What To Do When Your Furnace Won't Turn On
One of the most frequent complaints by furnace owners is that their systems won't turn on. What makes this problem so common is the fact that there are many issues that could be behind it. Some of the reasons behind this problem can be easily corrected, but in some cases, you'll need to call a professional for furnace services. What should you do the moment you realize your furnace isn't turning on?
Check If the Power Is On
A common misconception among furnace owners is that gas-powered systems don't need electricity. This, however, is far from accurate. Modern gas furnaces use electronic ignition systems and also have features such as fans. The gas furnace may also be connected to an electronic system that is used to control it.
All this means that while the fuel used in the furnace could be natural gas, electricity is still needed in other important parts of the system. Therefore, you should first check if the power is on. For those with systems that use pilot lights, you'll need to confirm that the pilot light is still on.
Check If the Gas Is On
You could spend hours trying to figure out what's wrong with your system only to realize that someone turned off the gas to your home or furnace while working on something else. Ensure that there's gas coming into your house and into your furnace before you try anything else.
Check Your Thermostat Settings
The thermostat is what tells the furnace when it's time to turn on and when it's time to turn off. If someone intentionally or accidentally changed the thermostat's temperature setting, it will not tell the furnace to turn on when you need it to.
Alternatively, the temperature setting on the thermostat may be right but the thermostat itself may be malfunctioning. You'll probably need a furnace repair professional to look into that.
Check the Filters
Another common suspect when furnace doesn't seem to turn on is the filters. If you have air filters that are blocked, the airflow from your registers might be so low that you may assume the furnace isn't on. Dirty filters will interfere with airflow to and from the furnace. Ensure that the registers are also not obstructed by anything.
Call an Expert
Calling an expert should never be too far from your mind when you're dealing with furnace issues. Some furnace problems will require a skilled and experienced person to fix.
