So you are sitting there relaxing in the comfort of your home on a cool winter’s night and decide to flip on the furnace only to find that it appears to have stopped working altogether. Without hesitation, you panic, and rightfully so. However, before you completely panic and make that call to the 24/7 emergency service, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take. Furnaces can present with a wide range of problems, unsuspecting problems at that, creating scenarios that can be, at best, challenging.
Some Simple Troubleshooting Steps to Take if Your Furnace Stops Working
- Laugh if you must, but first and foremost, make sure that the power is on. Many times this simple, practical point is overlooked. Try flicking the switch on the side of the furnace and flicking the power breaker as well to get the furnace running.
- Take a moment to check the thermostat settings. There are instances where, without knowing, the thermostat temperature is lowered to a cooler temperature keeping the furnace from kicking on. Or perhaps you have a digital thermostat and the batteries in the thermostat are drained and need replacing. If the batteries are not working they cannot hold the proper settings, making your furnace stop. With these thoughts in mind, it makes sense to get in the habit of routinely changing your batteries once a year. In addition, there are times when a homeowner will forget to set the thermostat to the ‘heat” position from the “cool” or “off” position. Yet another innocent oversight. Be certain to set the thermostat to a temperature that is higher than the temperature already present in the room and see if the furnace then kicks on.
- Check the pilot light. Many older furnaces have a pilot light. If the light goes out the furnace cannot start. Relight the pilot light and the furnace should start right up.
- Check your filters. If the filters on your furnace are dirty they will more often than not be the culprit for many furnace problems. Either clean the filter or change it, reset the furnace (turn it off and then on again) and see if it kicks on for you.
- Check for a blockage of some type outside of the house. If your home is equipped with a furnace that vents with plastic PVC outside of your home, make sure that the vent is not blocked perhaps by debris, leaves, snow, or other materials. If the vent is covered, the blockage will make your furnace stop working.
- Finally, if none of these troubleshooting tips work, then it’s time to call in the professionals.
We here at Hometown Comfort are committed and dedicated to providing all our clients, old and new, with top of the line, superior products and services. Our highly skilled and experienced technicians are here to handle all your furnace problems and to give you the peace of mind needed that your furnace will be up and running in no time at all. Offering leading edge products and superior services, the teams here at Hometown Comfort strive to deliver all our clients needs in timelines that are accommodating to their schedules, and at prices that are every bit affordable as they are competitive.
There is no project too big or too small for our professionals. If you are in need of professional heating services, then don’t waste a moment longer. Give a shout out to our highly reputable and friendly team of industry professionals today and let us get your furnace back on track before those cold winter months set in.
