When to Call in a Home Heating Pro

Date: December 2, 2024

What boiler and furnace issues can you handle on your own?

With the heating season in full swing in greater Boston, Cubby Oil & Energy’s HVAC team has started answering a lot of calls about heating equipment that’s acting up. And we get it — if it’s at all possible, our customers would prefer to avoid calling in a professional technician for a boiler or furnace repair.

We prefer to limit our heating repair calls, too. So, we’d like to help you solve your heating woes on your own and save you some money in the process. Here’s a breakdown of some DIY heating fixes — and when it’s time to call in the heating pros at Cubby.

Heating System Issues You Can Fix Yourself

Here’s a list of some common concerns our customers call us about and ways to troubleshoot them yourself.

1. Burning Smell from Your Furnace or Vents — While a burning smell is concerning, if it happens the first time your furnace runs for the season, it could just be dust in the burner. Let it run for 10 minutes and see if the odor subsides.
2. Heating Equipment Won’t Turn On — Make sure your thermostat is powered, set to “heat” and set five degrees higher than the current room temperature. Be sure your equipment’s power switches are on and there are no tripped breakers or blown fuses.
3. Weak Air from Your Vents — This could be an airflow issue. Check your air filter to be sure it’s not clogged. Replace or clean it if it’s dirty. Also, ensure that your vents are open and not blocked by rugs, furniture or anything else.
4. Radiators Won’t Heat Up — If your boiler is running but your radiators are cold, make sure the radiator knobs are turned all the way to the open position. If you haven’t bled the radiator of air in the last year, do so now.

Heating Issues That Require a Professional Technician

If your heat still doesn’t come on (or you’re still noticing a burning odor) after going through the steps above, then you should reach out to an HVAC pro to address the issue with your boiler or furnace.
Here are some other heating issues that typically require a professional technician:

• Inconsistent home heating (after you’ve confirmed that your air filter and vents are clear and your radiators are open)
• Frequent cycling from your equipment
• Loud mechanical noises from your system
• Any accumulation of smoke or fuel odors

Expert Heating Maintenance from Cubby Oil & Energy

Annual maintenance is crucial for ensuring the dependability and efficiency of your boiler or furnace. Nine in 10 heating breakdowns could be prevented by following a manufacturer’s service recommendations, and an annual tune-up can cut your fuel bills by up to 20%.

If you haven’t had your equipment tuned up by a Cubby technician this year, get in touch with us today to arrange an appointment before all our slots fill up. Are you enrolled in a Cubby service plan? Then, your annual maintenance is already paid for!

Contact our office today to arrange service for your boiler or furnace.