5 Possible Reasons Why Your Furnace Isn’t Working

As a new homeowner having just moved into your new home, you still may be riding the waves of that excitement. It’s only until the first cold weather of winter sets in and you turn on your furnace for the first time, only then do you realize that the furnace is not working. The main reason behind this is proper care and maintenance. That is key and crucial. However, if you’re still at a loss to diagnose your furnace problem check out this link.

Now working under the assumption that the previous home owners did their due diligence and had exercised proper furnace maintenance to begin with, most likely it will appear evident that there is a super simple easy fix that will not trouble you to call in the help of a qualified professional. And while it’s true that not all furnaces are an easy fix, even still it’s worth to give this approach a shot.

First off, determine exactly what is the type of furnace that you have in your home. Given that most contemporary homes today have a forced air gas furnace, the troubleshooting tips in this article will focus solely on that type of furnace.

By far, homeowners disclose that the most common complaint they encounter when the furnace fails to ignite is the tell tale clicking sound indicating that the furnace is about to come to life. So you wait in silence as there is no heat. Houston, we have a problem. The furnace has failed to ignite. So what to do?

1. Check the Thermostat

And while this may seem obvious, it can at times be overlooked. Always ensure that your thermostat is set. One tip is to try turning the fan’s switch to the “on” position. By doing so, this will force the furnace to start blowing air. Still no luck? Try looking at your programmable thermostat to see if there is any error code being indicated. If your home has had upgrades and as such a newer programmable thermostat, the display will indicate by an error code that something is amiss.

2. Check the Gas Line

Technicians from Markham Professional Furnace and AC Repair reveal the common issue with furnaces: “If your property has been dormant for a period of time, check to make sure that the gas is actually turned on. Venturing outside, examine the shut-off valve. If it’s turned off, then you have your answer.”

Another tip is to turn on a gas-burning appliance like your kitchen stove. This will ascertain that the gas is in fact turned on. Once you’ve satisfactorily determined that the gas is going to other household appliances, check to establish that the gas is being properly supplied to your furnace and that its transmission is open, unobstructed and clear. Chances are that if there is a disruption of gas supply to the furnace, it could quite possibly have an inadequate amount necessary to property ignite. And as common sense does dictate, if you should smell even the faintest trace of gas and suspect that there may be a gas leak, evacuate your home immediately and call a qualified professional to ascertain and determine the specific nature of the emergency.

3. Check the Furnace

And while this may be obvious and overlooked, consider and investigate that your furnace itself could be at the root of the issue. Maybe it was a simple case of the furnace being accidentally turned off. Even though it is a gas furnace, it still uses electricity to be turned on. There is also a power disconnect switch that you can look at. One other tip, check the breaker box to ensure that it’s not been tripped. Once it has been turned on and it is still proceeding to trip, then it’s time to call in a professional HVAC technician. In this situation, something could most definitely be wrong.

4. Check the Filter

By far one of the easiest fixes to your furnace is to change the air filter. Your furnace’s air flow will be tremendously impeded if routine filter changes have not been actively performed, which will result in registers and vents being totally clogged. So simply check to make sure that the filter is visibly clean and has recently been changed. Move and clear away any furniture which may block vent registers. If this doesn’t solve your problem, then you’ll have to call in a professional to clean your air ducts if the airflow obstruction still persists.

5. Check the Pilot Light

The pilot light or as it is also know as the ignition sensor is generally one of the most frequent issues in the event that the furnace fails to ignite. This is easily identified by hearing the furnace click but the “whoosh” sound of it firing up is not subsequently heard.

A relatively easy fix is to check a dirty or faulty pilot light. Try this:

Turn off the gas to the furnace. Remove the front panel. Right behind the burners you should find the ignitor ignition sensor. Ensure as to not to break it, with a screwdriver remove the sensor and clean it if it’s dirty. Next, replace it exactly the same way you found it when you removed it. Replace the front panel. Turn on the gas and then the furnace. Go to your thermostat and turn up the temperature. There now. Does the furnace fire up?

If it’s the very first time of the season that you’ve attempted to turn on your furnace, bear in mind that a furnace ignition with a standing pilot light could potentially take a moment to light. This will depend upon the length of the gas line itself and how long it actually takes the fuel to reach your pilot light. So with that being said, be patient. As the thermocouple heats up first, your furnace should be working now. However, if you’re not comfortable as a handy person, then it’s best to make a call and let a professional technician take care of your repair needs.