Our service technicians are like private investigators, solving cases from simple to complex. During the winter, they’re on the job day and night, using their skills and diagnostic tools to fix comfort problems. As you read about their investigations, look for clues to see if you can shine a light on the case before they do.
Grace D. calls to report a loss of heat. Our investigator begins by interviewing the only witness. He asks Grace:
Grace confesses she pressed the system’s reset button twice, but each time the system ran for only a few minutes before shutting off.
After explaining why the reset button should not be pushed more than once (see Exhibit A), our investigator then rules out the “usual suspects” for heat loss. He finds that:
Now he gives the system a thorough examination and discovers a dirty flame sensor (see Exhibit A). After cleaning the sensor, he gets the system running again.
Amateur investigators might stop at this point, but not our expert! He knows if he doesn’t learn why the sensor became dirty in the first place, the same problem will happen again.
The system had been serviced a few months before. A properly maintained system should always burn cleanly. Our investigator needs more information from Grace. “Have you made any changes in your home recently?” he asks her.
Grace remembers that she recently had exhaust fans installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Our investigator now has the solution to the problem.
Can you guess what it was?
Combustion gases exit the home through a chimney or exhaust vent. But normal draft can be reversed by negative pressures. The exhaust fans drew combustion gases back into Grace’s system, causing it to clog and shut down. Our investigator installs a part to eliminate this problem. Case solved!
Tip: If you make renovations to your home, let us know. We may be able to prevent these changes from having a negative impact on your heating system.
Edward T. contacts our investigator because he smells oil. Our investigator arrives, checks all of the fittings of the burner, oil tank, filter and oil line. There is no sign of a leak.
Clue from the eyewitness: Edward says he hasn’t had his system serviced in three years. What is the problem?
Within minutes of his inspection, our investigator could see that the system was badly in need of maintenance. He told Edward that a system that gets regular maintenance should never emit an oil smell. Our investigator took out his “forensics kit” and performed a tune-up. This included adjusting the burner, which had a delayed ignition. This problem caused the oil odor. Case solved!
We do many tests to measure your system’s efficiency. What we find indicates what adjustments are needed. By doing this, we can save you up to 10% on your annual heating costs. These tests include:
Use these guidelines if you’re wondering whether you should repair or replace your system.
No matter whether you decide to repair or replace, we want to remain your trusted home comfort company. We have the knowledge, resources and experience to provide you with excellent service and great value for many years to come.on the coldest day of the year.