'Heating Systems' Category

If a hot-water radiator or convector isn't heating properly even with its valve fully open, the problem may be air trapped inside. The solution is to vent, or bleed the air out. To bleed a unit the boiler must be operating. Turn up the thermostat if necessary. [...] Read More

To replace a cracked handle, just remove the screw in the top and lift it off. Take it to a plumbing-supply store or home center for a replacement. If the stem is damaged, sometimes the screw hole gets ripped or if you cannot find an exact replacement, buy a retrofit handle designed to clamp onto any stem. [...] Read More

A hot-water system rarely requires a lot of maintenance beyond annual servicing by a heating contractor. Air trapped in the radiators or convectors is the most common problem. It is vented by a process called bleeding. On an older system the boiler's expansion tank may become waterlogged and need draining. [...] Read More

Uneven heating from room to room can often be adjusted by opening or closing registers, but a better method is to adjust the dampers inside the ductwork. Usually located near where the ducts branch, dampers are flat panels that pivot inside the duct to control the airflow. [...] Read More

The blowers on many older furnaces have a belt that connects the blower cage to the motor. If you hear a squealing sound or if the airflow seems weak, the belt may be loose or worn. To check it turn off the power switch that controls the furnace and open the blower access panel. With a flashlight, inspect the belt. [...] Read More

Always upgrade the filter for cleaner air. Most filters catch only large dust particles to keep them from getting into the blower motor. To capture more dust, mold, pollen, animal dander and other fine airborne particles that cause allergy sufferers so much grief, have a heating contractor install an electrostatic filter unit. It has a reusable filter which you wash monthly in a detergent solution. You can also have a unit installed that takes disposable plated fabric filters but they get dirty quickly and need to bechanged often. [...] Read More

The most effective step you can take to make a forced-air system more efficient overall is to stop leaks in the shell of the house and the heating system ducts. Weatherstrip windows and doors have cracks in the exterior siding caulked and tape the seams between duct sections. Minimize blockages in the circulation of heated air. Keep supply and return registers clean. Don't place furniture or curtains directly against or over them. Leave the door open to any room that has a supply register but no return register (a supply register feels warm when the heat is on). Or have the door to the room trimmed so that there's an inch gap at the bottom. Within the system, the chief cause of poor airflow is usually a dirty filter. Change the furnace filter regularly when the system is in use. Also have the furnace and blower checked yearly by a heating contractor. [...] Read More

Any fuel is a potential danger in a fire or a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood. Make sure that every adult knows how to turn off your home's fuel supply in an emergency. Natural gas centers enters your home through a meter. [...] Read More

A warm house in winter is easy to take for granted but neglecting the machinery that keeps the house toasty can be expensive and even dangerous. So what we're going to talk about next in our series of blog posts is about how to take care of your heating system. [...] Read More