You rely on your furnace for heat and comfort, and when it fails, you want to take action immediately. Fortunately, regular maintenance can keep breakdowns to a minimum, ensuring you stay warm and toasty all winter. When your furnace won’t turn on, here are some of the possible reasons and a few troubleshooting ideas you can try.
1. Tripped Breaker
Furnace technicians often respond to broken furnace inquiries to find the culprit was nothing more than a tripped breaker. It’s also not uncommon to find a furnace’s power source switched to the “Off” position. Simply flipping the switch will often fix the problem.
While checking circuits, breakers, and power source positions, technicians will inspect the front panel on the blower motor to ensure the push-in switch is fully depressed. If it’s not, it will keep the furnace from kicking on.
2. The Pilot Light Is Out
While newer furnaces usually have an electronic starter, many older ones rely on a pilot light that always stays on. Most furnaces with a pilot light have a tiny window near the floor where you can view the pilot light. One of our technicians from Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC can examine whether the pilot light is on and functioning properly.
Problems with the valves, heat exchanger, gas pressure, or ventilation can all cause the pilot light to go out. Each kind of heating appliance has a somewhat different procedure for relighting the pilot (electric or gas). Our expert will fix any problems and relight the pilot if necessary.
3. Faulty Thermostat
The more features a thermostat has, the more things can go wrong. That’s especially true of programmable thermostats. You may want to double-check the settings before calling our professionals experts. When we install a new heating or cooling system, we’ll make sure you understand how to set it.
But the thermostat won’t work forever. If you’ve been experiencing inconsistent temperatures in the home or the reading doesn’t match how the house feels, it may be time to replace the thermostat. This would be a great time to upgrade to a smart thermostat, saving you money while maintaining a comfortable temperature.
4. Insufficient Fuel Supply
If you have a gas furnace, our technician will check its gas line. The problem could stem from a leaky gas line or a shut-off gas valve. It could also result from an empty gas tank, in which case you’ll need to contact your gas provider.
If you have an electric furnace, our technician will inspect the outlet and power cord. Faulty outlets can cause a lot of problems with electrical furnaces. They also increase the risk of fire in a home, so calling on professionals should be a top priority during the troubleshooting process.
5. Clogged Air Filter
A furnace’s air filter captures dust and other particles in the air. The more dust and debris it collects, the more difficult it is for air to pass through. This limitation in airflow can cause the temperature within the furnace to increase. The furnace’s interior temperature might reach dangerous levels if the filter isn’t replaced. When this occurs, the heating system should have a safety mechanism that will turn the furnace off.
Experts say you should change the air filter at least every three months. In homes with a lot of humidity, dogs, cigarette smoke, etc., it’s recommended to change filters on a monthly basis. Get in touch with us at [company name] to find out what size and type of air filter your furnace needs.
6. Dirty or Damaged Flue or Ductwork
Does your heating system use a chimney exhaust flue? If this is the case, a technician will inspect it for animals, tree branches, and other debris. A blocked or damaged exhaust flue reduces heating efficiency, which can lead to hot and cold spots, rising energy bills, reduced indoor comfort, and poor indoor air quality. It can also damage the whole heating system. Get your chimney flue cleaned every year to avoid these issues.
Much like the chimney, if anything blocks air flow in your home’s ductwork, this can compromise the entire heating system. The whole system must work harder than normal to maintain thermostat settings. This added strain can put enough wear and tear on the system that it starts to break down. Regular duct cleaning makes it less likely that the ductwork will ever cause problems for the furnace.
7. Malfunctioning Blower Motor
A failing blower can cause some of the same problems as a clogged air filter in that it reduces airflow. If this problem is not addressed, the furnace’s internal temperature will rise to the point where the high-temperature limit switch gets triggered.
To begin checking for a malfunctioning blower motor, our technician will first verify the absence of electricity. The technician will then look for signs of a dirty of overheated motor and will also attempt to rotate the blower fan’s blades. If the blades are difficult to move, this is another indicator that it’s time to repair or replace the blower motor.
8. Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Technicians sometimes find air vents as the source of heater problems. Blocked, dirty, or improperly installed air vents can restrict airflow to certain parts of the home. When this happens, the reduced heating efficiency and will likely lead to hot and cold spots in the home. Having the vents inspected and cleaned during annual HVAC sessions can prevent this kind of problem.
9. Clogged Drain Lines
Condensation is a byproduct of a furnace’s heating process. Drain pipes can get clogged with debris over time, and they aren’t immune to mold growth. If the drain pipes get completely blocked, the whole furnace may cease functioning. Our technician will inspect the drain pipe and either clean or replace it if it is clogged or damaged.
Let Our Technician Troubleshoot the Code
Most furnaces manufactured after 1990 have a small light that shows the power is on. Not only does this light indicate a successful connection to power, but it can also flash to communicate a problem. A furnace expert can record sequences in the patterns of flashing. They can then decode them to identify the sources of the heater’s problems.
A tech will power the furnace off and back on to obtain a code, noting any sequences in the flash pattern. Then, after opening the furnace’s access panels, the tech can transcribe the code to determine what the furnace wants to tell you, such as a faulty blower motor, a clogged drain line, etc.
Fix Your Broken Furnace Today!
To keep your De Pere, WI furnace from breaking down, have it inspected and cleaned during annual maintenance. Check out our Peace of Mind program to help you keep on schedule! Our technicians can also install and repair your heating or cooling system, including boilers, ductless systems, and heat pumps. You can also turn to us for your indoor air quality issues. If your furnace isn’t working or you need to schedule your next maintenance appointment, call us at Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC right away.
