Commercial isn’t all that much different from home heating, really. Sure, there are minor details that might differ, some parts present in one system that may not be necessary in another. For the most part, though, there are only two differences: scale and consequence. By that, we mean that a commercial system is bigger, and creates bigger issues when it fails. You don’t want your customers being uncomfortable when they enter your place of business, which can certainly happen when the heat goes out. Read on to find out how you can avoid this particular disaster.
Strange Noises
Whenever you hear strange noises coming from your heating system, it’s a pretty good sign that you should call a professional. There are a couple of signs, however, that merit special attention. We’ll start with grinding. If you hear grinding coming from your heating system, it’s probably the bearings failing on your air handler motor. The bearings are designed to help the motor run smoothly by lessening friction, thereby lightening the workload on the motor. When the bearings fail, however, the motor begins to experience more and more resistance as it tries to rotate. Eventually, it comes up against so much friction that it burns out.
Another noise you should watch out for is a squealing sound when you first turn on the heating system. This is caused by the system’s fan belt failing. The fan belt is a rubber belt that connects the motor and the fan in the air handler. When the fan belt wears out, it begins to stretch and crack. This causes the squealing sound in the heater.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is when your heating system won’t stop turning on and off throughout the day. This is caused by the system overheating, causing the limit switch to shut it down to prevent any damage or fire risk. When the system has cooled off enough, it starts up and overheats again, trapping it in an endless on/off cycle. This severely shortens the life of the heating system, and can cost a lot of money in lost efficiency.
If you are having trouble with your heating system, call Kool Breeze. We provide quality commercial heating services in the Navarre area.