handler is running.
It may be located in your basement, in a closet, or in the roof space. When you locate it, check if there’s a gentle hum coming from it.
If not, you’ve probably got an issue with it. You’ll need to call a heater repair service because this is not a DIY fix.
The problem is probably electrical in nature, and you need to know what you’re doing to investigate that safely.
You Can’t Shut the Thing Off
If your heater just won’t stop running, you need to take action fast. It’s not good for your furnace or heat pump to run constantly, and your energy bills will go through the roof.
First, try the fixes mentioned above. Cleaning the air filters, re-calibrating the thermostat, and checking for a refrigerant leak may help.
If the problem persists, you may have an electrical fault.
Don’t ignore the problem – this is an emergency heater repair because it will cause expensive damage if you don’t get it fixed soon.
How to Avoid Emergency Heater Repairs in Virginia
The best way to reduce the risk of emergency heater repairs is with an air conditioning and heating maintenance program.
There are regular checks you can carry out to keep your system running smoothly.
This includes checking your thermostat is configured correctly and regularly swapping out or cleaning your air filters.
It also pays to schedule regular summer and winter pre-season checkups with a local heating and air conditioning company.
They know what they’re looking for and can spot problems before they become serious.
This will keep your HVAC system running efficiently year-round and help you avoid eye-watering repair bills.
Choose Abel Air Services for Heater Repairs in Virginia
If you need heater repairs in Virginia, there’s only one place to turn. There’s no need to Google “heater repair near me”.
Simply call Abel Air Services in Virginia.
We have over twenty years of experience in troubleshooting heater problems in Virginia and beyond.
We also provide air conditioning and heating maintenance programs that can help keep your system running smoothly year-round.
Call us today at (703) 380-7969 for regular or emergency heater repairs. You can also reach out online, and we’ll get in touch soon.
