Furnace Not Working? Next steps!

If you walk by your thermostat and notice the Indoor Temp is much lower then the temperature you set, or you are noticing your home is much colder then usual with no signs of heat? There may be an issue with your Furnace not heating properly. Below we outlined a few next steps you can take.

1. Check Breaker.

   The first step is to ensure the Breaker and disconnect switch are on for the Furnace. You can check the breaker for the Furnace at your Electrical Breaker Panel. The breakers will be labeled either on the door or the panel itself to help locate your furnace breaker. If the breaker is on and not tripped, the next switch to verify is the disconnect switch by the furnace. This will look like a simple light switch either mounted to the furnace or next to the furnace. Some furnaces may not have this service disconnect switch installed if the furnace is located near the breaker panel like in a Garage. Once you have verified that both breaker and service switch is on we can move on to step two.

2. Check Thermostat.

   Look at your thermostat and insure that the screen is lit up and "System" is set to Heat Mode. This insures the thermostat is in the correct mode for Heating and was not accidentally switched to Cooling Mode or Off Mode. If the thermostat is in Heating Mode the next step is to verify that the thermostat is actively calling for "Heat". Most major thermostat brands will have a way of showing you on the home screen when they are calling for Heat by displaying either "Heat On" or a Flame symbol that indicates that the thermostat is actively calling for Heat. If the "Heat On" is flashing, this indicates that the thermostat has a delay. Wait until the "Heat On" indicator is solid.

3. Check Filter.

   Double check if the air filter for your Heating system is clean or dirty. If the filter is dirty or plugged, this can cause the furnace to over heat and shut down for safety. Once the air filter has been verified or replaced, double check all of your supply registers and return grills for any obstructions. Typically your supply registers will be located on the floor or ceiling, if they are located on the floor, ensure that there isn't carpet or furniture that is blogging the grill. Blocked air return and supply grills may also cause a furnace to overheat due to lack of airflow.

4. Check Condensation Drain.

   The next step would be to double check the condensation drain. If your furnace is a High Efficiency model, it will have a drain coming out of the side of the furnace. The drain will either be routed directly outside with PVC or routed to a condensation drain pump located near the furnace. If there is a condensation drain pump near the furnace, verify the pump is plugged in to an electrical outlet and is not over flowing. If the pump is overflowing with water this can indicate a plugged or frozen drain. A frozen or plugged drain will cause water to back up into the furnace or condensation pump, shutting the system down due to safety.

5. Check Gas Valve Position

   Ensure the gas valve located near the furnace is in the On position. Sometimes the gas valve can get bumped into the off position or turned off by mistake, causing the furnace to not ignite the burners due to lack of Natural gas or LP. If the gas valve was turned off and red tagged, do not turn that gas valve back on. A red tag indicates an issue with the gas appliance and requires further professional service.

6. Call for Professional Service

   If you are able to verify all of the above steps and the furnace is still not heating, this indicates a possible issue with the Furnace itself. At this point we highly recommend giving us a call or booking a service call online. Our professional and certified techs can help diagnose the furnace issue, as well as offer repair options and solutions.

Other issues you may notice with your Furnace is strange noises, burning smells, gas smells or abnormal operation. In these cases we also highly recommend calling us or booking a service appointment online with us.

This blog is written by Anton Bocharov (Owner) of A&B Air Solutions LLC.