If your furnace all of a sudden stops working, try these quick furnace fixes you can do yourself before calling a pro. Something with the furnace has gone wrong. Beyond the frustration, a furnace with malfunction can be hazardous to your home and should be repaired right away.
But what can lead to the stoppage of the furnace? More importantly, how can you do your own furnace repairs? Let the experts at Vese Heating & Cooling provide some helpful tips!
What Can Cause a Furnace to Stop Working , and how you can quickly fix it.
A malfunctioning furnace could be the result of any number of things. Before you dial the repairman, look into these possible solutions on how to fix a furnace:
1. The Thermostat
Before you assume you have a problem with the furnace, troubleshoot the furnace and check the thermostat to make sure it is actually saying the heating on it. Thermostats, especially programmable ones, can be complex, and the more options a thermostat has, the more likely it can fail.
Try to troubleshoot the problem by …
- Making sure the thermostat is set to “Heat” and not “Cool.”
- Verifying the time and date are correct. If it is preprogrammed to heat the house at a certain time of day, and incorrectly synced thermostat could be the problem.
- Checking the temperature setting and make sure it is displaying the desired temperature.
- Manually inputting the temperature to five degrees warmer and see if the furnace turns on.
- Investigating the wiring and/or batteries. In case that it is battery operated, consider switching the old one/ones out. If it is wired directly to a power source, trace the wires back to the power source and look to see if there are any noticeable breaks and weaknesses in the wires. If there are, contact a service professional to assist you in rewiring the unit.
- Reading the thermostat manual! The manufacturer’s specifications and troubleshoots should be indicated in the booklet that came with the thermostat. If the manual has been lost, check online!
2. Check shutoff switches and breakers
It sounds unbelievable, but furnace technicians often find that the only “repair” a furnace need is to be turned on. Look for a standard wall switch on or near the furnace—all furnaces, no matter what age or type, have one somewhere. Check the circuit breaker or fuse for the furnace as well. Make sure the front panel covering the blower motor is securely fastened—there’s a push-in switch under it that must be fully depressed for the furnace to operate.
If you are unable to reignite the pilot light, call a professional HVAC contractor they will do more in-depth troubleshooting and possibly replace a faulty part.
3. Replace filter
A clogged filter may shut down the furnace. Dirty filters are the most common cause of furnace problems. Dust and dirt restrict airflow – and if the filter gets too clogged, the heat exchanger will overheat and shut down quickly and your home won’t heat up. If the fan runs but no heat comes out, replace the filter. A dirty filter will also cause soot to accumulate on the heat exchanger, reducing the efficiency of the furnace and shortening its life.
The operating instructions tell you where the filter is located and how to remove it. Change inexpensive flat filters at least once a month. Make sure the arrow points towards the furnace. Check pleated filters once a month. Bring them up to the light, and if you cannot clearly see the light through them, replace them. Manufacturers say pleated filters are good for three months, but change them more often if you have pets, children, or generate a lot of dust.
So, What is wrong with my Furnace?
A broken furnace can be a real headache. But with a little know-how and rudimentary detective work, you might be able to fix the furnace yourself, or at least narrow the possibilities!
If the problem is beyond your wits, take it easy by calling the HVAC Specialists at Vese Heating & Cooling today at (825)343-6222 or request an online appointment now to get the furnace up and running.
