You come home from work and the house seems chilly. The room temperature is in the low 60s and the furnace isn’t blowing. Your furnace has quit on you. There are some things a homeowner can do to troubleshoot heating problems before calling for help.
First, check to see whether the circuit breaker has been tripped or a fuse has blown. If the breaker has tripped, reset it; if it trips again after the furnace begins to blow, there may be a short in the wiring that requires electrical service. There is also a power switch on the furnace cabinet that may have been switched off.
Check to see if the panel that covers the filter area has been replaced correctly. Some furnaces have a safety mechanism in place that stops the furnace from firing if the panel isn’t placed properly.
If you have a gas furnace without an electronic ignition, see if the pilot light has gone out. Relight according to your owner’s manual. If you hear a “rumbling” sound, the pilot light may need adjusting or the orifices cleaned.
Make sure your thermostat is set to “heat,” and reset the temperature a few degrees higher. It’s possible that the thermostat is out of calibration.
If the furnace is running but there is very little air flowing, make sure that the filter is clean and the registers are unobstructed.
If the furnace comes on but doesn’t cycle completely, the blower doesn’t come on or the pilot light fails after it has been relit, call a professional; all of these indicate furnace malfunctions that are both uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Of course, if you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call the gas company.
Modern heating equipment is built to function for 15 years or more, and having an annual maintenance check is one way to prolong the life of your furnace, thermostat and ductwork. Ace Hardware Home Services offers a Comfort Assurance Program that provides Dayton area homeowners with annual equipment maintenance and value rates on any repairs that are needed. To save yourself discomfort and expense, make sure you contact us if your furnace has quit.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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