Common Furnace Problems

2016 Spring
Newsletter
Common Furnace Problems
It’s the middle of winter and our phone lines hum with calls from
homeowners who are without heat or not enough heat. Our knowledgeable
technicians will diagnose precisely what’s wrong with your furnace or heat
pump. The first step in any diagnosis is to look for simple things first. Here
are some of the most common problems we find when troubleshooting.
1. Dirty or clogged filters. The single most important thing you can do
to ensure adequate heat in cold weather is to change filters regularly. Dirty
filters restrict air flow. This means your furnace has to work harder to
circulate warm air throughout your home. This puts unnecessary strain on
your furnace and may result in a breakdown, along with excessive utility
bills and diminished equipment life.
Change filters at least every three months, and even monthly is not
excessive, especially if you have a pet that sheds. Filters are cheap. You
can buy a year’s supply for less than the cost of a single service call.
2. Ignition problems. Today’s heating systems typically have one of two
types of ignition systems: hot surface ignition or intermittent pilot. Hot
surface ignition uses a heating element, kind of like a filament in a light
bulb, which is controlled electronically to ignite the gas burner. This
element wears out over time. The intermittent pilot also is controlled
electronically but uses a high voltage electric spark to ignite the gas pilot
and then the main burners. A pilot may burn out due to drafts or clogs in
the heating equipment, as well as problems with the thermocouple.
3. Other mechanical issues. Modern heating systems are complicated
machines with a variety of electro-mechanical moving parts, including
belts, bearings, fans and motors. Over time all of these components are
subject to normal wear and tear.
Continued on Page 2
Common Furnace Problems
Continued from Page 1
Many thermostats are powered by
batteries, and one of the first things our
troubleshooting technician will check is
whether those batteries need replacing!
Modern thermostats give a readout
warning when batteries get low. It’s
surprising how many homeowners don’t
notice or don’t heed the flashing reminders
to change thermostat batteries.
The best way to assure that your heating
system functions during the coldest winter
days is to have your unit serviced regularly
– at least once a year. Give us a call to ask
about our economical service plans that
include full system inspections and
maintenance.
ANSWERS ON PAGE 4
4. Thermostat malfunction. Your
thermostat regulates when heat is to be
produced and how much. So-called
“smart” thermostats are really small
computers that can be programmed to set
different temperatures at different times,
depending on whether residents are at
home and their comfort preferences.
Whether you have an automated or
manual thermostat, problems can develop
that lead to no heat or inadequate heat.
ALLERGIES
FURNACE
PLAY
BLOOM
GREEN
RAIN
BREEZE
GROW
SPRING
CLEAN
HVAC
SUNSHINE
FLOWERS
MAINTENANCE
THERMOSTAT
FRESH
PLANTS
WIND
Regular maintenance is easy to overlook
in the hustle and bustle of daily life. One of
the great things about a service plan is that
we will call to remind you when it’s time for
your annual or twice-annual check-ups.
©2016 Service Roundtable
Scheduling At Your Convenience
One of the trickiest aspects of running a residential service business is responding to service calls at a time
that is convenient to our customers. We try our best to schedule calls at your convenience but it’s impossible
to satisfy everyone, every time. Here are some of the things that determine our dispatching priorities.
1. Is it an emergency? Emergency calls obviously take priority over non-emergencies and elected
service.
2. Do you have a maintenance agreement with us? Our service and maintenance agreement
customers receive top priority when it comes to scheduling, as well as discount
pricing.
3. Do you request a specific technician? Some of our technicians have
serviced the same homes over and over and customers may request them by
name. We encourage such friendships and will do our best to accommodate the
request. Your favorite technician may be unavailable at any given time, but if you
can be a little flexible with your time frame we’ll make sure you get visited by the
person who has gained your confidence.
4. Sometimes the best laid plans get waylaid.
We pride ourselves on our ability to service most customers within
one hour, if so desired. Yet delays sometimes are unavoidable due
to traffic, bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. One thing you can be
sure of is that if we do get delayed, we won’t leave you hanging. We’ll call you with
an updated time of arrival or, if you prefer, to reschedule as early as possible.
$25
OFF
Code: RA25
ANY SERVICE JOB
SINGLE USE ONLY. EXPIRES 06/01/16. MAY NOT
BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. MUST
PRESENT AT TIME OF YOUR CALL.
$15 OFF
Code: RAP15
NEW SERVICE AGREEMENT
GOLD OR PLATINUM
SINGLE USE ONLY. EXPIRES 06/01/16. MAY NOT
BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. MUST
PRESENT AT TIME OF YOUR CALL.
2505 SE Lee Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73501
580-699-5760
Www.RobinsonAirhvac.COM
3 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup agave nectar
3 cups chilled club soda
Whole strawberries (optional)
Place first 5 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth (about 1 minute). Pour about 1/2 cup strawberry
mixture into each of 6 glasses. Slowly pour about 1/2 cup club soda into each glass; gently stir to combine.
Garnish with whole berries, if desired. For an adult beverage, substitute 1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled for the
club soda. When adding the wine or soda, pour slowly down the edge of the glass to tame the foam.
Source: www.myrecipes.com/recipe/strawberry-mint-sparkling-lime