No Heat? Here Is What To Check Before Calling For Service

There is no good time for your furnace to stop working, but that is especially true in winter in Montana. With the cold months upon us, homeowners want to be sure their furnace is operating at top efficiency all the time. So what happens when you suddenly realize it is too cold in the home, and you don’t know what to do? There are some common furnace issues, and chances are, as a homeowner, you will encounter one of these common issues over the years. Here are the most common furnace issues, a few quick fixes, and a few situations when it is time to call a professional for furnace repairs.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

Before you panic and call a professional heating technician, you may want to check if your thermostat is on and set to the correct setting for the season. A recent power outage may have reset your thermostat, or the recent change in the weather may mean your thermostat needs to be switched from AC to heat. Before you panic about the cold, check that everything is on the right temperature setting and that the batteries are still fully charged.

Your Furnace Is Off

Another simple fix might be that the furnace has come unplugged or lost power somehow. This could include a breaker getting tripped or faulty wiring that is causing the furnace to lose power. Check if you need to reconnect your furnace to power.

Pilot Light Out

For those with an older furnace, you may have issues with your pilot light. If you notice the light has gone off once, it is generally safe to relight the pilot light yourself. Follow the owner’s manual and safety instructions to do so. However, if the pilot light continually goes out or will not stay lit, this could be several issues, from a clogged pilot orifice to a defective safety switch. Contact a professional heating company to assess the problem.

Dirty Filters

Do you know the last time you changed your furnace filter? If you don’t (or if you know it was more than several months ago) it could be time to replace the filter. Clogged filters restrict the airflow, which makes your furnace work harder and wears the machinery down faster. Replace your filters every few months.

Access Panel Is Open

Another quick fix is that the access panel, where you would change the filters or look at the interior of the unit, is left open. This is a safety feature, but it can sometimes throw off customers who notice their furnace is suddenly not working. Check the access panel is snuggly closed.

Weird Noises

If your furnace is making strange noises, like grinding or scraping, this could be a mechanical issue. It may mean ball bearings or other internal pieces of machinery have worn out. For internal mechanical issues, it is best to contact a professional HVAC company to assess the issue.

Dirty Burners

If you are not getting heat out of the unit, or if you hear a booming rumble when the system comes on, your burners may be gunked up. This cleaning job is best left to the professionals.

Furnace Not Blowing Air

If you hear your furnace come on but it does not seem to be moving any air, your furnace may have a broken blower fan belt. While you can follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to replace the belt, you can also contact a heating professional to change the belt for you (and save you the headache of figuring out how!)

Additionally, like any piece of machinery, sometimes your furnace may just need a tune-up or some maintenance to keep it running. Just because your furnace issue isn’t on this list does not mean that a professional won’t be able to help you solve the problem.

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