Heater Acting Up? 6 Common Problems and What You Can Do

You know how those spring mornings in NorCal can still have a bit of a chill? Well, if your heater’s on the fritz, it can be way more annoying than it should be! Here at South Placer Heating & Air, we’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to heating issues, and trust us, we get how frustrating it is when your system’s not playing nice. It’s always a smart move to give your heater a once-over before it gets really cold, just to make sure you’re all set.

That’s why we put together this handy guide for you!

This blog covers the most common residential heating problems, offers safe and simple DIY troubleshooting steps, and explains when it’s time to call in a professional for reliable residential heating repair in El Dorado Hills.

1. Some Rooms Are Hot, Others Are Freezing

• The Deal: You’ve got that one room that’s like a sauna, while another feels like an icebox, no matter how high you crank the thermostat.
• What Could Be Up: Maybe some vents are blocked or dusty. Could be leaky air ducts. Or, the system itself might just not be the right size for your house.
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself
  • Go around and make sure all your vents are open and nothing’s blocking them, like furniture or dust bunnies.
  • Change your air filters. If they’re clogged, it messes with the airflow.
  • Try closing doors to rooms you’re not using to push the heat where you need it.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If you’ve done the basics and it’s still not even, it could be a ductwork problem or the system size. We can check out the airflow and suggest ways to make things more efficient.

2. Heater Just Won’t Turn On

• The Deal: The temperature’s dropping, but your heater is just sitting there doing nothing.
• What Could Be Up: Could be a thermostat issue. Maybe a circuit breaker tripped. Note: if it’s an older gas heater, the pilot light might be out!
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself
  • Double-check your thermostat, make sure it’s actually on “heat” and set higher than the room temp.
  • Go look at your breaker box and see if any switches have flipped; try resetting them.
  • If you have an older gas system and you know how to do it safely, you can try relighting the pilot light.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If it’s still not working after you’ve tried these things, it might be an electrical problem or something with the ignition, and that’s something a pro should handle.

3. Your Heater Keeps Making Odd Noises

• The Deal: Your heater is making clanking, banging, or other strange noises that weren’t happening before.
• What Could Be Up: Could be some loose parts. If you have a radiator there might be air in the lines. Or, it could be worn-out parts like belts or bearings.
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself
  • Check for any loose panels or screws that you can see and try tightening them up.
  • Listen closely to figure out where the noise is coming from.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If the noise keeps going or gets worse, it’s best to get it checked out. Weird noises can mean a bigger problem is brewing.

4. Furnace Blowing Out Cold Air

• The Deal: The furnace is running, but all you’re getting from the vents is cold air. Not cool!
• What Could Be Up: Your thermostat fan might be set to “ON” instead of “AUTO.” If it’s a gas furnace, the flame sensor might be dirty. Or, you might have a clogged air filter.
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself
  • Switch your fan setting to “AUTO” so it only runs when it’s actually heating.
  • Change that air filter!
  • If you’re a bit handy, you can try cleaning the flame sensor with some fine steel wool.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If none of that works, it could be a safety thing shutting down the burner, that’s something a trained tech from South Placer Heating and Air needs to look at.

5. The System Keeps Turning On and Off Really Fast

• The Deal: Your heater starts up, runs for a little bit, then shuts off, and keeps doing that over and over. This is called short cycling.
• What Could Be Up: Could be a bad thermostat. Maybe it’s overheating because the airflow is blocked. Or, the system might not be the right size for your house.
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself
  • Check and change your air filter
  • If you can, try moving your thermostat away from any heat sources.
  • Make sure all your vents are wide open.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If it keeps short cycling, it can wear out your system faster. We can run some tests to figure out what’s going on and fix it.

6. Your Energy Bills Are Sky-High but You’re Not Using It More

• The Deal: Your heating bill has gone way up, but you haven’t changed how you’re using the heat.
• What Could Be Up: Your heating system might just be inefficient. Could be dirty filters or ducts. Maybe your home isn’t insulated well.
• Stuff You Can Try Yourself:
  • Make sure you’re changing your air filters regularly.
  • Seal up any drafts around your windows and doors.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to help manage when the heat is on.
• When to Give Us a Shout: If your system is old or hasn’t been taken care of, it might be working way harder than it needs to. We can check out your home’s energy efficiency and suggest upgrades or maintenance to help you save some cash.

Need a Hand with Your Heating in El Dorado Hills? Call us!

You don’t want to find out your heater is on the fritz when Winter sets in! Check your system now and if you’re dealing with one of these common issues, give South Placer Heating and Air a call at 916-246-2089.

Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our experts and get your heater working again.

Let’s get your home comfortable and your heater reliable!