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Tips To Prevent A Heating Breakdown

Written on February 16, 2023.
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When temperatures are low in Victorville, CA, homeowners rely on their heating unit to keep their home warm and cozy. However, all heating systems can malfunction from time to time. A heating system breakdown in the middle of a cold front can leave your home chilly and uncomfortable. An AC Plus technician can be there in no time to restore your home comfort, but there are ways to prevent this uncomfortable situation from happening. In this blog, we discuss tips for homeowners to prevent a heating unit breakdown in Victorville and surrounding areas.

What Causes Heating Unit Breakdowns?

There is never a good time for your heating system to break down and leave your home uncomfortable, but AC Plus Heating & Cooling can quickly repair your unit. Heating systems can break down due to a variety of reasons depending on the type of heater. A common reason for heating units to breakdown is because a malfunction or obstruction is causing the unit to overwork itself. Additionally, heating unit breakdowns can be caused by clogged air filters, fuel supply issues, loss of power, and multiple other causes.

Signs Your Heating System May Breakdown

Heating system breakdowns often happen unexpectedly and at an inconvenient time. Your heating system often shows signs it will break down soon. Paying attention to the warning signs can avoid an uncomfortable and frustrating situation. Below are five signs homeowners in Apple Valley and surrounding areas experience before their heating unit breakdown.

  • Old Age
  • High Utility Bills
  • Excessive Dust
  • Unusual Noises
  • Inconsistent Temperatures

Ways To Prevent A Breakdown

If you take care of your heating system, it will take care of you. Properly maintaining your heating unit can help prevent an uncomfortable breakdown. Below are tips to avoid a heating system breakdown.

  • Regularly Change Air Filters
  • Schedule Heating Maintenance
  • Keep Unit Clean & Clear
  • Keep Air Vents Open
  • Seal & Insulate Your Home

Regularly Change Air Filters

Maintaining clean air filters throughout your home is one of the easiest ways to prevent a heating unit breakdown. If your air filters are clogged, your heating unit struggles to push air through the filter pores. The unit will use more energy attempting to push air through and meet the thermostat setting. This process will lead to a breakdown due to an overworked system or its inability to get air through the filter. We recommend changing your air filter at least every 90 days to ensure unit efficiency and good air quality. Additionally, be sure to change your furnace filter if your home uses a furnace system.

Schedule Heating Maintenance

To avoid a heating unit breakdown, we strongly encourage having your heating system serviced once a year. Heating units often break down due to underlying issues that are hard to predict. Scheduling heating maintenance with AC Plus allows one of our trained technicians to thoroughly inspect your heating unit. We repair components as needed and perform a variety of preventative tasks to ensure your comfort remains all season long. The type of heating system your home utilizes will determine specific tasks performed, but every home receives the following heating services:

  • Change/clean air filters
  • Lubricate all moving parts
  • Confirm/tighten electrical connections
  • Test thermostat
  • Inspect internal components

Much like cars need oil changes, heating units need maintenance to continue working efficiently and effectively. While we recommend scheduling heating maintenance in the fall, it is never too late to start taking care of your heating unit. Give us a call to schedule heating maintenance in Victorville, CA and surrounding areas!

Keep Unit Clean & Clear

Whether your heating unit is located inside or outside, it is important to ensure it remains clean and clear of debris and personal items. If your unit is outside, we recommend weekly checking the status. Remove tree branches, leaves, trash, and other debris to ensure your heating unit has proper ventilation and airflow. If your unit is inside, we recommend keeping personal belongings at least 30 inches away from the system. The unit needs room to breathe and should not have anything on top of or closely surrounding the system. Ensuring your heating system is clear and clean can avoid the unit overworking itself and breaking down.

Keep Air Vents Open

Contrary to popular belief, closed air vents will not save money on heating costs. We understand the logic behind not heating unused rooms, but closing air vents can only create more problems for your heating unit. Heating systems evenly distribute air throughout the air ducts, and closing a vent throws off the system’s balance. If you close an air vents, it creates excess pressure inside the air ducts and can lead to air leaks, ductwork damage, and a strained heating unit. The more strain your unit experiences, the more likely it is to break down.

Seal & Insulate Your Home

If your home has air leaking through cracks or due to lack of insulation, your heating unit can become overworked. Air can escape through cracks in windows, doors, and other areas and increase the workload for your heating unit. Similar to air leaks, air can escape through your roof or other areas without insulation. If air is escaping, your heating unit works harder and sometimes constantly to meet the thermostat setting. Along with helping your heating unit perform efficiently, you can save money and comfort by sealing and insulating your home in Victorville, CA.

We love visiting our customers, but we hope it is not in the event of an uncomfortable heating breakdown. Your comfort is our top priority, so we recommend considering these five tips to avoid a heating breakdown. If you experience a heating unit breakdown in Apple Valley or surrounding areas, give us a call! We can quickly repair and restore your home comfort in no time.

Written By Matt Postoian

Matt Postoian has been in the HVAC industry for over 20 years and is dedicated to providing homeowners in Southern California with total home comfort.

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Kevin B.
1733444735
These guys are amazing from beginning till end dealt with Matt in the beginning he helped me through my decision to have the right unit installed based on the needs of my home. I have to say he made the right decision because this thing works amazingly. The installers were very professional, clean and well educated Answered all questions I had with no problems through the process. Travis helped me set up my new thermostat and download the app on my phone and was very helpful on how to work it. I had an addition on my house that wasn’t getting airflow for 30 years and after installation, it still was not getting airflow and they promised to come back And get airflow to those two rooms which they did and I now have airflow like the rest of the house so amazing. These guys are true to their word and very organized. All I would say is look no further for your air conditioning heating needs forget The fuss ac plus is a must You won’t regret it Thank you, Ac plus for your excellent customer service staying True to your word Your commitment To customer satisfaction Is second to none appreciate all you’ve done. Kevin baird Apple Valley, California
Edwin Stanley M
1733359270
Alex and Shane provided exceptional and professional A/C service. Waisted no time and were very respectful to our building tenants..
Sheila G.
1733358988
The best 3 guys installing a new bigger heating unit into my dad’s home. They were respectful of the house while they worked in unison. Every thing was clearly explained.I highly recommend AC Plus Heating & Air
Manuel de Jesus P.
1733353733
He was very knowledgeable and I felt like I can trust him. Thank you
cheryl T.
1733338291
Guys arrived right on time. Placed tarps everywhere. When they finished you would never have known they were here. Clean up was great. My home is toasty warm. Thank you all at AC Plus Heating & Cooling.
cheryl T.
1733338133
Day 1 Travis, Diego and Carlos were here right on time. They laid down tarps and covered clothes. Polite and professional.Day 2 Eric, Miguel, Larry, Cristofer and Carlos arrived on time and also laid down tarps and covered clothes. They were polite and professional as well. Thank you all‼️
Linda M.
1733272723
Did a great job, very friendly and knowledgeable. Will use them againThank youLinda
Fred W.
1733246682
I am so thankful for the super quick from AC PLUS. I called with a huge problem and they had a technician arrive in less than an hour. I was thoroughly impressed with Brandon's knowledge, work ethic and genuine concern to help me. He quickly assessed the situation and provided an action plan. I can"t say enough on how pleased I am with Brandon and the AC PLUS TEAM. If you need work or trouble shooting done on your system...give AC PLUS a chance to earn your business....you won't be disappointed.
Malia M.
1733162922
I am very pleased with the professionalism and service I received. It was almost shocking because customer service is not what it used to be, but it was great. hey got my heat running again for a fraction of what I was quoted by a well known company in the area. Almost a 500.00 difference!
Joanne R.
1732990158
Prompt, professional, courteous! AC Plus is the very best.
Janell C.
1732980419
We had an excellent experience with AC Plus Heating & Cooling. The technicians were professional, efficient, and cleaned up the house in a timely manner. They explained how the unit worked and was kind and courteous. I highly recommend them for replacing your HVAC system.
Brandon G.
1732946786
1/25/21: Went above and beyond to get our heater working without charging us an arm and a leg. We'll definitely keep using them.7/15/24: Now our AC stopped working. Turn out to be the capacitor. Easy fix and again, not an arm and a leg to do it. They're staying on our contact list.11/29/24: Now our heater stop working again. Took some trial and error but finally narrowed it down to the gas valve. Only problem was the distributor was close for Thanksgiving weekend. But Brandon (yes, same name as mine) searched around and found one in his supervisor's truck. Came back and replaced the faulty valve. I really appreciate this company.
Teresa V.
1732736053
Very kind service. Thank you.
Gail W.
1732730554
excellent service. thank you for being honest to me
Dean P.
1732723343
Great job on installation and very professional. Will definately use them again.
Kenneth H.
1732660525
AC Plus has consistently provided excellent service to us for more than 18 years. All personnel are kind, courteous, helpful, efficient and knowledgeable. We appreciate all of them and will continue to call only them for all our HVAC needs.
adam G.
1732508919
I always receive the greatest service when AC Plus services my air conditioner and heater, they are extremely knowledgeable and thorough and very friendly..
Julie H.
1732483238
I called to report that the heater wasn’t working. I was told someone would be out in a couple of hours. Two hours later Sean called to say he was 10 minutes away. He checked into the problem. Left to get the parts he needed and was back in less than an hour. Within a half hour he had the heater working again. He spent time explaining the problem and other resources available. AC Plus installed our system and have been servicing it semi-annually since. Everyone has always been professional and personable.
jessica P.
1732465970
All of the guys that were apart of installing our new heating and air were very professional, polite, cleaned up when they were finished. I would highly recommend using them for all your heating and air conditioning needs.Thank you so much guys you saved us in the middle of a really bad heat wave and our swamp cooler was just not cutting it.
Karen M.
1732387010
Brandon, the technician that came out today regarding the ducting under our mobile home. He was very professional, patiently listened to our concerns & answered our many questions so we could understand the answerrs Due to not being able to do a full inspection underneath, he waved the inspection fee. He explained the repair was possible instead of being told we needed a whole new ducting system. My mother is 88 years old & dad is gone & I'm not the smartest cookie in the cookie jar lol , so Brandon's honesty was so conforting. We will keep him on speed dial for any future problems we may ever have. Thank you Brandon 😊
Maxine F.
1732301505
The girl on the phone was very nice and gave me a next day appointment.Sean came right on time and looked at our antique furnace. He did as much as he could and got it working well. He even checked all the ducts and made a new filter for it. What a refreshing experience!! Prices are very good. I would highly recommend this company. Great service!!
Janet R.
1732253109
Great service and competitive pricing. I had my AC , furnace and ductwork replaced. They were able to complete the job quickly and efficiently.
Houston G.
1732238751
Always professional, kind and honest! Thank you Brandon and ACS Plus. See y'all again soon.
Juan D.
1732232682
Brandon coming anual check out for heated system and was very helpful and very good job. Thank You so much Brandon.
Joanne G.
1732142564
In August I called AC Plus because my a/c died. Sean came out, diagnosed the problem within minutes and repaired it and had it working within an hour. The repair price was less than i expected. Now fast forward to November, problem with my heater. Sean came out again and did the same thing, quick diagnosis, quick repair and reasonable price. I highly recommend AC Plus and especially Sean.
Christopher R.
1732054792
Friendly technician, fast service, was able to get a same day appointment, transparent pricing. Will definitely use them again if the need arises.
Angel K.
1732053760
Brandon was very professional and polite. He explained what he would be doing to my unit and how the unit worked. I really appreciated him taking the time to explain it to me. Im really happy with my experience and definitely will use them again.
Julie A.
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AC Plus has serviced our air conditioner and heater for a number of years now, and they are always prompt, thorough, and professional. I highly recommend them!
Colleen M.
1731729199
Matt was experienced and honest. Gave great tips on maintaining my heater. I will definitely use AC Plus again.
Ken M.
1731704451
AC Plus is awesome! They came in when my heater wasn't working, they serviced the heater, and it's back up and running! Thank you AC Plus for your diligence and hard work! Matt was professional and friendly and explained everything easily so I could understand. Great service, and great people! Thank you AC Plus!
linda R.
1731698193
Sean did a great job. We have heat and it works for now this morning it worked
TIMOTHY W.
1731637521
great ac people at ac plus
ALLEN P.
1731630365
I have been using these guys for years they’re very professional. They’re seasonal tuneup. Services is really good
Charlene C.
1731539128
Great customer service!! Brandon sure knows what hes doing! Hes quick,efficient and great customer service!!
Sherry T.
1731528391
Sean went above and beyond to help ensure that my brother’s furnace was working properly so my brother would have heat in his home. My brother has health challenges and Sean’s kindness to him was so greatly appreciated. Will definitely recommend your company thanks to Sean.
Hector M.
1731522584
Awesome service technician was very detailed and informative towards my equipments service...very Happy with Brandon's service 😀
Ryan M.
1731516421
Wife had a pleasant experience with this company when our heater stopped working. Fixed our problem fast and for a decent price. Would highly recommend.
Susie M.
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Sean is absolutely the best. He provides service above and beyond. Something you don't see alot of these days. He is such an important asset to your company. We would recommend AC Plus to all our friends. Thank you for the excellent service !
Nina B.
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AC Plus Heating & Air is the best! We have been using them for years. They make sure that your air and heating units are working at their best-- and if not, they will make them be in their top notch condition so you do not have to worry what season it is.
Betsy C.
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Sean helped us so much! He was efficient, knowledgeable, friendly and kept us very updated on his arrival and his follow-up service. He was able to fix our heater earlier than anticipated, and made sure it was covered under our warranty and that made us very happy!
Pam H.
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Our service tech was very knowledgeable, friendly, thorough, explained everything about service . Quick and efficient. Thank you AC Plus
Eno L.
1731184404
I can’t begin to express how impressed I was with the professionalism and craftsmanship that this crew dedicated to installing my heater and AC unit. The installation team arrived on time, introduced themselves, and immediately got to work. Throughout the entire install, the team kept me updated of their progress, this definitely put my mind at ease and gave me a sense of security regarding the money I was spending as well as the level of performance the equipment would give now and in the future. The price was right, the equipment was top notch, and the installers were above reproach … I HIGHLY recommend AC Plus Heating and Air to any and everyone who needs AC and heater service done at their residence
Michael M.
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They were professional from the beginning to end. They helped with arranging financing. They also helped to find the best solution to my issue and within my budget. They made sure that no damage was done to my house and everything was as clean as when they arrived. I highly recommend AC Plus Heating & Air.
armychiefret
1731113611
AC plus did a tune up, serviced my heater unit. Stephan did a great job, insuring my heater unit was running peak performance. He did notice some wear on some components that I should be aware of. Thank you so much. I will be calling on AC PLUS for future service.
B W.
1731105271
Thanks for the courteous and friendly service call. :-)
Holly
1731015964
I am very pleased withAC Plus and the technicians who installed my new heater.They were friendly and professional. I would highly recommend them for your heating and air conditioning purchasing and service needs.
Frank B.
1730687708
Good company to work with. Everything seems working well.
Kathy L.
1730506359
AC Plus is the absolute best air & heating company! Being a realtor, it’s incredibly important to refer my clients to a reputable company that I can trust and I know will do the job right, every time. They hold the standard in the industry by far. They are professional, trustworthy, punctual, and truly care for their clients. My clients are exceptionally happy with their services. I highly recommend this company for all your AC & heating needs.A++++ for AC Plus !!And thank you again Matt for always taking care of us ! ❤️🙌🏼🤗
Patrice H.
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Reliable & thorough. I would definitely recommend their services.
Robert
1729539730
Great service and really nice people
Kimberly T.
1728595066
Very professional and friendly
Kenny V.
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Professional service, very easy to deal with. Carlos was friendly and helpful
Carl D.
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Great service and personable people. Matt came out to assess our system and was very open and honest. I would definitely consider AC Plus for future work.
Marina V.
1727901231
AC Plus Heating & Air provided great customer service. Carlos is very knowledgeable and got my AC working in no time . I highly recommend them !
Jennifer R.
1727297573
I am very happy with the service I received from AC Plus. My technician Steven was in time, very nice, and answered all of my questions in detail.
Lisa S.
1727205612
The employees are always polite, knowledgeable and punctual. Used this service for years now and I am very satisfied with them keeping my AC/Heater clean and running.
Susanna M.
1727146370
AC Plus came to our rescue during this last heatwave and we are so grateful! Our swamp cooler went out and our HVAC system needed to be replaced so we had no way to cool down our home while in the middle of the triple digit heatwave. AC Plus came out the day after inspecting our units and replaced our whole HVAC system all in one day for a very fair price. The crew that came out was very clean, professional, and friendly. Our system works wonderfully and our home stays cool and fresh all day long. I can’t thank AC plus enough. I highly recommend AC Plus.
John M.
1726690579
Excellent service professional advice clean and thorough
L. M.
1726684673
From the call center to the technicians A+ customer service. Our technician was Carlos and he was fantastic he saw that I was very concerned about my AC unit not working and was able to quickly diagnose the issue and calm my fears. Very appreciative of the referral from my friend to call A Plus.
Don C.
1726600409
On time and courteous. Always explain the work they are having to do.
Eddie M.
1726524348
Thank you for your professionalism n I'm impressed.great company 5 stars all the way across.
Jose R.
1726337618
Sean Hawkinson Is very professional and friendly! Thank you Mr Sean ! He diagnostics my equipment checked every single possible problem, fixed up my thermostat wiring. Very honest and reasonable price!Thank you AC Plus
N F
1725731201
Very pleased with how soon they were able to check the AC. Steven let us know how long it would take him to arrive. Checked unit and got ok from us for repairs which he completed very quickly. We had used them in the past to replace ducts and were very pleased then also. Happy with their service and glad to support a family owned business!
Lola R.
1725581702
Your guys are great. Great conversations and kept me in the know of what was being doneI'm a customer for life. Love that they are Christian men.. I'll recommend you to everyone I know.
Adam F.
1725574371
Brandon was both friendly and professional, as he diagnosed our air conditioning problem on Monday. Today he and his team efficiently repaired our unit, replacing the required parts and even made sure that our second unit was working properly! I would highly recommend this company to anyone who needs their A/C repaired or replaced in an efficient, and affordable manner!
Jacob S
1725487249
Extremely knowledgeable and professional service technicians. My wife was pregnant and needed our AC fixed ASAP! Quick fix thankfully but definitely going to use them when we need a new unit! Thank you AC Plus!
Debra T.
1725404502
When above and beyond the call of duty, excellent people highly recommend them to anybody
Alex
1725048884
Outstanding service! Extremely knowledgeable technician. Highly recommend
Christina F.
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Nothing but the upmost respect for our guys over at AC Plus!!! Top notch customer service and the nicest group of service techs I've ever dealt with.
Lizbeth G.
1724267820
Absolutely great service with them. Steven was professional and great on explaining things.
Greg C.
1724191295
Great service air working and little wife happy
Waldo F.
1724190464
Excelente customer service and very helpful service tech.
Ed C.
1724171701
Sent text. Let's talk. System is not working properly. The install was perfect but there seems to be a problem with the unit itself. Most likely a factory defect. I appreciate your service. Hopefully it's an easy fix. Thank you for your prompt attention to this minor setback
Deya R.
1724126530
AC Plus Heating &Air is the best!With some previous bad experiences with a few other companies we decided to take a chance with Ac Plus and we are so thankful we did! Our service technician was Sean, He was very professional, knowledgeable. and friendly. We told him what the issues we were having with the rooftop AC unit and quickly diagnosed the issues and walked me through all the steps to fix the problem.I’m a little familiar with most of the AC components and was amazed with he’s knowledge. My husband and I are so grateful to Sean and he’s company for being so honest and getting it diagnosed right!
Cornelio
1723911422
Several occasions I called this company for our properties and extremely satisfied with their professionalism work ethics, from the admin to the technicians and onto the crew. Highly recommended.
Andy Anderson S.
1723837873
You can count on ac plus. They are very good at their profession and trustworthy .
Michelle W.
1723667309
Sean was great, on time, honest, took the time to explain things.
Chris T
1721343388
Matt came over and fixed my dad's thermostat. With the rising temperatures, I was very worried about my dad. Matt was kind and professional.
Mike C.
1669837459
Highly recommended Ac Plus Sam was very nice and very informative and great price .
Nest C.
1635180103
Great service! Very professional and friendly!
Karen
1634688727
Very reasonable, professional and got the heat back on in no time! Thanks!
Arianna P.
1634596836
Everything was easy and quick, from the estimate to the installation.
SW08
1633199328
Very good customer service, Reliable outstanding Serivce I received a call from the technician to notify me there was a cancellation which was outstanding the technician came by and good an outstanding work and explained everything he did with the furnace I would recommend this company to anyone 5 stars
Stayc C.
1633120842
The customer service is excellent both on the phone and the technician Jonathan. Our air conditioner is running wonderfully again! Thanks so much!
Brian V.
1632682714
My air conditioner stopped blowing air through the vents. I knew I had to find an HVAC repair guy fast and I was worried about having some stranger with his hands on my equipment. I did a web search and found AC Plus Heating and Air with many hundreds of 5 star reviews on Google.Omar Amore came to my house and diagnosed and fixed the problem in 20 minutes and it cost me much less than expected. After he performed the work, he spent another 15 minutes with me educating me about the proper maintenance of my air conditioner. He quoted me some pricing on a couple action items to do next spring to keep my unit in good working order.Omar struck me as honest and thoughtful. I will use this company again for all my heating and air needs.
Richard M.
1632514164
The service tech was on time, polite, and attentive.
Edward S.
1632511078
Amazing experience with Sean coming out to view our property. Had a few concerns which we addressed and he also went above and beyond by replacing and fixing certain parts of the AC we were unaware of. Definitely will be using this company in the future.
Jennifer M.
1631839210
Our AC died Tuesday night, we called Wednesday morning and they had a new unit up and working by Thursday afternoon. Very friendly and professional.
Kris F.
1631577301
A/C went out and they came to help the 1st thing after the weekend! Very friendly, professional and prompt!
Virginia J.
1631236907
The tech called to say he might be early, then called again once he was on his way. The job was hard to get to, but he persevered and got the job done!
Robert G.
1631229084
Called AC Plus for AC service. They were very courteous and professional on time for my appointment, Jonathan service tech showed up diagnose the issue, and had my house AC up and cooling fast!
Marco A.
1631135651
The staff at AC PLUS where amazing friendly and courteous. The technician Sean was very honest, friendly and kept us informed of what was going on till the very end. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY. A+ RATING in my book. Thank you for the service AC PLUS.
Jeff M.
1630089203
Our AC unit failed yesterday. Of course, it has been over 100 degrees the last few days, so we were concerned. Called AC Plus this morning and they had it up and running again by 11:00am today! Jonathan was great and explained everything to me, answered all my questions. We will be calling them again if we ever have any problems. The woman that answered the phone there this morning was also very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Thank you AC Plus!
Chris O.
1628985378
Dogs were trying to get a squirrel and smashed the freon line flat. Omar came out and took care of the situation quickly and professionally much appreciated.
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