It’s the middle of winter and you’re sitting at home, cozied up next to the heater to keep warm. Suddenly, your heater goes out. Now, what do you do? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled this step-by-step list of troubleshooting and repair tips to help your heat get back up and running as soon as possible.
Step 1
First and foremost, check to make sure the furnace power switch is on. Often, a furnace has a power switch on the wall similar to a light switch. Make sure this didn’t get bumped or accidentally switched off. If it did, simply flip the switch and wait a few minutes for the furnace to come back on.
Step 2
Next, check the thermostat. Is the thermostat on and set to a comfortable temperature? Thermostats can also get bumped and accidentally switched off, or sometimes reset during a power outage. If it is still on, make sure it’s set to a heat setting and temperature that will keep your home comfortable.
Step 3
The next thing to check if the circuit breakers linked to your furnace and your thermostat are both in the on position. Both electric and gas furnaces require electricity to operate. Check to see if the circuit on the circuit breaker has tripped. If so, return the breaker to the on position. If it pops again, there could be a separate underlying problem causing the circuit to break. In this case, we recommend that you don’t reset the circuit and rather call our electrical team who will be happy to help with any electrical issues.
Step 4
If electricity doesn’t seem to be the problem, check your gas line. First, check the gas valve on the furnace or heater to make sure it’s in the on position and gas is flowing. If it is, you may need to relight the pilot. If it’s not, check your other gas appliances, such as a stove, to see if they’re working. If both your furnace and stove aren’t working and your main gas valve is on, you may need to contact your gas company.
Step 5
If everything in your house except the furnace appears to be on and working, check your air filter. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned or replaced your air filter, it might be clogged and preventing the heater from working. Newer furnaces have a safety feature that will prevent overheating by turning the heater off if there is too much heat or pressure buildup. You can check the owner’s manual for information on how to locate and replace a clogged air filter.
Step 6
Finally, we recommend checking air ducts and intake or exhaust vents. If any of these are blocked, they’ll restrict the airflow. If the airflow is restricted to a particular room, then you may only need to clean that particular air duct. If the airflow is restricted in the intake vent, that can limit the oxygen flow to your furnace and shut the heater down. If your air ducts haven’t been cleaned in some time, we can help… just give us a call.
Heater Still broken?
While furnace troubles can be as simple as resetting a switch, malfunctions can occur from a more severe issue as well. If you find yourself with a broken heater and are not about to troubleshoot it yourself, we can help with our same day service.
Remember, the best step to resolving furnace and heater issues is preventing them in the first place. Be sure to have your heating system checked annually by a certified professional to catch problems early and prevent a major heater issue from occurring when you need your heater most.
