3 Troubleshooting Tips To Use When Your Furnace Won't Turn On
A freezing cold day in winter is not the preferable time for your furnace to breakdown, unfortunately, this is when it usually occurs. It happens at the worst possible time, which is why most people are not prepared. What you can do to help is know a few troubleshooting tips so you aren't without heat for too long, and hopefully don't have to call out an emergency heating repair company for a minor issue you could have avoided in the first place. Read on for a few troubleshooting tips to try before you make that phone call.
1. Check The Thermostat
Try to turn off the thermostat and turn it back on again to see if this starts your furnace again. You can also try to adjust the temperature to see if it kicks the furnace on. Check the batteries inside the thermostat, be sure it is set to heat and remove the thermostat to inspect the wiring. If the batteries need changed, change them. If the wires are loose, make sure they are in tightly. Change the setting to heat if it was somehow changed. If none of these were the problem, it may be something other than the thermostat.
2. Check For Power
You could have blown a fuse if you overloaded a circuit. Check your breaker box for any blown fuses. Press any fuses back into proper place if one was popped. Then check to see if you have too much turned on to that same fuse. Turn the power off to other things if possible to ensure your furnace can run on that one circuit and won't blow the fuse again. If this wasn't the problem, be sure you have the power on to your furnace. There should be a switch on or near the furnace. Be sure it is in the "on" position.
3. Remove The Air Filter
If your furnace isn't getting enough air, it will shut down completely. Remove the air filter to check that it isn't covered in dust and dander. If it is full of debris, air won't get through and into the furnace. When this occurs, the furnace shuts down. You'll need to replace the air filter, then reset the high-limit switch. Check your manufacturer's instructions to see where this switch is located on your particular machine.
If you checked all of these things and your furnace is still not working, it could be a much bigger problem. Call a professional heating repair technician for help repairing your furnace.