In the winter, you need to be able to rely on your furnace to heat your home properly. If you struggle with your furnace not working, this can lead to higher energy bills and cost you your comfort. In some cases, if your furnace is not heating, you can fix the issue yourself. In others, you’ll want to call your local HVAC technician to come out and diagnose the problem.
Here’s what you need to know about some of the most common reasons why your furnace is not working, as well as what you can do if you run into these issues. If ever you’re uncomfortable with messing around with your furnace yourself, you can always have your HVAC technician deal with it for you, even if it’s a fix that you could DIY if you were comfortable doing so.
#1. There’s An Issue With Your Thermostat
It may seem like a no-brainer to check your thermostat if your furnace isn’t working. However, you’d be surprised by how many calls HVAC companies get about a furnace not heating only for the thermostat to not have been set to heat.
If your home is colder than you’d like, check your thermostat first. It could just be that it’s set to too low of a temperature or that it isn’t set to heat. Try raising the temperature by 5 degrees and see if that makes a difference.
Some thermostats use batteries, and yours may simply need new batteries. Other times, the wiring is dusty. If you recently had a power outage, your thermostat may have reset its settings and will need to be reprogrammed. In other cases, thermostats run on cycles. This could prevent your home from heating as you’d like it to.
If this doesn’t work, there may be something wrong with your thermostat or you may have another issue on hand. Many thermostats will display an error code if there’s a problem.
#2. Your Furnace Filters Are Dirty
If your furnace filters are dirty, this impacts the airflow your HVAC system gets. Your furnace needs a constant supply of fresh, clean air in order to run properly. If your furnace is not working, it could be because your furnace filters need to be replaced.
Not only do dirty air filters prevent your furnace from turning on due to a lack of airflow, but they can also keep it from turning on due to the fire danger they pose. Depending on the type of filter you have, how often you’ll need to replace it can vary. Generally speaking, it’s recommended that you replace your furnace filters every 90 days or so.
#3. Ensure The Power Is On
We know, we know, this seems like another no-brainer. However, if the breaker has tripped, this can disconnect the power to your furnace. This is easy to check, as all that you need to do is look to see if the circuits are in the “ON” position. If they are and your furnace still isn’t working, then you likely have an electrical issue on your hands.
If it is an electrical issue, you can check this by checking the other electrical appliances around your home. Should this be the case, you’ll want to call your electrician.
You may be tempted to tape your circuit breaker in the “ON” position in order to avoid it being tripped. However, this poses a safety hazard. You can check the breaker to see if it stays in the “ON” position or not. If it doesn’t, then you likely have an issue with the circuit breaker itself or with its wiring.
#4. The Pilot Light Is Faulty
Your furnace’s pilot light needs to be on in order for your furnace to heat your home. If the pilot light goes out, this reduces the ability of your furnace to work properly. You can usually tell if this is the problem if you hear your furnace click on but it doesn’t ignite.
You’ll want to turn off the gas and the power because checking this. Oftentimes, the burners need to be cleaned in order for your furnace to fire up properly.
It’s important to note that if you have a newer system, you may not have to worry about a pilot light, as these often ignite electronically.
Is Your Furnace Not Heating Your Home?
R & D Heating And Air can help! We provide furnace repairs throughout the Northern Utah area. If your furnace is not working, simply contact us, and we’ll provide you with service in a timely manner.
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