For many homeowners, furnace malfunctions can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when problems occur during the coldest winter months. While any service or repairs should be done by a licensed technician, homeowners can troubleshoot and solve minor furnace problems themselves before calling for a service technician.
“There may be a simple reason why a furnace is not working,” says Rod Mysko, President of Custom Comfort ClimateCare. “If an individual is comfortable troubleshooting the problem himself or herself, many times they can find the problem and take care of it.”
The “before you call” 10-point checklist
If homeowners are not comfortable checking these items, they should call a technician.
Thermostat Check
1.___Is the thermostat set to the HEAT position?
2.___Is the temperature set at least 3 degrees above the current room temperature?
3.___Does the thermostat use batteries, and are they charged? (screen will be blank).
4.___If the thermostat has a fan switch, is it ON? (If the fan does not come on and there is no air coming out of the register, then there may not be power to the furnace.)
Electrical Panel Check
5.___If the furnace has a breaker, has it been tripped? (If it has, then the switch will be between the ON and OFF positions.) If it has been tripped, it can be reset by switching it all the way OFF and then ON.
6.___If the furnace has a fuse, has it blown? If so, it should be replaced. WARNING: If the breaker keeps tripping or the fuse keeps blowing, homeowners should call for service.
Furnace Check
7.___Is the furnace’s emergency shut-off in the ON position? (it will be located near the furnace and look like a regular light switch and should be labeled Furnace.)
8.___Are all access doors and panels to the furnace secured?
9.___If the furnace has a standing pilot light in the furnace, is it lit? (note: this will be a very very old furnace and it is time to replace it with an energy star unit).
10.__Check your furnace filter? Is it clean or extremely dirty? If it is dirty this can reduce the airflow through the system and shut-off the furnace.
“In many circumstances, this checklist will identify what the problem is and offer homeowners a solution,” says Mysko. “If not, an individual should contact their heating company for service.”
For more information on the 10-point checklist contact Custom Comfort ClimateCare at 705-722-5909 or visit www.CustomComfort.ca
FAQs
- When do I call a technician; my furnace does not work at all or is malfunctioning?
If it doesn’t function, first, verify the most simple things: are thermostat settings alright? Is the electricity supply? Have you checked your filter? Then, if those checks did not help, call a technician from Custom Comfort ClimateCare at 705.722.5909.
- What can be done if a thermostat does not work?
Make sure the thermostat is in the “HEAT” position, above the room’s current temperature, and that it has good batteries if your particular model needs such. If your fan isn’t working, it could be a furnace power problem.
- Is a blown fuse or tripped breaker something which I can diagnose and replace on my own?
If you tripped the breaker or if you saw the blown fuse, just reset the breaker or replace it with a new one. If it does not turn off, then call a technician and have them further inspect it for you.
- How to check if your furnace’s pilot light is burning.
If your furnace has a standing pilot, check that it is lit. If it is not, realistically it is time to upgrade to a new high efficiency gas furnace with an electronic ignition.
- If I troubleshoot and still no heat?
If your furnace doesn’t respond to checks of the thermostat, electrical panel, and filter, it’s now time to have a licensed technician inspect it and repair it in a safe manner.