11 Things to Try When Your Furnace is Not Working

Often, a furnace problem can prove to be overly complicated. Imagine your heater malfunctioning on a freezing cold night. What would you do if you’re cold and the thermostat isn’t set right or when your furnace completely stops running?

Here are 11 things you should try before calling a repairman from a furnace repair company in Sacramento.

Check the Filter

You may have a filthy filter, but how can you check to be sure? Well, if the furnace is working, but shuts off before the house reaches the desired temperature, it’s a sign of filter-related problem. The filter serves as a buffer to keep polluted air, dust, allergens, and pollen particles out of your home. That is why it is important to refresh the filter on a regular basis.

When it becomes clogged, the air will not be able to circulate as freely, making your furnace dirtier and less effective. To avoid furnace problems, keep your filter clean or replace it on a regular basis.

Examine the Fuse Box, Circuit Breaker, and Switches

Ensuring that the furnace is receiving power is often ignored. Technicians say they’ve been to many homes where the only service needed for a broken furnace was to turn it on! Checking the fuse box or circuit breaker is the same. A tripped breaker or blown fuse will prevent electricity from reaching your furnace, leaving you without heat.

Start by testing the fuse or circuit breaker if you don’t hear any sounds of the furnace trying to start or the fan motor working. It’s sometimes as easy as a reboot. If that isn’t the issue, check to see if the furnace was switched off by mistake, which is normally located on the side of the unit.

Examine The Thermostat

Always double-check that the thermostat is set to ‘heat’. You won’t have heat in your home if the device is set to ‘cool’ or ‘off’. It won’t turn on if it’s set to ‘hot’ and the temperature would be lower than the air temperature in the room. Try raising the temperature a few degrees to see if things get going.

If you have a programmable thermostat, double-check that the times are set correctly. Keep in mind that certain thermostats use batteries. You might need a new battery if you don’t remember when it was last replaced.

Make Sure the Gas and Pilot Light Are On

If you’ve ever switched off the gas valve, make sure it’s turned back on before using your heater. Or else, there won’t be enough gasoline going into it. Older furnaces have a pilot light that must be lit as well.

Clear Vents and Grills

Can you hear the air conditioner running, but don’t have heat? This could indicate that a room’s air register, vent, or grill is blocked. Make sure the registers are open and the vents aren’t blocked by furniture.

Anything placed in front of a register will limit airflow, causing your furnace to overheat and work harder than it should need to.

Look for Clogged Ducts

If you’ve double-checked the grills and registers, but still don’t have heat, it’s possible that you have blocked ducts or a leaky duct allowing warm air to escape. Make sure the ducts are clean and well-sealed. Some obstructions, such as accumulated dust, soil, or even mice, may prevent the heat from properly reaching your rooms.

Check for Clogged Intake and Exhaust Vents

Another reason for airflow restriction is a blockage of the outer and intake exhausts. Leaves, garbage, and even birds have been known to get through exhaust flues. If you are happy doing it, you can clear it yourself, or hire a furnace repair specialist in Sacramento to do it for you.

Inspect the Furnace for Corrosion and Dirt

Switch off the control and cover the furnace’s front panels if you’re comfortable doing so. Look for something that doesn’t belong to the device, such as rusted parts, spider webs, decay, bug remains, and so on. Lint and debris will also cause problems. Cleaning with compressed air or a vacuum can help, but any corroded components should be replaced by a professional.

Drain Lines Should Be Cleared

The flue gas condensate is carried away by drain lines in both high-efficiency furnaces and boilers. The furnace and boiler will stop running if the drain line becomes clogged with sediment, clay, or mold. If you think this is the issue, flush the drain lines.

Reset the Furnace If Necessary

If the ignition sequence fails, most modern furnaces with electronic ignition have a lockout feature. They normally restart on their own given enough time, but if you don’t want to wait, try shutting off the furnace. Then wait for a minute and turn it back on. If lockouts happen more often than not, you’ll almost certainly need to hire a trained technician.

Call the Professionals Without Delay

Last but not least, if your furnace stops working, call the repair and service experts at South Placer Heating & Air. When you start to feel uneasy doing things yourself, get a professional to do it for you! Hiring an HVAC technician who knows what they’re doing will give you peace of mind.

When it comes to furnace repair in Sacramento, South Placer Heating and Air has a knowledgeable team of experienced technicians. Contact us today at (916) 246-2089.