What to Do If Your Furnace Stops Working
There are a few indicators that your furnace may be acting up and many of the issues don’t require a professional, just a little elbow grease! However, professional furnace repair is the fastest way to fix your furnace without damaging it. Check out these DIY furnace repairs that you can do to keep your home warm and cozy.
How Do You Troubleshoot a Gas Furnace?
So, what should you do if your furnace stops working? Step one is to identify the symptoms and find the source of the issue. Depending on the symptoms, the issue might be as simple as some dust build-up or as complicated as a complete breakdown. Here are some common indicators of a broken furnace and how to find the source of your furnace issues.
If your furnace provides very little heat when it’s running, there are a few steps you can take to fix the issue:
Uneven Heating
If your furnace provides very little heat when it’s running, there are a few steps you can take to fix your furnace issue:
- Verify that nothing is blocking the airflow.
- Make sure the thermostat is set to “heat.” Try raising the temperature five degrees and wait a few minutes to see if it improves.
- Put in a new filter if it’s time for a replacement.
An out-of-date filter is one of the most common issues. Keep yours regularly changed in order to fix your furnace and avoid any buildup of dirt, dust, and other contaminants.
No Heat
If you notice that the heat doesn’t come on even when you adjust the temperature on the thermostat, there are a number of things that could be happening. You could be facing a thermostat malfunction or a tripped circuit breaker, or your pilot light might have gone out. Here are a few tips on what to do if your furnace’s heat stops working.
- Check that the circuit breaker is on and that the fuse has not blown.
- If the circuit is blown or tripped, reset the breaker by turning it all the way off and back on.
- If necessary, replace the fuse.
- Make sure the power to the furnace is on.
- With a gas furnace, light the pilot light if it went out and verify that the gas valve is on. Be sure to check the furnace’s ignition as well.
If there still isn’t any heat, the thermostat may be faulty, in which case you’ll want to call in an expert to assess the situation and fix the furnace.
Furnace Is Turning Off and On
This is more than likely due to an issue with the thermostat. There is a small lever on your thermostat (not the heat adjustment lever) — this is your heat anticipator. If your furnace is going off and on too often, set your anticipator closer to the “longer” setting.
You may not see the heat improve for a couple of hours. Wait for a bit, then readjust if necessary.
Funny Noises
Heating ducts can expand or contract as they heat up and cool down, so there are plenty of noises that should not be a major concern or an indicator that you need to fix your furnace. However, there are a few that deserve closer attention and can be easily remedied.
- Rattling: If your furnace cabinet is making a rattling noise whenever it runs, this is likely due to loose cover panels. Be sure they’re all screwed on nice and tight.
- Squealing: These sounds occur when the belt that connects the motor to the fan slips. This is something that can be fixed by either tightening the motor mount or replacing the worn-out belt. You can tighten the belt by removing the access panel, loosening the bolts that keep the blower motor at the correct tension, and either adjusting the distance or realigning the belt. Be sure to check your instruction manual before making any adjustments.
When making repairs on your own, make sure you don’t mess with any internal components that aren’t necessary. This can cause unintentional damage and lead to a costly repair.
Should You Replace or Repair Your Own Furnace?
If you find that your furnace is not responding to your repairs or that a part needs replacing, you may be wondering, “who can fix my furnace?” Your safest choice is to call a repair technician. A trained expert will know what to do if your furnace stops working. Not only will they be able to assess the problem and fix it properly, but will also be able to audit your HVAC system and make recommendations for how to keep your heating and cooling systems running long term.
For further information on what to do if your furnace stops working or to schedule an appointment with a repair technician, contact the experts at Sedgwick today!