If you find yourself with furnace trouble this winter, troubleshooting furnace problems is possible—and smart—before you call a trusted HVAC professional. Where you’ll want to start depends on what problem you’re having.
If your furnace won’t start at all, there are several factors you can check. Your home’s thermostat is responsible for telling your furnace to kick on when your home gets too cold, so that’s the first place you’ll want to start. Make sure your thermostat is on heat mode and that the temperature is set high enough. If you’re able to hear a click when your thermostat tells your furnace to turn on, you can move onto looking for the problem in other areas.
Next you’ll want to check that your furnace is receiving power. Set the fan switch on the thermostat to “on” and see if the fan comes on. If it doesn’t, the furnace either isn’t receiving power or the fan is broken. Check to see that all the breakers, fuses and power switches are as they should be. Lastly, make sure the valve on the gas line to the furnace is open and that the standing pilot light is lit, if present.
Other problems you may have to troubleshoot include:
- Unusual noises – These most often indicate that some maintenance is needed. Moving parts may need to be lubricated, belts or bearings may be in need of replacement, and burners may be in need of a cleaning or adjustment.
- A standing pilot light that won’t stay lit – In this instance, you’ll want to turn off the gas and call a professional. This problem involves potentially hazardous gas and electrical components.
- Frequently turning on and off – If the air filter is dirty, replacing it might correct the problem. Otherwise, you’ll need to rely on an HVAC contractor to determine if it’s a problem with the fan motor, size of the furnace, or energy efficiency of your home.
If you need help troubleshooting furnace problems, contact us at Climatic Air Conditioning Co. today. We serve the Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood areas.
