Ever wake up to a chilly home in Arlington and thought, I might need someone to look at my heating? That's a scene we know well. Be it the charming old homes or the newer builds, quirks and issues can pop up unexpectedly. Your trusty furnace might be cranking along all winter and then suddenly, you're wrapping up in an unnecessary number of blankets. From weird noises that sound straight out of a horror movie to a system that's just blowing cold air, there are a few things that might need checking. And while we could put on our capes, gloves, and thermometers, sometimes it's simpler to assess what's going on with a bit of guidance.
People here have found themselves battling pilot lights that insist on making you nuts. One day they are sending you a strong message with a steady flame but the next, they are out like a light that can no longer be lit. It might be a thermocouple issue, or maybe a gas valve that is just taking a day off. Weirdly, on top of this, they love to pick the coldest days to refuse to work. Then, there is the thermostat, which sometimes seems to be the unsung hero of our story and sometimes seems to be the cheeky villain depending on the moment. We know a worn-out battery or disconnected wire can have you questioning your very sanity on a cold, morning.
Consider those ductways that seem to want to practice selective airflow. It's not so much like getting the cold or warm air needed in the right space; it's more like our heating system is playing a game of hot and cold in a very limited space instead of trying to fill the whole room with heat.
Dust and the ductways certainly have a love affair, at least in our house. So do dirt, dead skin cells, and our awesome pet. Not only have they become fast friends, but together they've also formed our very own dust party right inside the ductway. Somehow our heating system leaks air—heated and, I'm sure, pressurized—where one is, at any given time, not supposed to go. And yet, it places us in a situation (also called a
