Tag: Heating Maintenance

Difference between a Heat Pump and a Furnace

Written by onestoput on June 14, 2022. Posted in Heating, HVAC, Maintenance.

We know this thought has crossed every homeowner’s mind at one point. Which is better? Which is more efficient? Which is more reliable?

While both a heat pump and a furnace installation make fine home heating systems, the former has the upper hand in overall efficiency. A furnace installation in homes is tales as old as time, and it’s traditional to have at least one powering your air and water heating needs.

Environmental factors play the most significant role in the Heat Pump VS Furnace debate. Yes, it boils down to environmental impact, but in a way that affects how much you spend on monthly bills. However, as decades pass and climate change worsens, it’s only ideal to opt for more energy efficiency and sustainability. Here’s how.

The Difference Between A Heat Pump and a Furnace

We can answer the Heat Pump VS Furnace debate in very few words.

Heat pumps work without the process of combustion in facilitating natural heat in and out of your home.
Furnaces generate heat and produce greenhouse gas emissions to produce heat.

Based on these two statements, you can already tell their most significant difference lies in their heat sources. Furnaces generate heat by burning natural gas, oil, or coal. They can also generate heat through electricity. However, heat pump systems transfer heat instead of generating their own through combustion.

Heat Pumps Don’t Generate Heat

A heat pump works by absorbing heat from natural elements, transferring their heat energy into transfer fluids transmitted through heat exchangers before compression to provide your indoor handlers with sufficient heat for distribution.

The Heat Pump Heating System:

There are different heat pumps, but none burn any resources to provide your home with heat. A heat pump system does three main things:

Absorb heat through an outdoor unit. (Compressor unit)
Transmit heat energy through a series of heat exchangers.
Distribute heat into your home’s air or water supply.

However, there is an internal debacle within the Heat Pump VS Furnace argument. Let’s call it the Heat Pump Debate.

The Three Types of Heat Pumps

Which of the three heat pumps is the most energy efficient and reliable? The answer may depend on your climate, environment, and other factors. However, they are proven more energy-efficient than furnaces and air conditioning systems.

Air-to-Air Source Heat Pumps

Residential homes and commercial buildings should opt for air-to-air heat pumps for ambient heating. The air source heat pumps transfer heat directly into your home’s air handler or air conditioner after traveling through ductwork for indoor distribution.

Most air conditioning systems have an air source heat pump to manage temperatures. This heat pump is utilized within other HVAC systems because of its versatile and efficient functions. Heat transfer isn’t typically stored anywhere in air-to-air source pumps and can handle heat management better even during cold climates.

Air-to-Water Source Heat Pumps

An air-to-water source heat pump works nearly the same as an air-to-air. However, this heat pump system transfers heat into an indoor unit filled with water and other liquid utilized for heat distribution.

Air-to-water source heat pumps such as radiators, centralized underfloor heating systems, and boilers are better suited for areas with a mild climate. The system’s functions are most efficient in mild climates because both warmer climates and colder climates can affect the temperature of the liquid storage storing heat energy.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

A ground source heat pump, also known as Geothermal, derives heat from the moisture in the soil. It reduces waste by recycling the abundant amounts of heat it collects during summer and reuses them in winter when heat particles are more scarce.

It surprisingly does well against a cold climate. It currently sets the gold standard for heating systems that provide heat efficiently sans carbon utilization and emission.

Dual fuel system

A dual fuel system combines a gas furnace and an electric heat pump. If it sounds overkill, maybe you have never lived in colder climates where the temperature drops below zero regularly. However, you don’t need to live in the North Pole to have a duel fuel system. Some homes and establishments use them for multi-purpose heating or in case of emergency needs. A dual fuel system has a gas furnace for supplementary or auxiliary heating.

Heat pumps provide better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), but traditional furnaces are more useful for areas with unreliable electricity. As most heat pumps are electric, during a power outage, they won’t be able to sustain higher temperatures unless the gas furnace kicks in as your home’s backup heat source. By deploying heat-generating functions through its gas supply, combustion chamber, and either a pilot light or electronic ignition, the whole shebang!

Furnaces Generate Own Heat

Opting for these heating devices can help you save money on unit and installation costs. Still, the resources they use to provide your home with hot air during the cold weather can be detrimental to the environment and your home’s air quality.

The Furnace Heating System:

Furnaces are less reliant on your home’s outdoor temperature by creating their own heat source. Typically, all furnaces work by burning natural gas, coal, wood, and oil. There are electric furnaces you can opt for, and while they are more efficient than more classic installations, they still trail behind heat pumps in terms of energy efficiency.

Natural Gas furnace

With gas furnaces, energy costs may come lower. However, gas furnaces have an installation cost nearly twice as much as other furnace types. Traditional gas furnaces have a natural gas supply with a pilot light ignition. Its more modern counter-parts come with flame sensors (Thermocouple) which control gas and ignition valves as an added safety measure. One of its many cons includes how well it can hold up against cold air blowing through your basement or crawl space your furnace is installed. Cold air can clog thermocouples with debris and residual gas, preventing the ignition of the pilot flame.

Electric furnace

Unlike gas and oil furnaces, an electric furnace can draw in outside air to aid its heating composition. It uses electricity to produce heat and outside air to supplement its production. Like most heating and cooling systems, electric furnaces distribute warm air with a blower fan and air ducts for ambient heating. Electric furnaces generate less heat or energy loss, making them the most energy-efficient furnace out of the three. However, an electric furnace can’t double serve as your home’s cooling system.

Heat Pumps VS Air Conditioners

A heat pump is typically installed within an air conditioner. It’s a heating device, but its faculty can double as a cooling system. An air conditioner cannot extract heat indoors, but one with a heat pump built into it can. Air conditioning systems keep you cool during hot weather by extracting heat through an indoor air handler and transmitting it outdoors. An inverse heating process no other HVAC system can execute or do as efficiently as a heat pump could.

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

There are different kinds of air conditioning systems. Some have ductwork, while others have more direct links via copper coils. Air conditioning devices without a heat pump are more like ventilation systems by their utility of outside air, except they may come with temperature-altering functions if attached to a furnace.

A centralized air conditioner also uses a blower fan to distribute air through ductwork. Units with more energy efficiency are called ductless mini-split systems and operate temperatures based on different thermostat settings per indoor air handler. Ductless systems are more sustainable than others. Still, a home heating system can falter when we don’t meet different maintenance requirements.

The Routine Maintenance of All HVAC Systems

A furnace, heat pump, and air conditioning system require regular cleaning and tune-up. Nearly all HVAC systems have air filters. If they aren’t cleaned routinely, they may overflow with contaminants resulting in your system stalling or malfunctioning. Annual routine maintenance can save you from costly repairs in the future.

A heat pump with a dirty filter deploys safety techniques to diffuse airflow and preserve air quality. A heat pump that suddenly stops working may need an air filter replacement, refrigerant replenishment, or coil restoration. A leak from filters and refrigerant storage can freeze coils, hindering heat pump functions. You must schedule regular maintenance and tune-ups to ensure your systems work properly through different seasons.

One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning

Please don’t settle for unreliable contractors if you are tired of the outdoor air determining your internal temperatures. You can find an affordable and reliable contractor in Utah. Check out our list of services for one that suits your needs best.

Our professional services include furnace repair and furnace maintenance for both furnaces and heat pumps. We can also help you integrate a heat pump with our heating system installation if you are tired of your old gas furnace and want an upgrade!

Call (801) 355-9500

Contact our team of experts through our hotline 24/7 for emergency assistance and urgent inquiries.

Gas vs Electric Furnaces: Which is Right for You?

Written by onestoput on June 6, 2022. Posted in Heating, HVAC, Maintenance.

Wondering which makes a better integration to your home heating system?

If you settled on the idea of furnaces, you are most likely choosing between gas furnaces and electric furnaces. Both heating systems are suitable options. However, gas and electric furnaces are not the most energy-efficient or environmentally friendly choices.

More sustainable solutions may fit your heating needs. Still, if you already have a furnace installation in your home, we can help you figure out which one you have. We can also show you more efficient alternatives that may help you understand the different types of heating systems available.

Read on, and you might find another heating system you like in contrast to your current installation.

Types of Furnace System

Before we discuss the different heaters, let’s talk about the different types of furnaces that provide your home with warmth to fight against cold climates or freezing temperatures outside.

Unlike other home heating devices, all kinds of furnaces generate heat through combustion. A gas or electric furnace does not work by altering the surrounding air’s temperatures by absorbing ambient heat. A furnace instead creates its own heat by burning natural gases or coal, distributing heat as its byproduct.

Currently, there are four types of furnaces:

Natural Gas Furnace
Oil Furnace
Electric Furnace
Propane Furnace

In America, more than half the infrastructures, be it residential homes or commercial establishments, feature varying furnaces.

However, in states like Utah, temperatures remain mild to moderately hot. A furnace might only come in handy during colder weather like the fall or winter months.

Furnace VS Air Conditioning

An air conditioner might make a more sensible choice for homes in Utah. While air conditioning systems only cool air and don’t produce or facilitate heat independently, they are typically linked to a furnace or come with heat pumps built into their system.

If you can’t live without a heating system, a heat pump might make a good choice for your home.

Furnace VS Heat Pump

A furnace and a heat pump are almost always compared, with heat pumps coming out on top based on efficiency. Heat pumps make excellent choices for versatile thermal management. By using a heat exchanger, a heat pump can absorb natural heat particles or generate heat energy to facilitate higher temperatures in and out of enclosed spaces.

Heat pumps may come at higher initial costs, and there are high-efficiency furnaces you can opt for if you don’t need optional cooling features.

Gas VS Electric Furnace: Which Is Right for You?

Now that we have discussed your options let’s talk about the two most common heating installations in America. A gas furnace is the country’s most common home heating installation, with the electric furnace trailing behind a considerable margin.

You might wonder, does having a gas or electric furnace make that much difference? The answer is yes. Whether on initial or monthly costs, their differences are evident.

What’s the Difference Between a Gas or Electric Furnace?

The short answer:

A gas furnace costs more initially, but its more basic process increases your energy cost savings later.
An electric furnace’s more affordable initial costs make it seem more cost-effective, but perpetually increasing electrical prices will cost you more.

Are you surprised? Well, so were most of us. The bottom line lies within your priorities. An electric furnace leaves less carbon footprint but isn’t always the most cost-effective. A gas furnace is arguably the least sustainable of any heating and cooling system but proves more effective and affordable these days.

Additionally, if we look at the bigger picture, doesn’t electricity burn fossil fuels that are more harmful to the environment than natural gases?

Gas Furnace

A natural gas furnace is a more classical installation of furnaces. Its older counterparts burn through gas faster and produce less heating output, making them much less efficient.

However, newer natural gas furnaces have achieved a 98% conversion rate. To date, gas furnaces are the most popular choice in America, with a vast majority of households nationwide utilizing one.

Gas Furnaces: PROS

Affordable utility costs
Space-saving indoor handler installations
Cleaner burning fuel
Less harmful byproducts
Quick heating process

Gas Furnaces: CONS

Costly installations
Carbon dioxide emissions
Ducted systems
Potential air and energy loss

Electric Furnace

Electric furnaces cost cheaper to procure and install. However, after a few months of utility bills, users begin to see the price they are paying for more efficient and sustainable cooling. Electric furnaces work without a gas unit to power their heating process. The energy efficiency of an electric furnace is thanks to an electric ignition that triggers its electric systems, lessening environmental impact and carbon monoxide poisoning risks while efficiently fighting against cold winters. It makes more sense to think an electric furnace is a more energy-efficient model than a traditional furnace. Let’s not forget that electricity burns fossil fuel to achieve your home’s desired temperature, which impacts the environment greatly.

Electric furnaces might make more sensible options for your home if electricity doesn’t come at as high a cost. The high efficiency can cost users, but it makes for an easier integration than other HVAC equipment. The right furnace also won’t raise your bills as high during harsh winters.

Electric Furnaces: PROS

Less expensive installations
Longer lifespan
More user-friendly
Easier to clean and maintain

Electric Furnaces: CONS

More expensive operational costs
Dryer ambient heat
Power outages affect your home’s heating and cooling

Electric Furnace VS Gas Furnace: Energy Efficiency

When it comes to energy-efficient gas and electric furnaces, the general rule of thumb is the newer the model, the more efficient it may be. Gas units may not be the most energy-efficient models, but some come with a heat exchanger that uses less fuel and energy to produce warmth. Gas systems with nearly 100% conversion rates are considered as efficient as any form of electric heating.

Electric heaters are always considered energy efficient, with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 100%. This perfect rating is based on the fact no electric furnace directly burns various fuels, but the bigger picture remains. All electric appliances run on gas or fuel, and an electric furnace is no exception.

Additionally, carbon monoxide emissions come from both gas and electric furnaces. While gas furnaces emit more natural gases, carbon monoxide escapes through the exhaust pipe. It is hazardous for a gas furnace to suffer from a gas leak due to more components linked to combustion. Even a small flame is enough to set off a leak in your gas line. Don’t worry. All furnaces (either electric or gas furnaces) with natural gas lines or exhausts typically come with a carbon monoxide detector that not only alerts you of excessive harmful emissions but may also indicate a leak in the system. Gas furnaces give off an artificial smell that manufacturers add to the gas to help users know when there’s a leak. Electric furnaces don’t typically deal with gas but feature gas lines and pipes for emissions, and you will also be able to tell whether there’s a leak or not.

Maintaining your heating and cooling systems is essential for both safety and practicality.

Energy efficiency may be moot when things aren’t well-maintained. Even if you had an Energy Star-rated air handler perfect for a warmer climate, your new furnace might have less efficient systems over time.

Suppose we could put our two cents in and weigh on the great debate ourselves. We want to offer you the thought of upgrading your systems to more innovative and efficient solutions. It would help to look into electric heat pumps before opting for another furnace. They make more efficient purchases by leaps and bounds. While they also feature a gas line for minimal emissions, each comes with its own carbon monoxide detectors to ensure your safety.

Heating System Performance Factor (HSPF)

If you want to know how efficient your furnace is, ask about its Heating System Performance Factor (HSPF) when you buy it. HSPF ratings indicate how efficiently heaters produce hot air against lower temperatures. A new unit with excellent HSPF ratings may be working correctly for now. However, units that aren’t regularly cleaned can deteriorate much faster, and their fall from grace won’t come cheap. Replacing a flickering pilot light is one thing, but servicing major components like internal heat exchanger remediation will cost you. You won’t want to put it off either, as major malfunctioning parts lead to energy loss causing higher energy costs. Malfunctions will cost you more the longer they are left untreated. Call an HVAC professional immediately.

Regular Maintenance and Repairs for Your Furnace System

It would be best if you didn’t hesitate, considering how much regular maintenance and cleaning will cost. Regularly cleaning and tuning up your heaters will cost you less in the long run.

Reliable Heaters and Air Conditioning Service

You don’t have to search high and low when things get heated. There are prominent and reliable professionals you can reach in Utah.

One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning

Call One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning for your furnace repair and furnace maintenance needs. We’ve got the stuff if you want to hire reliable contractors for a newer heating system installation!

Don’t forget to book an appointment online for hassle-free inspections and estimates.

Call our hotline to ensure your systems are working properly or for any immediate concerns.

Call (801) 355-9500

What is the difference between Heat Pump and an AC Unit?

Written by onestoput on June 1, 2022. Posted in Heating, HVAC, Maintenance.

If you are currently caught up with the heat pump vs. AC debate, we can help shed light on their differences and similarities. Both heat pumps and air conditioners make reliable and sustainable HVAC systems against freezing temperatures and the summer heat. Still, they don’t go through the same process for heating or cooling, and one might fit your needs better.

After reading through our article, you might be able to tell which heating and cooling system is a cut above the rest.

What Is The Difference Between a Heat Pump and an AC Unit?

An air conditioner cannot facilitate heat in and out of your home without the help of a built-in heat pump or furnace attachment. Unlike an air conditioning system, heat pump systems work independently of any other HVAC system.

Air conditioners depend on other systems to manage your home’s indoor air temperature. Still, both a heat pump and an air conditioner rely on outdoor air to function, unlike a furnace that generates its own heat.

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

A heat pump works by absorbing naturally occurring heat energy from the different elements. It is an efficient heating system that simply converts outside air into quality breathable air at your desired temperature. You can set indoor temperatures for your heat pumps to achieve with naturally-sourced heat.

You might have had the impression that air conditioners blow cold air inside your home, but they don’t do that. However, a heat pump can produce cold air. While it does not directly convert hot air into colder air, its indoor air handler has coils that extract heat from your home to dispose of outdoors. Heat extraction is an effective technique for producing quality cooling output in enclosed spaces, making refrigeration easier for cooling systems.

Parts of a Heat Pump

There are different kinds of heat pumps, but they all share three major components:

Compressor (Outdoor Unit)
Air Handler (Indoor Unit)
Thermostat (Temperature Manager)

Inside its outdoor unit, you will find vital heat pump heating components, including the condenser coils, outdoor fans and motors, and connecting valves.

Linking the compressor to the indoor air handler is the reversing valve. Reversing valves allows for inverse heating which is essential for cooling mode.

Indoor air handlers contain evaporator coils, heat exchangers, and air filters. An evaporator coil absorbs ambient heat inside and transfers it to the corresponding coil outdoors for disposal.

Air Source Heat Pump

Air source heat pumps use outdoor air to provide various types of heating. While outdoor temperatures influence it, it holds up against cold and moderate climates just fine. An air source heat pump provides your home with sufficient ambient heating. Its outdoor unit absorbs heat energy from the air and transmits it to a transfer liquid, usually refrigerant, for compression before it is transferred to air handlers for distribution.

Air-to-air source heat pumps are typically the type of pump built into air conditioning systems. Some air conditioners don’t come with a heat pump configuration and instead depend on a furnace attachment for temperature management.

Water Source Heat Pump

Water source heat pumps work with external pipelines as part of their outdoor units. Both heat pumps (i.e., air source and water source) provide ambient heating, but water source heat pumps absorb heat from bodies of water instead of outdoor air.

A water source heat pump collects heat input from a more reliable resource. Climate and weather changes can make air source heat pumps more erratic, consuming more power against cooler temperatures. The heat collectors of water source heat pumps don’t rely as heavily on outdoor temperatures. Natural bodies of water remain at more constant temperatures than other elements and take longer to absorb the surrounding hot or cool air.

Ground Source Heat Pump

Its heat pump efficiency is the gold standard because of one special step in its heating mode. During colder months, heat is harder to come by. While most modern heat pumps come with supplementary heating, your home heating system might overcompensate by doubling down on energy consumption to produce higher temperatures indoors when outdoor temperatures drop.

Unless it has some other kind of auxiliary electric heater to aid in its heating process, a heat pump may overcompensate and cause your utility bills to surge. This energy-efficient heating system recycles resources by storing any surplus heat it collects in the summer for later use, which helps you save on energy costs.

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

Air conditioners cool enclosed spaces…or so we thought. An air conditioner also relies on outside air. Still, it can’t facilitate temperature changes without relying on other heating systems, whether built-in or external.

An air conditioner with a heat pump facilitating temperatures is the most common eco-friendly type of home heating system you will find in the country today. It is sustainable and affordable. Its heating or cooling mode also maintains great indoor air quality the best. There are more layers of filters against contaminants and pollutants, beginning with heat absorption by the heat pump to the transmission into the corresponding indoor unit.

Parts of an Air Conditioner

An air conditioner works by adjusting temperatures and implementing filtration systems to produce quality breathing air indoors. There are different kinds of air conditioners, but they all share three major components:

Condenser (Outdoor Unit)
Air Handlers (Indoor Unit)
Thermostat Panel/Controller (Temperature Manager)

An air conditioner also features an evaporator coil, which is great news for Utahns suffering under the sweltering heat. An evaporator coil is a heat exchanger within the heat pump system that helps transfer heat indoors to the outside.

If your air conditioning system isn’t built with an integrated heat pump, it may be attached to a natural gas furnace for heat management. A furnace attachment is more typical for a traditional central AC system. But more energy-efficient air conditioners feature integrated heat pump systems. What’s the difference? Let’s find out.

Ducted Central Air Conditioner

A centralized air conditioner might not be right for you if we discuss energy efficiency. A central air conditioner doesn’t only have a higher installation cost, but its extensive ductwork is harder to integrate into existing structures. Some structures opt for exposed ducting to save on renovation costs, but not everyone appreciates its aesthetic. A new air conditioner with ducted systems may not be appealing, and its risks for energy loss are just as unappealing.

The greater the distance your air travels, from the source to the destination (outdoor handler to indoor handler), the more air is lost along the way. It delays the process of your HVAC system, and you might end up paying more for less. However, central air conditioning has withstood the test of time, and they are still the most prominent air conditioner nationwide.

We think ductless systems are the future. They are not only more energy-efficient but make more accessible add-ons to existing indoor structures.

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner

If you have ever seen a smaller air conditioning unit attached to the inner wall of a home or establishment, chances are you are looking at a ductless mini-split air conditioner.

Don’t mistake them for a window unit air conditioner because mini-splits are longer and more rectangular than box-type air conditioners. A ductless mini-split air conditioner also has higher energy efficiency ratings than most other HVAC systems. Air is transmitted through copper coils instead of ducts or pipes, and its single-zoning area of responsibility keeps energy consumption more focused. Unlike a central AC that maintains one constant temperature for an entire structure, ductless mini-splits have independent thermal controls.

It means your air conditioner doesn’t have to use more energy to provide and sustain even heating or cooling for the entire house.

Heat Pump VS Air Conditioner: Energy Efficiency

In the heat pump vs. air conditioner argument, energy efficiency is one of the biggest criteria up for debate.

Most of us like to look at the bigger picture before we make an electronic purchase. We look at how much an appliance will cost us in the long run and how much we get from it in return. The former might have the upper hand in overall efficiency, sustainability, and utility between heat pumps and air conditioners. The versatility of the right size heat pump in providing your home with cool or warm air is next to nothing. However, heat pumps have higher upfront costs. Still, they last longer, endure better and are more cost-reliable.

While nearly all modern air conditioners come with heat pump installations, they can cost at least twice as much. You can opt for an air conditioner with a furnace attachment instead if you aren’t keen on spending too much overall. However, if you want energy efficiency, we think air conditioners with built-in heat pumps are the way to go!

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

Here’s one way to tell if your heat pumps and air conditioners are energy-efficient. Look for their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). You might see it indicated on its stickers or the box your heat pump or air conditioner comes in, saying HIGH SEER UNIT or Energy Star-certified. The higher their SEER ratings, the more overall efficiency they possess.

Preventive Maintenance for Your HVAC System

Regular tune-up and maintenance are important for your home heating and cooling system. Even the most efficient heat pump system can deteriorate over time. If you don’t want to be startled by next month’s utility bills, don’t forget to check your system for leaks and other damages regularly. Don’t worry about spending a little on preventive maintenance. They might save you from costly repairs in the future.

One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning

It would be best if you didn’t settle for unreliable contractors; luckily, you don’t have to. Reach out to Utah’s most trusted HVAC specialists! One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning technicians help Utahns with all their furnace repair, furnace maintenance, and heating system installation needs.

Don’t hesitate to call our team for any emergency assistance 24/7!

Call (801) 355-9500

Why is my Furnace leaking Water?

Written by onestoput on May 31, 2022. Posted in Heating, Heating & Cooling, HVAC, Maintenance.

We know this thought has crossed every homeowner’s mind at one point. Which is better? Which is more efficient? Which is more reliable?

The Difference Between A Heat Pump and a Furnace

We can answer the Heat Pump VS Furnace debate in very few words.

Heat pumps work without the process of combustion in facilitating natural heat in and out of your home.
Furnaces generate heat and produce greenhouse gas emissions to produce heat.

Heat Pumps Don’t Generate Heat

The Heat Pump Heating System:

There are different heat pumps, but none burn any resources to provide your home with heat. A heat pump system does three main things:

Absorb heat through an outdoor unit. (Compressor unit)
Transmit heat energy through a series of heat exchangers.
Distribute heat into your home’s air or water supply.

However, there is an internal debacle within the Heat Pump VS Furnace argument. Let’s call it the Heat Pump Debate.

The Three Types of Heat Pumps

Air-to-Air Source Heat Pumps

Air-to-Water Source Heat Pumps

Ground Source Heat Pumps

It surprisingly does well against a cold climate. It currently sets the gold standard for heating systems that provide heat efficiently sans carbon utilization and emission.

Dual fuel system

Furnaces Generate Own Heat

The Furnace Heating System:

Natural Gas furnace

Electric furnace

Heat Pumps VS Air Conditioners

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

The Routine Maintenance of All HVAC Systems

One-Stop Heating and Air Conditioning

Call (801) 355-9500

Contact our team of experts through our hotline 24/7 for emergency assistance and urgent inquiries.

Why Won’t My Furnace Pilot Light Stay Lit?

Written by onestoput on May 16, 2022. Posted in Heating, HVAC, Maintenance.

Is your furnace pilot light refusing to stay on? Gas furnaces have a pilot light that ignites the furnace burner whenever it’s in use.

When this pilot light refuses to stay lit, that also means your gas furnace won’t work—leaving you with a freezing home.

There are several reasons why your furnace pilot light won’t stay lit, the most common being:

A faulty thermocouple
A broken gas regulator
A corroded pilot tip
An unknown draft

Keep reading to learn more about what’s causing your pilot light problem and its corresponding fixes.

Reasons Your Gas Furnace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit

If you notice anything wrong with your furnace pilot light, it’s a great idea to get furnace repair services to help fix the issue. While you wait for services to become available, you can use the following quick fixes to temporarily correct the problem.

Reason #1: Faulty Thermocouple (Flame Sensor)

The thermocouple is a long copper tube that controls the gas valve inside gas furnaces. It’s often referred to as the flame sensor because it turns the gas flow on and off in the furnace whenever it senses heat.

A broken flame sensor can be dangerous as it means the gas valve won’t automatically shut off when it needs to. As a result, gas from your furnace will start flowing into your home, putting everyone at risk.

Symptoms of a Faulty Thermocouple

A visual inspection is needed to determine if the problem truly is a faulty flame sensor. You can contact a professional to do the assessment for you. Or you may also check it yourself using the following steps:

Locate the flame sensor inside your furnace
Look for signs of cracks, holes, or discoloration in the tubes
Check for signs of corrosion in the wirings
Check for bare wires or missing insulations
Look for physical damages that could be affecting the reliability of the connectors

If there aren’t any obvious signs of a problem, the issue may lie elsewhere. This may be a great time to get in touch with an HVAC professional to check your furnace functionality.

How to Fix a Faulty Flame Sensor?

There are two things you can do about a faulty gas furnace flame sensor: Cleaning or Replacement.

CLEANING A dirty flame sensor

Soot build-up can cause the flame sensor to stop working properly. A quick and deep clean should be able to help if that’s the case.

For this, you’ll need the following materials:

A screwdriver
Steel wool
Pencil eraser

After locating the dirty flame sensor, use the screwdriver to loosen it from the pilot assembly. Gently remove the soot from the flame sensor using a piece of steel wool.

DO NOT use any type of house cleaner on the flame sensor. This may cause unwanted damage to happen to the thermocouple.

Once you’re satisfied with the state of the probe, use the pencil eraser to clean the threaded end of the flame sensor.

Finally, reattach the thermocouple to the pilot assembly and see if the pilot light now works.

Replacing a Thermocouple

Gas furnace thermocouples come in different sizes. To ensure you get the right one, don’t forget to bring your broken thermocouple with you to the store.

If you’re unsure how to proceed with the process, getting a professional HVAC technician to help can save you from damaging your gas furnace further.

Reason #2: Broken Gas Regulator

If your pilot light refuses to stay lit, there could be something wrong with your gas regulator. This mechanism controls the gas pressure that flows to your furnace and other gas-powered appliances.

When this part is broken, gas pressure is reduced, resulting in your pilot light shutting down.

Symptoms of a Broken Gas Regulator

In cases where the gas regulator is the issue, signs can be observed in more than just one appliance in your home. Besides your gas furnace, make sure to check other gas-powered appliances such as burners, air conditioners, stoves, grills, and dryers.

If you notice that the gas pressure is low in any other appliance, it may not be getting enough gas from the supply.

How to Fix a Broken Gas Regulator?

The best solution to a broken gas regulator is a complete replacement. Repairs can be done; however, experts advise against it since the risk of doing something wrong is high.

Contact your gas supplier or an HVAC technician to inspect your gas furnace and assist you with any necessary procedures.

Reason #3: Corroded Pilot Tip

Furnaces, especially older models, have something called a pilot light that ignites the furnace’s burners when in use. A healthy pilot light flame is normally blue with a strongly-shaped cone.

If the flame you see on your furnace pilot is yellow, you may have a corroded pilot tip in your hands. This type of problem can interrupt the gas flow and disrupt the furnace heating cycle.

Types of Furnace Pilot

Furnace pilots typically come in two forms:

Traditional Standing Pilot Light
Electronic Intermittent Pilot Ignition (IPI)

The standing pilot light is a traditional ignition system found in most older furnaces. They’re referred to as “standing” because they have flames that stay lit regardless of whether the fireplace is on.

On the other hand, an IPI uses a modern ignition system for the pilot burner that works only when the system is hooked into an electric power source. It doesn’t have a constant flame like the standing pilot light; instead, it needs you to manually ignite the pilot every time you use it.

How to Clean a Corroded Standing Pilot Light Tip

After confirming that your pilot light tip is corroded, you may want to clean the tip to try and fix the problem. Cleaning your furnace’s pilot is simple:

Twist the gas valve to turn off the gas supply to avoid accidentally igniting the furnace pilot. If the pilot tip is still hot, give it around 30 minutes to cool down before proceeding to the next step.
After cooling the furnace’s pilot, take a small pin or needle and use that to remove any debris or dirt from the pilot orifices.
Use a small blower to remove loose bits of dirt and dust that you’ve managed to pry out of the pilot light.
Turn on the gas supply and see if anything has changed with your pilot light.

Are you getting a bluer, healthier flame? Is the furnace staying lit?

If so, the process was successful and you don’t have to worry about it happening again anytime soon.

Unfortunately, there might also be cases when cleaning might not be enough to solve the issue. In that case, you may want to contact a professional to give your furnace a little once-over.

Reason #4: Unknown Draft

Another issue that might be preventing your pilot light from staying lit is an unknown draft. Cold air can flow through open doors and windows—it can even sneak in through cracks or holes in the walls.

Drafts can make it harder for your furnace to heat the air inside your home. Furthermore, drafts can blow out the pilot light flame without you even knowing about it until later.

How to Check Your Home for a Draft?

The following techniques can help you determine if your home has an unknown draft that’s preventing your furnace burner from staying lit:

Stand close to your door and see if you can feel a soft breeze blowing on your skin. This means you probably have a draft somewhere near.
Carry a lit candle around your home and observe if it flickers or burns out. This means that a draft is nearby. Don’t forget to turn off appliances like fans and air conditioners. These appliances can cause disturbances in the air and can mask the presence of drafts in your house.
Take a coat hanger and hang a piece of plastic on one end of it. Hold it near your doors or windows and see if the bag blows up. If it does, this means there’s a draft somewhere near your windows or doors.

If none of these techniques work but you still suspect your home of having a draft, it might be time to contact a professional to do a complete sweep of your home. They’re more likely to have the right tools and materials to effectively spot drafts in your home .

How to Fix a Draft in Your Home?

The only way to fix a draft in your home is to identify where the draft is coming from and seal it off permanently. If you’re not confident in your DIY home improvement skills, hiring someone to do the repairs for you is ideal.

Another thing you can do is get a barrier for your furnace. This barrier goes in front of your furnace and prevents air from blowing out the pilot light flame.

One Stop Heating Helps You Determine and Fix Pilot Light Issues

To avoid experiencing pilot light issues, getting annual furnace maintenance is key. One Stop Heating has all the services you need to keep your gas furnaces in tip-top shape throughout the year. Whether you need professional heating system installation or emergency AC repair, you can trust our technicians to get the job done.

Let us take care of your pilot light issues while you take care of your family!

Call (801) 355-9500

Should I Cover My Outdoor Unit During Colder Months?

Written by onestoput on December 17, 2020. Posted in HVAC.

As winter sets in, it’s very likely you’re getting worried about your air conditioner. Like most people, you may be wondering whether you should cover the outdoor unit or leave it exposed. You only need to search online to find a number of different types of covers to keep air conditioners from getting damaged by snow and debris.

Nonetheless, it’s not necessary to cover your air conditioner during the off-season. Keep reading to find out why covering your air conditioner can make it worse, and why you shouldn’t worry about the harsh weather damaging your outdoor unit.

Your Air Conditioner Was Built to Withstand Harsh Weather

Your AC’s evaporator coil and blower are located inside your house while the compressor and condenser are located outside. Although the condenser and compressor are important parts of your unit, they were designed to withstand the harshest weather conditions.

When a manufacturer creates something that is going to be exposed to the elements for as long as it exists, the company has to put in place measures to protect the unit from inclement weather. For instance, your outdoor unit’s electrical components are sealed to keep out moisture. If you examine it closely, you will see corrosion-proof materials, such as aluminum, copper and plastic that keep your unit’s internal components from rusting.

Covering Your Unit Can Invite Pests

When the weather becomes extremely harsh, rodents and other small animals start looking for shelter to protect themselves. When you cover your air conditioner, you create the perfect hideout for them. When they inhabit the unit, they may start nibbling on things like the wires and uninsulated refrigerant lines. In addition to the electrical problems this damage can cause in the unit, punctured lines may let out the refrigerant and make your unit less efficient.

Covering Your Unit Can Invite Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew love moisture. When you cover your unit, you trap moisture inside the unit and encourage it to grow fast on the evaporator coils. Your outdoor unit was made to be open to outdoor air and stay free from fungi. Although mold may not damage your health directly when it grows inside your outdoor unit, it can prevent air from flowing properly through the coils, thus lowering the efficiency of your unit.

Moisture Will Still Infiltrate Your Outdoor Unit Even When Covered

The main reason why people cover their outdoor units is to keep water from getting in and damaging the internal components. However, during the cold season, the air is usually humid. The moisture can enter the unit naturally with or without the strong winds that are usually present during winter. Similarly, moisture can find its way into the unit from the ground as it evaporates.

When the unit is open, air can flow and help the water to evaporate on sunny days. When the unit is covered, the moisture is trapped inside; it condenses into water over time, leading to small pools of water on the floor of the unit. This water may freeze on the condenser coils and damage them.

How About the Debris?

Another reason why people cover their outdoor AC units is to prevent the accumulation of debris inside the unit. They also do it to prevent leaves and branches from falling on the unit and damaging it in the fall and winter. However, these are issues you can control in other ways. If there is a tree near your outdoor unit, you can prune the branches to prevent them from falling unexpectedly and damaging the unit.

As a part of a scheduled tune-up, a professional will clean your outdoor unit to remove any debris before it becomes problematic.

Maintain Your Unit Instead

If you want to keep your unit safe and sound throughout the cold season, you should partner with a professional HVAC technician to maintain your unit on an annual basis. Besides removing any accumulated debris, a technician will check all the internal components to ensure they are working properly.

If you want to schedule your AC maintenance today, One Stop Heating and Air Conditioning is all you need. We repair, maintain and install heating and cooling systems. We offer expert HVAC services to residents of Sandy, UT, to keep them comfortable and stress-free. To learn more about our services, call us today!