When to Call in a Home Heating Pro
No-Heat Situation? Bolkema Has Your Back
It’s probably happened to you: that slow realization that your home is downright chilly, even though it should be toasty. When your heating system suddenly stops working, you need to know you have a reliable company you can call on any time. So, it’s good to know that Bolkema offers round-the-clock heating repair service you can count on to get you up and running again, quickly.
But it’s also good to know that, often, many heating system problems can easily be fixed without a service call. Read on to learn the most common causes of heating system troubles, how to fix them yourself—and when to call an expert service provider, like Bolkema, for help.
The No. 1 Cause of No-Heat Issues
You might be surprised to learn that the most common cause of unexpected heating system problems is (drumroll please!)…clogged air filters.
Yup! It’s true—and it’s an easy problem to fix yourself, and even easier to prevent.
A dirty air filter can lead to a number of problems. Because clogged filters restrict air flow, your system must work harder to heat your home. That uses more fuel and drives bills up as a result. When the air filter on your furnace gets fully clogged with dirt, the system will shut down.
The solution is to clean or replace your filter, and keep a note on your calendar to check it once a month—especially if you have pets.
Out of Fuel?
It should go without saying that if you’re out of heating oil, your heating equipment won’t run. It’s a fairly common cause of no-heat situations, particularly early or late in the season. While fixing the problem requires a fuel delivery, you can rest easy knowing that Bolkema offers 24/7 emergency heating oil delivery. Preventing a run-out is even easier: just sign up for automatic delivery service.
Heating System Troubleshooting
There are a few other common causes for heating equipment problems that are easy to resolve without a service call, including issues with your thermostat or circuit breaker.
Start by checking your thermostat. Make sure your thermostat is set to a temperature at least 5° above room temperature and set to “heat.” Don’t forget the batteries: Try installing fresh ones.
Next, head to the basement or utility room. Did your heating system accidentally get turned off? This happens more often than you’d think. Don’t overthink it, just turn it on.
Another smack-my-head solution is a tripped circuit breaker. Check the breaker that your heating system is on, and turn it on if it’s off. If this happens often, you may want to call an electrician.
Resetting the System
If none of these common problems seem to be the source of your heating system issue, you can try resetting the system by pushing and holding the “Reset” button for 30 seconds. It’s important to note: Do this only once, for no more than 30 seconds. Doing it more than once floods the combustion chamber with too much heating oil. That’s an expensive repair job on top of any other repairs you may need.
When to Call a Pro
If you’ve explored all these solutions, and nothing has worked, it’s time to call a trusted repair service. Any other issues require the expertise of a technician who can diagnose your problem and fix it correctly.
Bolkema’s team has decades of experience providing heating equipment repair and services, but we also want to help you prevent problems in the first place. Maintenance is the key, and we offer comprehensive heating equipment tune-up services as well as comprehensive service plans to help you save on repairs.
Find out why more of your neighbors in Northern New Jersey and Rockland and Orange Counties in New York, trust Bolkema with all their home heating (and cooling!) needs. Contact us for more information and to become a customer today.