Furnace Won’t Turn On? Do This Before Contacting The Service!
It is frustrating when your thermostat won’t turn the furnace on, and it’s usually functioning not correctly when you need it the most!
First of all, it’s worth noting that there is a way to prevent any of this. If you are using preventive maintenance with quality HVAC maintenance, the furnace of yours will work when you need it, and it will fail significantly lower rate.
With that said, here are some of the main reasons your furnace might not work.
What to Do When Your Furnace Will Not Turn On With The Thermostat: 8 Possible Reasons It’s Not Working
- Check Your Thermostat. The first thing you need to do to find out why your furnace isn’t working is to check the thermostat. Make sure the thermostat is set to “heating” and look at the temperature. Perhaps someone (accidentally) changed the settings. If you have a digital or programmable thermostat, you may have another problem – battery. Replace batteries if the thermostat is battery-operated. The batteries in these devices usually need to be replaced every couple of years.
- Check Your Furnace Switch & Circuit Breakers. Check the electrical switch on the furnace, and circuit breaker at this point. If the switch is off, turn it back on, and in case if the circuit breaker trips, turn it off completely and then turn it back on (you should hear a click). The furnace should turn on again within five minutes (many thermostats have a time delay).
- Check Your Furnace Filter. Many people forget to replace furnace filters. After a while, dust and other debris do not allow air to pass through. If this is your problem, replace the furnace filter. Most disposable pleated oven filters must be replaced every 90 days according to the manufacturer’s instructions. However, if in the house you have a couple of pets you should replace the furnace more frequently. It could be as frequent as 30 days.
- Check the Furnace Condensate Pump. If there is a drain in the pan, check to see if the drain is blocking a blockage. Clean the pump, if a clog is present, remember to wash your hands afterward. If cleaning the pump does not work, you may need to replace it. When you can fix the water problem, the furnace should be working again within a minute. If you furnace still not working, try the next step.
- Check the Pilot Light. Many modern furnaces won’t kick on, in case the pilot light is out. This is a safety feature designed to prevent pumping natural gas or propane into your home. NOTE: If debris (buildup) has accumulated on the pilot, the furnace likely needs additional maintenance. Call a licensed HVAC company to tune up the unit, and consider enrolling in an annual maintenance plan to keep your unit as efficient as possible and to save money on additional repairs.
- CHECK VENTS. The blocked vents will prevent air circulation in the furnace. So, check to see if anything is blocking your outdoor vents. If a wasp nest or dead bird blocks a PVC pipe, it or the furnace may stop working.
- Check Your Natural Gas or Oil Supply. Lack of fuel could prevent your furnace from turning on. The best way to check your fuel supply is by trying another gas appliance in your home, such as your stove. If it doesn’t work either, contact your gas or propane company.
- Belt or Blower Motor problem. Sometimes the Furnace may work fine, but it will appear broken due to a problem with the blower. If you hear your furnace making high-pitched noises, in general, it means that the blower motor is defective. NOTE: If you encounter that kind of issue the only thing that really needs to be done is to contact a qualified heating repair technician who will check and fix the problem in your system. Preventive maintenance is one way to avoid this.
The Bottom Line
At Vese Heating & Cooling we can provide a full range of water heater services, from repairs to replacement and adjustment of any type of HVAC equipment. We know how to help maintain your home comfort, which is why we are available to repair and provide affordable HVAC services 24/7, call us or make an appointment online.
It doesn’t matter what kind of HVAC repairs your residential home or business may need Vese Heating & Cooling provide affordable heating & cooling services, call us, or contact us online today.
