The last thing that any homeowner expects or wants to experience during the first chill of the season is their furnace not working. While furnaces have become way more reliable over the past few years, that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t a chance that it won’t turn on when starting it back up again.
Things to do when the Furance is not Turning On
This may seem a tad frightening, however, if your furnace has been well maintained over the years, then typically this situation is one that can easily be fixed, even without the help of an HVAC contractor. So, if your furnace doesn’t seem to be turning on, here’s exactly what you need to do.
Take a Look At Your Furnace Air Filters
We advise all of our clients to change their furnace’s air filters every 1 – 3 months to prevent the filters from getting clogged, as this not only creates poor air quality, but it also prevents your furnace from working effectively and efficiently. If your furnace is not turning on, and if you haven’t changed your filters in a while, there’s a good chance they could be clogged and a safety setting is preventing your heating system from turning on.
Take a Look At Your Thermostat
There’s a chance that over the summer season, your thermostat may have been reset, disconnected, lost power, or even lost its programming. Therefore, when you think you’re trying to turn on your heat, you’re actually just turning the dial or pressing buttons without really doing anything.
To see if this is the case, try setting your thermostat really high to see if anything happens or turns on. Also, check to ensure that the setting is in fact set on HEAT. With this test you’ll be able to see if your thermostat settings are correct and receiving power.
Take a Look At the Circuit Breaker
You may have a gas or a propane furnace, but that doesn’t mean you should rule this step out. There’s a chance that the circuit breaker can be turned off or damaged, preventing your furnace from switching on. Give the circuit breaker a once-over to ensure no damage has been caused and that all switches for your HVAC system are turned on.
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Take a Look At The Gas Line
Another thing you’ll want to ensure, if you have a gas furnace, is if the gas line is working. The first thing you’ll want to test is if any other gas appliance is working in your home. You can check this by turning on or running your gas appliance to see. If your other gas appliances are working, then your second step would be to check the gas line to your furnace, ensuring that nothing has been disconnected or damaged.
Take a Look at Your Furnace
When reviewing your furnace there are a few things you’ll want to inspect. The first would be the power switch. Whether you have a gas or electric furnace, both will use electricity to power up and so it is necessary to ensure that this switch is turned on.
The next thing you’ll want to inspect is the pilot light. If the pilot light is out, most furnaces are programmed to not turn on due to certain safety settings. A simple light replacement in this case will easily do the trick.
The last thing you’ll want to inspect is the drain pain. If the drain pan is full of water, it could be triggering the float switch in your furnace, preventing it from turning on. Check to ensure that the pump is working and that the drain pan is not full of water.
Time to Call an HVAC Professional
While most times the above steps will help anyone solve the mystery as to why their furnace won’t turn on, there are some cases in which an HVAC professional may be required. So, if you’ve tried and tested all of the above steps and still cannot pinpoint the reason, or if you smell gas or propane in and around your furnace, it’s time to hand it over to the experts.
Given that no homeowner can expect when their furnace is going to fail, hearing news that servicing or a new furnace is required can be devastating. That’s why we work with our clients to be as transparent as possible, providing quotes and estimates beforehand so that you can prepare and know what you’re getting into. If your furnace isn’t turning on and you need assistance, be sure to give us a call! Precision HVAC Mechanics Inc. is here to help.
Also Read: 6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace