Are you having problems with your heat pump not heating?

As experts in heat pump diagnostics and repairs in Albany, New York, and the surrounding areas, Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical can always fix your HVAC system. Keep reading to discover the most common reasons your device isn’t producing quite enough heat for your liking and what you should do.

The Eight Most Common Causes of a Heat Pump Not Heating or Emitting Hot Air

Copper tubing makes heat pumps efficient, but there are many other parts that can go wrong. Whether your pump is blowing cool breezes in winter or simply failing to keep your home warm, a professional HVAC technician will diagnose the problem correctly.

Typically, heating devices suffer from one of the following eight issues.

1. Your Thermostat May Have Problems

An apparent issue with heat pump systems can come from a faulty thermostat. Do you have incorrect thermostat settings or other issues? Try the following:

• Check to confirm you set your thermostat to the heating mode or constant fan.
• Replace the batteries in your thermostat to see if that fixes the issue.
• Determine the age of your thermostat (get a new one if it’s more than 10 years old).
• Clean your device to see if it has a dirty sensor.
• Clear furniture and curtains away from your thermostat. Also, block sunlight that could cause your thermostat to misread a temperature setting by a few degrees.

If none of these work, you could have a technician double-check for a malfunctioning thermostat at the next service.

2. Your Unit May Have a Clogged Air Filter

If you have problems with your heat pump not heating, it could have a dirty air filter. Do you remember the last time you changed it? You should change the filter once a month.

If you replace your air filter and it doesn’t solve the issue, you likely have a more complicated problem than reduced airflow.

3. Your Heat Pump Could Have Deficient Refrigerant Levels

Like an air conditioner, your heat pump uses refrigerant to transfer heat to and from cold air or warm air. If your unit has low refrigerant levels, the heat pump can’t reach your desired temperature. Refrigerant issues usually result in lukewarm air.

Be careful; only a qualified professional should address leaking refrigerant. It’s a toxic substance that requires special training to handle safely.

4. Do You Have a Blocked Outdoor Unit?

Is your heat pump not heating? Check whether you have debris or vegetation blocking your outdoor unit.

Your heat pump has both an indoor unit and an outside unit. The portion outside your home remains the most vulnerable to blockages.

5. Consider Whether You Have Power Problems

If your heat pump isn’t working at all, you could have any number of electrical issues. Do you experience a blown fuse in your electrical panel or circuit breaker every time you flip a specific light switch? Also, check your indoor unit power switch to see if you flipped it off.

Is your heat pump running but not blowing the air through your home? The power problem may reside with your indoor air handler unit.

6. A Faulty Reversing Valve Could Cause the Issue

If your heat pump has a bad reversing valve, it may only emit cool or cold air. The reversing valve determines whether your heat pump cools or heats, as it directs the flow of refrigerant.

With a broken reversing valve, the heat pump may become stuck in cooling mode.

7. Your Heat Pump Has a Frozen Outdoor Unit Coil

Your heat pump can experience ice buildup and frozen coils during winter and summer. However, it has a greater vulnerability to a frozen outdoor coil in the winter because of the cold weather.

Freezing occurs most often because of low refrigerant. Dirt buildup on the coils or air filter or other debris blocking the unit can also cause problems (your device can’t properly regulate the temperature through evaporation).

8. You May Have an Undersized Heat Pump

You should carefully select the best-sized heat pump for your home. If you buy a device too small for your home, it won’t provide the level of heating you need.

If you feel the heat pump blowing hot air but your home never reaches a comfortable temperature, consider an upgrade.

Schedule Reliable Heat Pump Repairs Today

If you’re struggling with your heat pump not heating, contact Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical. We’ll determine why you feel cool air when you shouldn’t and offer a personalized and efficient solution.

Call 518-545-3271 to schedule an appointment today!

What causes a blinking red light on furnaces?

Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical can determine whether you have a problem with your heat exchanger, gas pressure, or something else. We’re New York’s trusted source of diagnostics and repairs for all furnace models in the Albany, NY area.

Here, we discuss the most common reasons behind your furnace’s blinking red light.

Most Common Reasons You See a Blinking Red Light On Furnaces

If a red furnace light blinks or flashes, you can assume one thing right off the bat: the furnace isn’t functioning properly! An HVAC system professional will read the error code specific to your unit’s problem, but one of the following issues is likely:

A Flashing Furnace Light Can Mean You Have Igniter Failure

A professional HVAC technician can determine if your furnace light flashes because your unit has ignition issues. In a gas furnace, this component ignites your fuel so that your device can heat the air. Ignition problems can occur for several reasons, such as:

• A dirty flame sensor
• A dirty burner chamber or combustion chambers
• A faulty gas valve
• A vent blockage
• Reduced airflow from clogged furnace filters or a faulty blower motor
• Lack of a hot flame or pilot light (it looks like a yellow light)
• Flame failure from broken burners

Learn more about what heat exchangers are and how they work

A Blinking Light Can Indicate a Roll-Out Switch (High Limit Switch) Problem

Do you sometimes see a blinking red light on furnaces? Your roll-out switch provides an essential safety feature by shutting off your device when it overheats. If the high-limit switch doesn’t accurately read the internal temperature, it may shut down your device and activate the error code light.

This occurs most often when you have clogged air filters and dirt buildup.

You Could Experience a Heating System Lock Out

A lock-out is another safety feature in modern furnaces.

Your furnace has several sensors that monitor conditions within your furnace. If they sense an issue, they shut down your device. You’ll see a blinking red light.

Do You Have Thermostat Issues?

One issue homeowners often overlook in the furnace manual includes that a furnace’s blinking red light can occur when your thermostat malfunctions.

Can your thermostat not properly communicate with your heating system? It may activate your furnace’s blinking red light to show the right error code.

Related article: How high can I turn up my thermostat?

You May Have Heat Exchanger or Power Issues

You may see an error code if your furnace components aren’t receiving power correctly. Several issues can cause power problems, such as:

• Circuit board failure
• Issues with your circuit breaker box
• Loose wire connections
• Old wiring
• Frequent power surges

Do You Have Problems with Your Gas Valve?

A gas valve issue remains the most common cause of a blinking red light on furnaces. This occurs most often when the gas flowing into your furnace doesn’t have enough pressure to ignite.

Only a professional HVAC technician should handle issues with your gas supply.

Is Your Pressure Switch Malfunctioning?

Your furnace’s pressure switch shuts off power to your device when it detects unsafe pressure levels. If you have pressure switch problems, it could misread the pressure and turn off the furnace unnecessarily.

An HVAC professional can help determine if you have a malfunction or if you have increased pressure from the following complications:

• Blocked condensate drain
• Dirty air filters
• Improperly sized equipment

What Should You Do If Your Furnace Has a Blinking Red Light?

So, what should you do when you notice a blinking light on your furnace? You can perform basic diagnostics yourself to help determine the issue. Safely complete the following tasks:

• Check your recent utility bills. Do you have a decrease in your device’s energy efficiency?
• Inspect your device for clogged filters. Change them if necessary.
• Reset your thermostat. Try an extreme temperature. Does your furnace activate?
• Stay vigilant for unusual smells and sounds. The furnace may need repairs.

By performing initial troubleshooting, you can help your HVAC technician determine the source of your furnace problems.

Remember, if your furnace has problems during a period of extremely cold weather, you need it for safety. You should consider it an emergency and call for repairs immediately.

If you smell natural gas, exit your home immediately. Call for service from a safe distance.

Schedule Reliable Furnace Repairs Today

Now that you know how to handle a blinking red light on furnaces, contact Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical. Our experienced technicians can interpret the error codes on all furnace brands, including your Carrier furnace. We can efficiently return your furnace to normal operation for a competitive price.

To schedule service, call 518-545-3271.

Preparing Your Heating System for Winter in Saratoga County

Preparing your heating system for winter takes five quick jobs: a fresh filter, clear vents, a thermostat check, a test run, and a professional tune-up. Do them in early fall and you’ll find a weak igniter or a cold radiator while appointments are still easy to get, not during the first January cold snap. A furnace or boiler that quits in December has a long stretch of Saratoga County winter left to get through.

Heating setups vary a lot across the county. Older houses in Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and Burnt Hills often rely on hot-water boilers and radiators, while many newer Clifton Park neighborhoods run forced-air furnaces, and more homes now use heat pumps.

What to Do Before the First Cold Night

Start with the furnace. These steps run in order because each one sets up the next, and the whole routine takes about an afternoon.

1. Replace the furnace filter: A clogged filter chokes airflow, so swap it before the heating season starts and again about every three months.
2. Clear the vents and the space around the furnace: Move rugs, furniture, and boxes off the supply and return vents. Keep stored items away from the furnace too, since boxes stacked against a running unit raise the fire risk.
3. Switch the thermostat to heat: Change the mode from cool to heat and set it a few degrees above the room temperature so the furnace calls for heat.
4. Watch one full cycle: Stand near the unit and the closest register while it runs. You should hear the blower start, feel warm air arrive, and see the cycle end on its own, without banging, squealing, or a burning smell that lingers past the first few minutes.
5. Book a tune-up if anything seems off: Odd noises, weak airflow, or a thermostat that doesn’t get a response all point to a problem worth having checked before the cold arrives.

A burner that won’t light or a blower that never starts is a furnace repair call, and it’s far better to make it in October than in the middle of a freezing night.

Why a Yearly Tune-Up Beats Waiting for a Breakdown

Homeowners often ask how often furnaces need service, and for most households the answer is once a year, ideally in fall. A professional furnace maintenance visit covers the jobs that are hard to do on your own: cleaning dust and grime from the interior and heat exchanger, lubricating bearings that need it, and running diagnostics that show which parts are close to failing.

A technician also checks gas lines and electrical connections, so a worn part gets replaced on your schedule instead of failing on the coldest night.

Boilers and Heat Pumps Need Different Checks

Boilers and heat pumps don’t follow the furnace routine, so each gets its own quick inspection before winter. Both take only a few minutes.

Hot-Water Boilers

Check the pressure gauge against the range in your owner’s manual, and look over the boiler and nearby pipes for drips, rust, or damp spots. Then turn the heat on and feel the radiators. One that stays cold at the top often has trapped air, while one that stays cold all over can point to a bigger circulation problem.

Anything beyond a cold radiator or a visible drip is a job for a licensed technician, and yearly boiler maintenance keeps those problems from turning up in January.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps keep working through winter, so clear leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit and keep snow and ice from burying it after storms. Switch to heating mode and confirm that warm air reaches the registers. A yearly heat pump maintenance visit helps the unit run efficiently through the whole heating season.

Set the Thermostat and Check Your Safety Devices

Finally, spend a few minutes checking the thermostat and your detectors. A steady daily schedule is easier on the equipment than constant manual changes. When temperatures fall below freezing, keep the setting steady overnight instead of dropping it sharply, since pipes in exterior walls and unheated spaces are most at risk as the house cools down.

Test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors while you’re at it. If you burn wood or use a fireplace, schedule a professional chimney sweep and inspection before the first fire.

Book Your Fall Heating Tune-Up in Saratoga County

Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical has served the Capital Region since 2016, and our NATE-certified technicians work on furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps in Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills, Clifton Park, and nearby towns. When you’re ready, schedule your fall tune-up and we’ll find a time that works before the cold settles in.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heating System Maintenance

Should a boiler be serviced every 12 months?

Yes, a yearly visit is the standard schedule, and fall is the best time to book it. Warranty terms on many boilers call for annual service by a licensed technician, so skipping a year can put your coverage at risk. A visit also catches leaks, worn parts, and pressure problems before the cold settles in.

How much should a furnace tune-up cost?

The price depends on the type of equipment, how old it is, and how long it’s been since its last visit. Ask any contractor to explain what’s included and what it costs before work begins.

How many hours a day should a heat pump run in winter?

There’s no set number, because a heat pump runs as long as your home needs heat to hold the thermostat setting. Long run times are normal on the coldest days. If it runs nonstop while the house keeps getting colder, or it switches on and off every few minutes, have the unit checked for an airflow or equipment problem.

When cold winter weather is invading your region, you need your furnace to heat your home and deliver energy efficiency. If you are wondering why your furnace won’t turn off, it’s time to reach out to professional repair technicians for help with diagnosing the issue.

Learn more about why your heating system won’t stop running and how our heating technicians can solve this problem.

Common Reasons for a Constantly Running Furnace

Even though it might feel warm and toasty in the home when the furnace is running constantly during extremely cold weather, this signifies a significant problem with the unit. Several different reasons may explain the reason for a constantly running furnace. You can consider these troubleshooting steps to try to diagnose the problem when the furnace is constantly running.

Broken Thermostat

If your thermostat is not measuring temperature properly or is sending incorrect signals to the furnace, it might never shut down. 

Check the settings on the thermostat controls to make sure someone didn’t turn it to a high temperature setting. Use a separate thermometer to measure the actual temperature in the house and compare it to the desired temperature measurement on the thermostat settings.

Thermostats typically last about 10 years. If you have an older thermostat, it may be time for a replacement.

Clogged Air Filter

If you have a clogged air filter inside the gas furnace, it inhibits the ability of the system to move air. A lack of air movement causes the heating system to work harder, which could lead to parts inside the heating unit breaking down prematurely.

The dirty air filter may block the movement of heated air throughout the home, leading to cold spots in different rooms.

You should change a dirty filter every three months in the HVAC system at a minimum.

Wrong Size of Furnace

If you moved into a home with an existing furnace that will not shut off, it’s possible that the furnace is too small. It simply cannot move enough hot air throughout the square footage of the home to reach the thermostat’s temperature setting.

If you recently expanded your home’s size through remodeling, figuring out why your furnace won’t turn off might relate to the now larger home.

The only way to fix this issue is replacing the existing furnace with a larger capacity unit.

Furnace Blower Motor Issues

If the heat pump or furnace blower is not functioning properly, it may inhibit the furnace’s ability to circulate air through the system. The thermostat might not send a signal to the furnace to shut off because the warm air is not moving through the home properly.

A professional Clifton Park furnace repair company can investigate this problem and fix it.

Loss of Heat Outdoors

If you do not have the proper level of insulation inside the home, it’s possible that the furnace simply cannot keep up during extremely cold weather. The home is not holding the heat inside like it should because of the issue with insulation.

Perhaps someone left open windows or doors in the home, and cold air is entering the home at a fast rate. Walk through the home and check for broken windows and open doors.

Consequences When a Furnace Won’t Turn Off

Typically, a furnace will run up to 15 minutes per heating cycle before shutting down for a few minutes. It can then start the new heating cycle.

When the furnace doesn’t shut off, it’s still delivering heat to the home. You might choose to ignore this issue because the furnace is still running.

However, the furnace cannot continue to operate this way without suffering a failure at some point.

Some of the problems you might experience when the furnace will not shut down include:

• Higher energy bills
• Home that’s too warm
• Shorter furnace lifespan
• Potential fire hazard
• Increased risk of carbon monoxide exposure
• Furnace breakdown

All these problems show the importance of having repairs done as quickly as possible to the HVAC system when your furnace won’t turn off.

Let Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical Help You Understand Why Your Furnace Won’t Turn Off — and Fix It

Don’t continue to put up with a furnace that wants to run continuously. Let our experts diagnose why your furnace won’t turn off and do something about it. 

Our professional HVAC technicians at Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical are ready to help with all your heating system needs. We do not cut corners when repairing and maintaining your furnace. To set up an appointment or to learn how we can help you with your furnace problem, call us today at (518) 545-3271.

You probably don’t give much thought to what’s inside your furnace, at least, not until something goes wrong. What are the components of a gas furnace, and how do you know when it’s time to call for furnace repairs? Discover the answers in this guide from Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical.

Your Furnace’s Major Components Demystified

Gas furnaces feature an array of parts, and unless you’re an HVAC industry pro, it’s tough to know which part does what. Here, we break down the parts of a furnace in plain English.

• Control board: The control board, or control system, does exactly what it sounds like. This part is the “brains” of your gas furnace, and it consists of electrical controls and a thermostat. The thermostat tells the furnace when to kick on by sending electrical signals to the unit.
• Pilot light or electronic ignition: Older furnaces have pilot lights, while newer models usually have an electric hot surface igniter that glows red-hot when it’s time for the furnace to kick on. Whichever system your furnace has, it’s responsible for igniting the gas and starting the combustion process.
• Burner: The burner’s role is to take natural gas from your gas line and turn that gas into fire that provides heat to your home. You’ll find your burner, naturally, in the burner chamber.
• Blower motor: Blower motors are responsible for transferring heat from the furnace throughout your home. Working together with the blower fan, the blower motor transfers heat by pushing heated air through your home’s ducts. High-efficiency furnaces may have a variable blower that allows you to control the speed of the fan.
• Flame sensor: The flame sensor recognizes when there’s a fire in the burner chamber and opens the gas valve, allowing gas to flow until the air reaches the desired temperature. If the sensor’s flame rollout switch doesn’t detect a heat source, it will close the gas valve.
• Combustion chamber: This chamber holds fire-producing components, including the pilot light or electric ignition.
• Heat exchanger: When your furnace runs, it produces combustion gasses which pass through the heat exchanger. Hot metal heats the air circulating around the heat exchanger, and with the help of the draft inducer motor, gasses travel through your exhaust vents and outside of your home via the vent pipe. Without proper ventilation and a working inducer motor, exhaust gas wouldn’t be able to leave your house.
• Pressure switch: The pressure switch is a safety feature that sits near the motor. If it detects negative pressure, it shuts the heating system down to prevent back-drafting.
• Secondary heat exchanger: After leaving the main heat exchanger, flue gas travels into the secondary heat exchanger. Here, water vapor forms, and the liquid adds more heat to the air.
• Air filter: Because the parts of your furnace burn fuel, you’ll need a high-quality air filter for your furnace system. Filters are responsible for trapping soot, dust, pet dander, and other debris. The higher the filter’s MERV rating, the better it is at filtering contaminants.
• Carbon monoxide detectors: Carbon monoxide is always a risk with gas furnaces and space heaters, so you’ll need a detector to alert you if it recognizes this dangerous gas drifting through your home.

How Regular Maintenance Keeps Your Furnace Components in Great Shape

Now that you know the answer to the question, “What are the components of a gas furnace?” it’s time to discuss the many benefits of furnace maintenance for furnace components. Here are the perks you’ll get when you schedule maintenance for gas furnaces:

• Efficient heating: Tired of high heating bills? With furnace system maintenance, you could slash your heating costs by hundreds annually. Our maintenance crew inspects and tests your furnace to ensure it’s running in top condition for peak energy efficiency.
• Fresh air: A dirty, poorly maintained furnace pushes contaminant-laden air throughout your home. With a well-maintained furnace, you’ll enjoy clean, fresh-smelling air that’s free of gasses and soot.
• Beat the winter chill: If your home’s internal temperature is starting to dip despite the furnace running nonstop, your furnace needs maintenance right away. Hire us for maintenance and stay cozy when temperatures plummet this winter.
• Maintain your warranty: Your new HVAC system probably came with a warranty, but without regular maintenance, the manufacturer might refuse to cover repairs. Don’t risk it; call for maintenance today.

How To Know if Your Furnace’s Components Need Repairs

Does your furnace blow cool air instead of warm and refuse to complete the heating cycle? Maybe the heating unit won’t turn on at all. Here’s how to tell if it’s time to call the pros for furnace system repairs.

• The furnace won’t turn on: If your furnace won’t start in the middle of a New York winter, you’ll definitely want to call a repair crew ASAP. The problem may be something simple, like a faulty thermostat, or something more complex, such as an issue with the flame sensor.
• The furnace won’t blow warm air: Does your furnace blow cool or lukewarm air? A broken blower motor or cracked heat exchanger may be to blame. Heat exchangers aren’t cheap to repair, but it’s still less expensive than buying a new furnace.
• The furnace makes scary noises: If your furnace is working properly, you shouldn’t hear anything from it but a gentle hum. Banging, grinding, or screeching noises indicate that something is amiss. If you don’t fix the problem, your furnace might provide inefficient heating or stop working altogether.
• You smell something bad when passing by the unit: Your furnace and air conditioning system shouldn’t smell bad when it runs. If you smell mold, a rotting stench, or gas, call a pro right away.

Has Your Furnace Stopped Working? Call the Pros at Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical

Still wondering, “What are the components of a gas furnace?” Our experts at Grasshopper Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical are happy to explain more about your furnace’s inner workings. When you need repairs for your furnace or air conditioning system, you can count on us to do the job right.

Call (518) 545-3271 to schedule your HVAC service today.