Heating Repair: Don’t Get Caught In The Cold This Winter

Every homeowner’s worst fear is waking up to a cold house. You rely on your furnace to keep your family and your home safe and warm, so when the worst happens, know where to look. There are just a few things to keep in mind when considering heating repair.

To Repair Or To Replace?

The biggest question homeowners ask themselves when a furnace stops working is if they should repair or replace their furnace. Replacing a furnace is costly, especially around the holidays when family budgets are already tight. Sometimes it is necessary. If your furnace is old or badly damaged, repairs won’t cut it.

The average lifespan of a forced air system is 15 to 20 years. The boiler system for radiators or baseboard heating lasts 13 to 21 years. Before you call a heating repair company in NJ, figure out the age of your furnace. An older furnace does not necessary require replacing, but if the cost of repairs outweighs the expected lifespan, replacing saves you money in the long run. When you speak with a furnace repair representative, always ask about the cost of repairs versus the cost of replacing.

Safety is another thing to keep in mind. A cracked heat exchanger could result in carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, infiltrating your home’s ventilation system. In this instance, replacing the furnace is the best option.

Common Heating Repairs

Ideally all your heating system needs is a simple and affordable repair. There are several fixable factors that result in furnace malfunction.

  1. Clogged filters are a common culprit. They reduce your furnace’s efficiency by constricting the airflow. You furnace can’t pump enough heat to keep up with your home’s demands.
  2. Faulty pilot lights resulting from a bad thermocouple or an internal clog inhibits the pilot light from turning on. Without the pilot light, your furnace doesn’t work.
  3. A continuously running blower is often the result of a problematic limit fix. This is not a good DIY repair as it requires professional tools and knowledge to fix safely.
  4. Clogged burners or other mechanical issues create the dreaded rattling and squeaking sounds that herald a heating failure. Most of these issues are repairable.

Finding A Heating Repair Service In NJ

New Jersey is cold in the wintertime. There are many heating repair services in NJ anxious to help you out. Sorting through them is the hard part, especially while you worry about freezing pipes.

Availability is an important consideration. Choose a heating repair service with a 24/7 call line for heating emergencies. It seems like most furnace malfunctions occur after hours and on weekends. You need a repair service committed to keeping your family safe.

Look for a service with positive reviews. While spending time searching through Google is the last thing you want to do in a cold house, remember that your furnace is a major investment. You want a professional heating repair service handling your needs.

Call a few places to get the best quotes and the fastest repair time. A reliable service gives you an estimate for both, preferably with a technician on site to fully assess your needs.

What To Do While You Wait For The Repair

In an ideal world, the heating repair service arrives a few minutes after your call. This is not always the case. Any number of factors from traffic to winter storm emergencies can get in the way. In the meantime, take these steps to keep your home and family safe:

  • Invest in several space heaters. Place them in kitchens and bathrooms to prevent freezing pipes.
  • Wrap basement pipes in insulation or blankets.
  • Cover windows with drapes to prevent excess heat loss.
  • Get your family members and pets to a warm location like a friend’s house or a hotel.

When you can see your breath in your bedroom, don’t wait. Contact us immediately to find out how we can help you with your NJ heating repairs.