It’s the quintessential Portland experience: the air gets crisp, the rain starts falling, and all you want is a warm, comfortable home to escape to. But what happens when you turn on your furnace or heat pump, and things just aren't quite right? A malfunctioning heating system can quickly turn a cozy evening into a cold, frustrating one.
At Western Heating & Cooling, we believe that understanding the basics of your heating system is the first step toward maintaining year-round comfort. While complex repairs always require a NATE-certified professional, knowing how to identify and address minor, common issues can save you discomfort and potentially a service call. Let's walk through some of the most frequent heating problems our customers face in the Portland area and what you can do before picking up the phone.
Check the Simple Fixes First
Many heating "emergencies" turn out to be simple oversight. Before you panic about a total system breakdown, check these quick fixes.
Is Your Thermostat Set Correctly? This seems obvious, but it's the number one source of calls. Ensure your thermostat is set to "Heat" and the temperature is higher than the current room temperature. If it's a smart thermostat, check that it's charged and connected to your Wi-Fi, as scheduled programs might be overriding your manual setting.
Check the Power Switch: Furnaces often have a dedicated power switch, usually mounted near the unit and often looking like a standard light switch. Sometimes this switch is accidentally flipped off, particularly if the unit is in a utility closet or garage.
Look at the Furnace Filter: A clogged, dirty air filter is a major culprit for poor heating performance. A heavily restricted filter limits airflow, causing the system to struggle, overheat, or even shut down entirely. Pull out your filter and inspect it; if it's dark and visibly caked with dirt, replace it immediately. We recommend checking your filter monthly.
What to Do When the Heat is Weak or Nonexistent
If your system is running but not producing enough heat, or no heat at all, the cause is usually related to fuel, ignition, or airflow.
Pilot Light Problems (For Gas Furnaces): If you have an older gas furnace, the pilot light may have simply gone out. Consult your owner's manual for safe relighting instructions. Never attempt to relight a pilot light if you smell gas. If the pilot light repeatedly goes out, there is likely a deeper issue requiring professional attention.
Breaker Box Trip: Your furnace may have tripped a circuit breaker. Locate your home’s main electrical panel and look for a breaker that is in the "off" or middle position. Reset the breaker by flipping it all the way off and then back on. If it trips again immediately, do not continue to reset it—call an expert, as this indicates an electrical fault.
The Unit is Cycling Too Frequently: Short cycling is when your heating system turns on and off rapidly, never completing a full heating cycle. This is inefficient and causes wear and tear. A common cause is a thermostat located near a heat source, like a sunny window or heat register, which causes it to mistakenly sense the room is warm enough. Try moving any nearby objects and ensure registers are open.
When It’s Time to Call the Professionals
While these troubleshooting steps can resolve many minor issues, some problems demand the specialized knowledge of a NATE-certified technician. If you notice strange noises (like grinding, screeching, or banging), if you smell gas or burning plastic, or if the system fails to respond after checking the thermostat and power, it’s time to call in the experts.
At Western Heating & Cooling, we are committed to keeping your Portland-area home perfectly warm and safe. Don't hesitate to reach out to our team at (503) 303-0771 for prompt, reliable heating repair and maintenance.