3 Repair Tips For Your Gas Furnace
Your gas furnace keeps you warm and toasty all winter long, through those cold days and nights. If your furnace breaks down on one of these cold days, it can be devastating. Your home will get cold quickly, leaving you to scramble to figure out what to do. To help repair your furnace, there are a few things you should know to check yourself before calling a repairman. Read on for tips to help you repair your furnace.
1. Check Your Flame Sensor
The flame sensor on your unit can get dirty and a film of soot can be blocking this sensor, which is responsible for the furnace turning on and staying on. If this sensor is too dirty, your furnace may turn off quickly, or not turn on at all. Find your flame sensor and inspect it. If it looks dirty, use a piece of emery cloth to gently scrape off the soot. Then use a clean rag to clean off any dust. Once clean, test your furnace to see if it will run properly.
2. Change The Air Filter
If your air filter is too dirty, the furnace will not run. If it shuts down and you've replaced the air filter, you need to also hit the reset button on your furnace. This is one step that most people miss. Make sure you are changing your air filter every other month to prevent clogging your system with dust and debris. This buildup can block the flow of air to your unit and it can cause other issues in your home, such as excess dust and dander in your home. This may eventually cause other issues for your furnace as well.
3. Make Necessary Thermostat Adjustments
Your thermostat could have been set differently and this could be a quick fix. If someone accidentally turned off your furnace, or changed the temperature, check the thermostat to see if there is anything you can adjust. If your thermostat is set a temperature that is too high, your furnace may have a tough time keeping up with that temperature and wear out your furnace quickly. Keep your thermostat around 70 degrees. Use the sun to help heat your home by opening blinds and curtains, and dress appropriately for the winter months to help you stay warm as well.
If your furnace suddenly stops working, it can be a scary situation, especially if the weather outside is freezing. Call a gas furnace repair service to have your furnace worked on and repaired properly.