Common Winter Heating Problems Solved

Even if your boiler or furnace has served you well for years, we’ve identified a few heating problems you could run into as the temperatures drop—and what to do to solve them.

1. You have a carbon monoxide (CO) leak. If you hear a CO detector in your home sounding its alert, get everyone—pets included—out of the house IMMEDIATELY. Call 911.

   And as a general practice, confirm that you have a CO detector on every level of your Massachusetts home—including one outside every bedroom, as well as the basement. If you need to do this and need assistance, a local electrician can help. Replace your detectors every five years and your CO detectors’ batteries twice a year.

2. The air is in your home is too dry. For people with respiratory conditions, dry air can be very problematic. It can also damage furniture, flooring, woodwork and electronics. One easy—and fast-acting—solution to this problem is the addition of a whole-house humidifier to your home’s heating system.
3. You’re experiencing cycling. When your heating system cycles, meaning it’s going off and on more than it should, you may have a faulty thermostat or an air filter that needs to be cleaned or replaced. Check your thermostat as well as your air filter. If neither of these are the problem, contact us.
4. Cold spots and drafts pop up throughout your home. If you feel a chill in different spots throughout your home, try these D-I-Y solutions.
   • Make sure vents and other spots where air needs to circulate are clear. Move rugs, furniture, curtains or other items that could be obstructing the air flow.
   • Line your doors and windows with weather stripping or caulking to block drafts. You can also cut back on drafts by adding door sweeps.
   • If your home is short on insulation, add some. Call a local home improvement service if you don’t feel comfortable or do have time to do this on your own.
5. The heat has stopped running. The possible reasons why your heat isn’t working are many, but the good news is that most of them are easy to resolve. Try these quick solutions before calling for service.
   • If your system has a pilot light, make sure it’s lit.
   • If you have a forced-air system, check your vents for airflow. You may need to clear out the space in front of your vents or clean or replace an air filter.
   • Are all of your power switches set for “start” or “on”? If not, turn them on. And check your circuit breaker in case it’s been tripped.
   • If you have an oil-fired boiler or furnace in your home, reset the red burner switch. BEWARE: You should only do this ONE TIME. Trying this more than once could cause your system to flood with oil.
   • Of course, you could be out of fuel. If this is the case, CALL us at 508-753-3223 For an emergency delivery. Please do not send an email if you are having an emergency.

Have you had your annual tune-up? If not, it’s time to get that done! Let us know so we can take care of it as soon as possible. And of course, please contact us with any other concerns or to learn more about our service plans.