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Furnace Troubleshooting Guide: Keep Your Home Warm
Posted On: November 2, 2024
Is your furnace acting up? There’s no need to panic just yet! A few basic troubleshooting steps can often save you time and money, especially if the problem is simple. Here’s a guide to help you identify common furnace issues, understand their causes, and perform some easy fixes.
1. Check the Thermostat
- Problem: The furnace doesn’t turn on or doesn’t seem to heat effectively.
- Solution: Ensure your thermostat is set to “Heat” and that it’s on a temperature setting higher than the current room temperature. Make sure it’s powered on, and check the batteries if it’s a battery-operated model.
Tip: Clean your thermostat regularly. Dust can affect its functionality, causing it to misread the room temperature.
2. Inspect the Air Filter
- Problem: Reduced airflow or uneven heating throughout your home.
- Solution: A dirty air filter restricts airflow, making your furnace work harder and less efficiently. Inspect and replace your filter every 1-3 months, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Tip: Consider setting a reminder to change your filter each season to help your furnace run smoothly.
3. Check the Furnace Switch and Circuit Breaker
- Problem: Furnace won’t start at all.
- Solution: Make sure your furnace switch (located near the furnace itself) is in the “On” position. If the furnace still doesn’t start, check your circuit breaker to ensure the furnace’s circuit is not tripped.
Tip: If you reset the circuit breaker and it trips again, avoid further troubleshooting and contact a professional. This could indicate a more serious electrical problem.
4. Ensure Proper Ventilation and Clear Vents
- Problem: Uneven heating, weak airflow, or furnace shutting down unexpectedly.
- Solution: Inspect your home’s vents and make sure they aren’t blocked by furniture, curtains, or other obstructions. Also, check for anything blocking the furnace’s external vents.
Tip: Periodically walk through your home to make sure vents and registers are fully open and free of obstructions.
5. Look at the Furnace Pilot Light (Gas Furnaces Only)
- Problem: Furnace isn’t producing heat.
- Solution: For gas furnaces with pilot lights, check to see if the flame is lit. A functioning pilot light should burn a bright blue. If it’s off or burning yellow, you may need to relight it or contact a professional to address a potential gas leak.
Warning: If you suspect a gas leak, leave your home immediately and contact emergency services. Do not attempt to fix this issue yourself.
6. Examine the Furnace Flame Sensor
- Problem: Furnace turns on but shuts down shortly after.
- Solution: A dirty or faulty flame sensor can cause your furnace to shut off unexpectedly. Carefully clean the flame sensor with a soft cloth or emery paper, but ensure the furnace is off before doing this.
Tip: If this doesn’t fix the problem, consider calling a professional for further inspection.
7. Listen for Unusual Noises
- Problem: Furnace is making strange noises (banging, rattling, or screeching sounds).
- Solution: Banging noises can indicate issues with the burner, while rattling may suggest loose parts. Loud screeching noises often point to issues with the blower motor. Tighten any loose panels, but if the noise continues, call a technician.
Tip: Regular maintenance can prevent many of these issues from developing in the first place.
8. Inspect Blower Motor and Belts
- Problem: Furnace blows cool air or has weak airflow.
- Solution: Check the blower motor for dust buildup or worn-out belts. Dust can sometimes prevent the blower motor from working effectively, and old belts might need replacing.
Tip: Be cautious when working near the blower motor. It’s best to turn off the furnace completely to avoid injury.
9. Test Furnace Safety Switches
- Problem: Furnace won’t start or shuts off unexpectedly.
- Solution: Safety switches prevent the furnace from overheating. If they’re malfunctioning, they may need to be reset or replaced.
Tip: Most homeowners should avoid handling safety switches, as incorrect handling can lead to further issues. If you suspect a switch problem, consult a licensed technician.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve gone through these steps and your furnace is still not working properly, it’s time to call a licensed HVAC technician. Additionally, any issues related to gas leaks, electrical faults, or complex mechanical components are best left to professionals.
Regular Maintenance Keeps Your Furnace Running Smoothly
Remember, regular furnace maintenance, like cleaning the blower and replacing air filters, can help prevent many common issues. A professional inspection at least once a year can ensure your system is ready for the colder months.
With this troubleshooting guide, you’ll be better prepared to handle basic furnace issues and keep your home warm and comfortable throughout the winter.
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See What Our Customers Are Saying:
Feb 13, 2019
Fantastic team. Completed the job as per the specifications and in under 3 hours. Highly recommended Twintech.
Jan 30, 2019
During the summer, I previously hired TwinTech to replace my air conditioner when it failed. They did an excellent job so when I decided to proactively replace the furnace I contacted them. The furnace I had was 22 years old and showed signs of internal leakage. It still worked but rather than wait to have it fail in cold weather, I decided to purchase a higher efficiency model before it failed and take advantage of energy efficiency rebates. TwinTech offered very useful advice on the make and model of furnace to choose including high efficiency and variable speed motor. The price was reasonable, TwinTech arrived at the allotted time, installed the new furnace (including some re-routing of exhaust lines since the existing ones were too close to other vents), removed the old furnace, tested the installation and cleaned everything up. Overall, it was a good experience, they did a great job and the new furnace is working well.
Jan 26, 2019
Greg came over at 9:30pm to rescue my daughter and I from a horrible experience with Enercare that evening. He was professional. Kind. And got us what we needed quickly and at an afford price. I would 100% recommend calling on Greg and his team for any of your heating and cooling needs in the future!!
Jan 24, 2019
Installed a great hot water heater when our old one failed. When my furnace died during cold weather they showed up quickly and my house was warm before my wife got home. :)
Jan 14, 2019
I dont usually right reviews but when you receive service like this I felt it was a must. Honest and fair. I Have 4 children and on Xmas eve my furnace stopped working and a gentleman came out and got me up and running so at least we would have heat for the holidays. As promised he would replace my furnace early in the new year. The job was completed on time, great price for quality furnace and extremely clean and professional job. Would have never known anyone was in the house. Not a spec of dust or mess from lugging out an old rusty furnace. If you have any ac or heating concerns twintech is your only option. I was royally impressed with and Im sure you will be too.
Jan 14, 2019
Class Act ! These guys were professional right from the quote stage through to installation. They know their stuff and took their time to help educate me. They take pride in their work and it shows. I would recommend TwinTech Heating and Cooling to anyone. Keep up the great work !!!
Dec 28, 2018
This Company is terrific. No high pressure sales and they deliver exactly what they promise to deliver. The new furnace is great and we now get consistent temperatures throughout the house. The installers were great and very efficient and completed the work on schedule on the promised day. Everyone representing this company was very aware of their presence in our house and worked diligently to keep our home as uninterrupted and as clean as was humanly possible. We did not need to go around the house to clean up after they left, what a nice surprise. We have had follow up by the company to ensure everything is to our satisfaction. How unusual in today's environment. The impression left by Twintech is that they care about us and our home. This is so refreshing in today's high tech world. Out thanks go out to Dave in sales and G, G, and P (the installers).
Dec 21, 2018
They were Timely and professional. They were very Knowledgeable with answering all of my questions.
Dec 23, 2018
The entire process was prompt and professional, from the initial quote to the installation of the new furnace. The team installed the new furnace and removed the old one in approx. 4 hrs. The guys were very knowledgeable and gave me lots of information. I have used Twintech before for a new A/C installation and new I was in good hands.
Dec 9, 2018
The overall experience dealing with this company was great from start to finish when getting a new furnace and ac this year. Everything was clearly explained to us during our consultation with Dave and there were no surprises with added costs. The work was done as expected and their response time to inquiries were very timely generally within a few hours or less. They are all very professional and was a pleasure to do business with them. Highly recommend to anyone looking for honest quality professional service.
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