After a long, hot summer, there’s nothing quite like coming home to a warm house on a cold winter day. But what do you do when you go to turn on your furnace and it doesn’t start? As the weather begins to cool down it will soon be time for jackets and boots. And of course, a properly working furnace in Downriver Michigan to keep your home warm during those cold nights. Here are some things you can do to get your furnace up and running if it’s not starting.
Since the furnace has been off for the summer and warmer months of the year there may be some things going wrong that you simply overlooked. Depending on where your furnace is, it may have had items stacked on top, around, or even fell on it. Most furnaces located in the basement can sometimes become shelves where home owners stack boxes and such on them. Sometimes causing problems with the furnace wiring or worse, the gas line. If you notice any problems such as this it’s best to call a qualified HVAC technician. With that being said, here are some thigns you, as a home owner, can check:
Check Your Thermostat Settings
The first thing you should do if your furnace isn’t starting is check your thermostat settings. If your thermostat is set to “off” or “cool,” your furnace won’t turn on. Set your thermostat to “heat” and make sure it’s set to a temperature above the current room temperature. If you have a programmable thermostat, check to see if the furnace is set to come on at the current time. If not, you may need to reset the clock or schedule. If you thermostat has batteries it’s also a good time to check those as well. Sometimes it’s a simple things such as a bad setting on the thermostat or a dead battery which keeps the furnace from starting.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
If your furnace filter is clogged, it can restrict air flow and cause your furnace to overheat. This can lead to expensive repairs down the road or, in some cases, cause your furnace to stop working completely. To avoid this problem, replace your filter every 1-3 months. Depending on the type of filter you have, you may be able to clean it and reuse it for up to 6 months. Some furnaces will have safety sensors which can stop the furnace if it suspects there is a clogged filter in order to preserve other components.
Check for a Gas Turned Off or a Leak
If you have a gas furnace, one of the most common reasons why it might not be starting is because of the gas turned off. Some home owners turn their gas off each year if the furnace is the only thing that uses gas in the home. If you do turn on the gas make sure you check for leaks. If you smell gas near your furnace, open all the doors and windows in your house for ventilation and call the gas company immediately. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself as this can be extremely dangerous.
Reset Your Circuit Breaker
If your circuit breaker trips or blows a fuse, it will cause your furnace (and other appliances) to stop working. To reset a circuit breaker, find your fuse box and locate the tripped breaker or blown fuse. Once you find it, flip the switch off then back on again or replace the blown fuse with a new one of the same amperage rating. If the problem persists after resetting or replacing the fuse, call an electrician as this could indicate a more serious issue with your electrical system.
We hope this post has helped shed some light on why your furnace might not be starting and how you can fix the problem yourself. However, if none of these solutions work or if you smell gas near your furnace, we recommend calling a professional HVAC technician for help as these could be signs of a more serious problem that requires expert assistance. If you want to have your furnace properly checked before starting be sure to call Superior Comfort Heating and Cooling in Downriver Michigan for service. Call them today at 734-818-7141.
