North Orlando Heating Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks

Some Things to Look for Before You Call the Florida Experts

If you experience a minor or common problem with your system, try one of the tips below. If you’re not sure what is wrong, call us at (407) 805-1562, and we’ll get someone on the line to assist you promptly. Most of the repairs that follow are only temporary solutions until a professional can assess the safe operation of your equipment.

The display on my thermostat is blank. What should I do?

• Check to make sure the batteries in the thermostat are fresh.
• If so equipped, check the condensate overflow safety reservoir, located at your air handler/furnace, to make sure it has not filled up with water and raised the safety switch. Suction out the water and re-install the switch. Do not attempt to run the air conditioner without the switch installed properly or water damage may result.
• Check the breakers for your air conditioning system. There will be one for the indoor air handler/furnace unit and another for the outdoor condensing unit. If one of them has tripped, it can be reset by first moving it to the OFF position and then back to the ON position.

My furnace does not seem to be heating. What do I need to do?

• Check to see if the thermostat display is blank. If so, see the section above.
• Check the settings on your thermostat. If you want heating, make sure the temperature control selector is set below room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is on the HEAT or AUTO position. The FAN switch should be set to AUTO.
• Check the air filter(s) for your air conditioner and replace if necessary.
• Check the breakers for your air conditioning system. There will be one for the indoor air handler/furnace unit and another for the outdoor condensing unit. If one of them has tripped, it can be reset by first moving it to the OFF position and then back to the ON position.
• If you have a gas furnace, check to see that the gas valve on the side of the furnace is turned to the ON position. If the valve was OFF, reset the breaker to the furnace by turning it OFF, then back ON again to reset any fault in the furnace. This will allow it to try and fire again if a demand for heating is present.

My outdoor unit makes some unusual noises on cold nights. Is there any reason to be concerned?

Typically, no. On a cold night, a heat pump’s outdoor coil will freeze and it must be defrosted to maintain the unit’s heating efficiency. During this process, the system will shift modes and may make some loud “whooshing” noises.

I have seen my outdoor unit’s fan go off and on when in heating. Is this normal?

Yes. This is typically associated with the defrost cycle on a heat pump and is part of the normal operation. It may also occur on certain model units when heat is running and the temperatures are slightly warmer inside than outside.

I have seen smoke/steam blowing out of my outdoor unit. Is there reason to be concerned?

No. This typically occurs when the unit is in a defrost cycle. As the ice on the outdoor coil melts, it will produce steam. The steam will rise from the unit, and when the fan turns back on at the end of the cycle, a burst of steam will rise from the unit all at once.

There is a lot of water around the bottom of my unit. Does my unit have a leak?

No. Following a defrost cycle, the melted ice will cause the area surrounding the outdoor unit to be very wet at times.

Is it important to perform maintenance service on my air conditioner in the fall/winter seasons?

Absolutely! Not only do we use our air conditioners all year long, many of us also use a heat pump for our heating needs. If the unit is running inefficiently, the costs for cooling and heating needs will rise. Without maintenance twice per year on your system, you may be spending more money than you need on heating and cooling your home.