Category : winter

Tag Archives: winter

How Often Should a Furnace Cycle In the Winter?

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When your furnace is trying to regulate the temperature in your home it will have to turn on and off regularly. On average this cycling should occur anywhere from three to eight times an hour. There are many factors at play that determine how often your furnace will cycle in the winter. If you feel like your furnace is cycling more than it should, we recommend having a trained HVAC professional inspect your system and check for any issues. If you live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware the technicians at Oliver Heating & Cooling are standing by to help. Simply reach out today for a furnace repair estimate.

How Often Should a Furnace Cycle In the Winter

Why Does My Furnace Cycle Frequently?

How many times your furnace runs in an hour is dependent on several different variables. While frequent cycling can be an indication of an issue with the system, you may simply have drafty windows, unsealed doors, or poor circulation to blame for the lack of maintained heat. Occasionally, extreme temperatures can cause your thermostat to cycle more than usual just to keep your home at the desired comfort level. If the cycle frequency has escalated recently, there are a few common causes that can be investigated.

Broken Thermostat

If your thermostat is malfunctioning or dirty it may not be detecting the internal temperature of your home appropriately. Make sure your thermostat isn’t too close to a heat source or direct sunlight to determine if it is the culprit.

Overheating Furnace

Overheating is a leading cause for a furnace short cycling. Commonly caused by a blockage in airflow either in the ducts or at the intakes, the lack of air flowing through the system can cause it to be overworked.

Old Furnace

Most furnaces last around 15 to 20 years so if you have an older furnace, it may simply be unable to run as efficiently as it should. If it is time to replace your old furnace, you may notice it short cycling and not being able to keep up with the demand.

Blocked Flame Sensor

If your furnace is rapidly cycling, a dirty flame sensor may be the issue. It’s important to make sure your flame sensor is clear of any debris so that it can prevent a potential gas leak that could cause serious problems in your home.

Contact Oliver for a Furnace Inspection

If you still believe your furnace is cycling more than it should in the winter, contact the furnace professionals at Oliver. Whether you have a gas, oil, or electric furnace, Oliver can help. We’ll be able to diagnose any issues and recommend the best plan of action, whether that be a furnace repair or replacement.

Why Trust Oliver for Your Heating Repairs

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heating repairs

Heating repairs are never fun – especially if they happen in the dead of winter. At Oliver Heating & Cooling, we’re here for your repairs. From strange noises to uncommon sounds to too-little heat, we can figure out what’s wrong and get it back to right. Here’s why so many homeowners trust Oliver for their heating repairs:

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter

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frozen pipes

Northeastern winters can be beasts in themselves, but they can also bring dangers like frozen pipes. Every year, thousands of homeowners experience pipe bursts in their homes due to cold temperatures. These situations can cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in damage and the worst part is – they can be prevented. Here, we share some tips for how to prevent frozen pipes this winter:

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6 Tips to Get Your Heater Ready for Winter

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heating maintenance

As you know, the winter season can get pretty brutal in PA, NJ, and DE. From below-zero temperatures to feet of snow, it’s important to have a heater that works properly all season long. Here, our heating maintenance company shares some tips for preparing your heater so it can keep you warm when you need it most:

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Our Most Common FAQs

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We Can Answer That!

We know the world of HVAC and plumbing can be a little overwhelming for those who aren’t familiar with it. That’s why at Oliver, we’re happy to answer any questions (short or long) you may have about your home or business’s operations. Here are some of our most common FAQs, answered:

What’s the best air conditioner size for my home?

If the size of your home has changed through an addition or other renovations, or you have made enhancements that affect air flow (such as window or door replacements or changes to your insulation), it may be time to have a professional perform a new Heat Load Calculation on your home to assess the proper size air conditioner. If you are installing one for the first time, a Heat Load Calculation is recommended.

How can I even out the heating and cooling of my home?

You can partially close the registers in the room(s) that are too hot or cold in order to force more airflow into other rooms of your home. (It’s never a good idea, however, to close the registers completely.) Another possible solution is to invest in a furnace equipped with a variable speed blower motor. These furnaces are designed to overcome airflow problems and keep the airflow steady throughout the entire house.

How does an air conditioning system actually work?

An air conditioning system consists of 2 parts: an outdoor unit (where liquid refrigerant is contained) and an indoor coil (where the refrigerant is pumped into). As the air moves across the air conditioning coil, the refrigerant removes the heat and moisture from the air by condensing it on the cold surface of the coil. Thus, an air conditioner not only cools, but also dehumidifies the air.

When should I call a plumber?

This depends on your own skill level and experience in making repairs. If the repair could cause water damage if not performed properly, you may want to call a plumber. It’s also a good idea to call one if you have a problem that needs to be addressed immediately (such as a major leak).

How do plumbers find leaks?

Finding leaks is mainly a visual process: a plumber will inspect all of your pipes for leaks and may use a dye test kit to identify a leak in a toilet. We offer FREE dye test kits as a courtesy to our customers, just give us a call or use the Request Estimate form to let us know you would like one.

If I go away for an extended period of time, what temperature should I set my thermostat to?

We recommend 55 degrees. It’s low enough to save you energy and money but a good temperature to protect your pipes and other vital parts of your structure.

How often do my filters need to be changed?

You should change your standard furnace filter every 6-8 weeks. Use your own judgment as to when to change it, but don’t let the filter get clogged, as this can cut down on the efficiency and/or cause damage to the unit.

What can reduce the air quality in my home?

A wide range of particulate matter can be in your home’s air including dust, pollen, animal hair and dander, dust mites, mold spores, cooking grease, smoke, bacteria, viruses and other respiratory diseases. These types of contaminants won’t affect all people, but they can affect some pretty seriously.

Why should I invest in a maintenance plan?

Our maintenance plans provide peace of mind. When your HVAC system is running at its best, you’ll worry less about major damages or a shortened lifespan. You’ll also get priority service, savings on repairs, and no residential overtime charges.

Which HVAC maintenance plan is right for me?

It depends on the level of protection you’re comfortable with. Most of our customers choose our Gold maintenance plan because there are no charges for covered repairs. If you have new equipment, you may find that the Silver maintenance plan provides you with sufficient coverage.

If there’s a question you have that wasn’t answered here, visit our FAQ page or call our HVAC experts!

A New Technology Could Turn Summer Heat into Winter Heat

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Have you ever been shivering in the middle of winter and found yourself daydreaming about the hot days of summer? Well according to researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), you may soon be able to use that summer heat to keep yourself warm during the winter.

EMPA researchers have developed a new technology that uses the sodium hydroxide (NaOH), commonly known as lye, to store heat and use it at a later time. When the dry chemical is exposed to water, it produces heat. And when this combination is exposed to sunlight, the sun will evaporate the water and leave behind the dry chemical so that it can produce a reaction all over again.

Because the lye is stable, it can be stored up to several years for use at a later time (so long as it doesn’t come into contact with water). The technology that’s paired with it helps ensure its safe containment (after all, lye is a corrosive material) and makes sure it loses minimal heat. In addition, it optimizes it so that it can be used safely in the home’s heating system.

While the technology has been developed, the home heating process is still being perfected. Right now, a heat storage system has been in place for several months and is undergoing testing at EMPA. So far, it’s working reliably and is able to store enough energy to heat an entire house, which means we could soon see a whole new way to warm our homes in the winter.

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