How To Troubleshoot Furnaces
Furnaces are a great way to keep your home warm in the winter. They are energy efficient and conventional gas furnaces use little electricity. Furnaces can also break and you may have difficulty identifying the problem. If your furnace won't work, try these tips before calling a repairman:
1. Adjust settings on the thermostat
The first thing you should do is check to make sure the furnace is still on heat mode. Heat mode switches get flipped easily and you may not realize it's off. If this doesn't work, increase the temperature setting a few degrees to see if the heat comes back on. Increasing or decreasing the temperature can reset the furnace.
2. Reset the circuit breaker
Electrical issues are common culprits if your furnace doesn't work. Furnaces are prone to tripping circuit breakers especially if it's the first time the furnace has been turned on in months. Locate your circuit breaker panel and find the switch for the furnace. Push the switch all the way in the other direction until it clicks into place. Wait a few minutes and then flip it back. Make sure the default position of the switch is the same as all the other switches since you don't want to leave it in the off position.
3. Replace the fuse
If resetting the circuit breaker doesn't resolve the issue, the furnace may have blown a fuse when it turned on. Locate your fuse box. It will look similar to your circuit breaker and is commonly located in the same areas of your house that a circuit breaker would. Fuses look like light sockets. To identify the blown fuse, you will have to unscrew them one at a time. You will know a fuse is blown when nothing happens to your power when you unscrew it. Take the blown fuse to your local home improvement store where they can help you find a replacement. Exercise extreme caution when checking and replacing fuses.
4. Check the filter
Many homeowners forget their furnaces have filters. Because of this, the filters don't get cleaned and are clogged with dust, dirt, and grime. A clogged filter will prevent the furnace from getting enough air to produce heat and can even prevent the furnace from turning on at all. Clean the filter. If it's difficult to clean, replace the filter completely. Once you've cleaned or replaced the filter, look for the reset button on your furnace and push it.
5. Replace the thermostat's batteries
Did you know that your thermostat uses batteries? If you've tried other troubleshooting tips, the issue may be as simple as needing fresh batteries. Most thermostats use AA batteries. Remove your thermostat from its housing and locate the battery slot. Remove this cover and replace the batteries. Place the thermostat back on the wall and push the reset button if it has one.
These five troubleshooting tips can help your furnace issues. If these tips don't work, contact a repairman or your local HVAC service (such as Absolute Air).