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There’s nothing worse than coming home after a long time away, only to find out that your home isn’t warm on a cold winter’s day. Is your heater broken? Or did something just go wrong that’s an easy fix? There are some heater issues that are easy to correct on your own. Of course, if you have questions you can reach out to our team and we can help you troubleshoot.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between a broken heater and a minor repair. But there are ways that you can test if your heater is actually broken or not. Read on to learn more about some heater tests and how they can help you learn more about how your heater functions.
Feeling Cold Air
The first thing you want to do is set the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees higher than the current indoor temperature. This should trigger the thermostat to turn on the heater. When you hear your heater turn on, wait for about five minutes and then go through your home and hold your hand up to the air vents.
Do you feel hot air blowing? You definitely should. The air coming from your vents should never feel lukewarm, cool, or cold if you have the heat turned on. Feeling anything less than hot air is a sign that your heater is broken. After all, your heater has to produce hot air that will then mix with cooler air to increase the temperature enough to make your home warm.
Hot and Cold Spots
As you feel the air vents in each room, pay attention to how the air feels. It should be a consistent temperature across your entire home. If you have a room or rooms that are significantly hotter or cooler than the others, that is also a sign that your heater is broken.
But sometimes this can also stem from other problems. The problem isn’t necessarily your heater. You may need a professional to reroute the ductwork in your attic, or install more insulation around that particular room. If you do feel hot air, but the rooms are not consistent, that’s a good reason to give our team a call. We can help determine whether your heater is broken or the problem lies elsewhere.
Spikes in Energy Use
You may pay your energy bill each month without giving the actual cost much thought. After all, energy usage, and billing prices change from month to month and even season to season. If you can, take out your energy bills from the same time last year and see if your current bills are significantly higher.
If so, your heater may be to blame. If there is a problem in your heating unit that has gone undetected, it can make your heater work harder to produce the same results. This ultimately cost you more on your energy bills each month, whether your heater is gas or electric.