Stay Warm: Troubleshooting Common Heating Problems

Winter is here, and if you don’t yet have a fireplace or heater to warm up your home, there’s a high chance you’re tempted to get one. On a cold night, a fireplace can quickly heat a room and keep it warm for hours. It adds a comfortable ambience to quiet nights at home with your family.

Fireplaces and heaters have benefits for your bank balance, too. They can cut power bill costs and even increase the value of your home. Because fireplaces are such a pleasant and easygoing addition to your house, it’s easy to overlook maintaining them until common fireplace problems arise.

There are dangers to neglecting maintenance or leaving fireplace problems unchecked. Common fireplace problems not only leave you feeling cold, but they can also allow smoke to enter the house, increasing the risk of fire.

Here’s the Home Fires guide to fireplace troubleshooting this winter: the common issues to be aware of and how to handle or prevent them. Keep your house warm and your family safe all winter long with these tips from Home Fires.

Common Issues That Occur With Fireplaces & Heaters

Fireplace and heater issues are more common than you might think, and they can sneak up on you with very little warning. The most common fireplace problems include:

Pilot light not working

In a gas fireplace, the pilot light is a small gas-powered flame that stays continuously lit and ignites the main burners when heat is required. If the pilot light goes out, the burners won’t turn on. Sometimes restarting the pilot light is enough to fix the problem. On other occasions, there may be moisture in the gas line, and you may require the services of a technician.

Excess creosote

Creosote is a black tar-like substance that forms when the smoke from a wood-burning fireplace condenses. A build-up of creosote in the chimney can cause a backdraft, when smoke re-enters the house instead of being released outside. Creosote can cause chimney fires, and long-term exposure has been shown to increase the risk of cancer, so it’s important to remove it safely and carefully.

Smoke in the house

When your fireplace pushes smoke into the house, there are a few different potential causes. Your damper might be the wrong size, closed or just not working. With your chimney damper out of order, the smoke has nowhere to go but back into the room. You may also have issues with the air pressure in your home or need a draft fan for the chimney.

Poor-quality firewood

Using subpar firewood or firewood with excessive or insufficient moisture can lead to excessive smoke and additional creosote buildup. For best results, aim for a moisture content of around 10-20%.

Chimney obstructions

Chimney flues are popular places for birds to build nests during cold winters. Other items like leaves and branches can also cause obstructions in your flue if you don’t inspect your chimney regularly. If smoke begins to seep into the room the moment you start a fire, that’s a clue you may be dealing with a chimney obstruction.

Electrical issues

While electrical heaters are well-known for being convenient and reliable, they can have problems of their own. Wear and tear, worn connections or tripped circuit breakers can lead to issues such as low or insufficient heat, or no heat at all. Cleaning your electric heater and regularly inspecting its components, replacing them as necessary, helps keep your home warm and your power bills manageable.  

How to Troubleshoot Common Heating Problems

Even a little bit of maintenance helps to keep common fireplace problems at bay so you can spend the winter in comfort and safety. Here are some of the most common techniques for fireplace troubleshooting:

Annual chimney sweep

Organising a professional chimney sweep at least once a year helps to prevent creosote build-up. Regular chimney cleans also improve your fireplace’s efficiency and prevent the production of dangerous carbon monoxide.

Check and clean your heater

Regular visual inspections and some simple cleaning techniques help keep your heater or fireplace in the best possible condition. Clean your vents and the areas around your home to prevent airflow issues. When cleaning your gas fireplace, ensure it’s turned off and completely cold before removing the grates. Vacuum any dust and debris from the surfaces. When you’re cleaning the glass, check for cracks at the same time.

Check the components

If you have a fireplace that’s providing insufficient heat or no heat at all, inspect the various components. Ensure the thermostat is set higher than the room temperature. If you have a gas heater, check the pilot light. Clean or replace any dirty filters that might be restricting the airflow. Inspect the vents and flues for blockages and check the fuel supply.

Regularly check for obstructions

If there’s smoke in the room, ensure the damper is fully open and inspect the chimney for obstructions, such as creosote or bird nests.

Observe safety precautions

Accidents happen, but observing a few safety precautions goes a long way towards preventing dangerous situations. Ensure your smoke alarms are functioning properly, install carbon monoxide detectors, and protect children and pets from fire with a fire screen or mesh guard.

Keep Your Home Warm This Winter with Home Fires

The Home Fires range of high-quality heaters and fireplaces provides you with a safe and convenient way to warm your home this winter. With gas, wood, electric and outdoor models from leading brands like Rinnai, Maxiheat, Masport and Nectre, we offer both classic and contemporary choices for homes, both rustic and modern. Some common features of our fireplaces include smart technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, multi-flame options and multiple themes for a versatile look and feel.

A trusted name in the industry for over 40 years, Home Fires can supply, install, and service your heater or fireplace, and provide an industry-leading warranty as well. To find out more, contact the Home Fires team online or drop into our Minto or Casula locations to see our full selection.