We’re going to go out on a limb and assume that you are cranking your commercial heating system during work hours. It’s rather hard to focus on getting work done when you can’t feel your extremities, after all. The more you use your heating system, though, the more strain you put on it. That increases the odds of something going wrong with the system.
You need to keep an eye out for warning signs that your commercial heating system is in need of professional repair, so that you can have any issues fixed before they get worse. The following are some of the more common signs that there is a problem with your commercial heating system.
Dropping Heating Output
A commercial heater that is having trouble heating should be a pretty obvious sign that something is wrong with the system. If the system appears to still be circulating air, but the air isn’t warm enough, then there are a couple of different possible issues that could be affecting it:
- You could have a partially clogged burner assembly, which is preventing the system from combusting enough gas.
- If using a heat pump system, you might have a refrigerant leak that is preventing the system from gathering enough thermal energy from outside.
If the system is just not circulating enough air, then there are separate issues to consider. You might need to have the air filter replaced, or possibly the air handler. You’re going to need a professional to examine the system to be able to tell for certain.
Short Cycling
You should be especially careful of your heater turning itself on and off every couple of minutes. This is a behavior called short cycling, and it can seriously damage the system in a fairly short amount of time. In the short term, the problem prevents the heater from heating the building properly. This is because the system is never able to complete a full heating cycle. In the long term, short cycling increases the amount of wear and tear the system accumulates over time. This will make it more likely for parts to break down, and will shorten the lifespan of the system. If you hear your heater doing this, it is very important that you call for repairs right away.
Strange Noises
Chances are good that you know what your heater sounds like when it’s operating. If you suddenly start to hear noises that are not normal for the system to be making, you should call for repairs right away. Strange noises are typically an indication that something is going wrong with your heater. For example, a loud grinding noise might mean that the bearings in your air handler need to be replaced before the motor burns out. Make sure that you have a professional technician examine your system to isolate the source of the sound, and resolve it.
DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. provides commercial HVAC services in Bergen County, NJ. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.