The first sign of a furnace problem is that initial cold day when your furnace turns on and there is no heat. You remember that it worked great the last time it turned on in April, what could have happened over the summer season and fall?
We usually advise calling an expert to repair furnaces for safety and security and peace of mind. However there are some quick fixes you can do on your own even before you call us that might turn your heat back on.
Start by examining your thermostat. The thermostat needs to be toggled to “heat” and “on”. If it is a battery-powered thermostat, change the batteries if you haven’t changed them in the last year. If you have a programmable thermostat, check the day and time is set to be “on” at this time.
Have you inspected the breaker for your furnace to ensure it hasn’t tripped off? You can shut off the breaker and inspect the fuse if the breaker was “on”. You can also toggle the switch on and off to make certain the switch remains in the ON setting. If it doesn’t stay on, you have an electric issue with the circuit.
No or restricted air flow causing no heat might be the result of a clogged furnace air filter. To inspect your New Jersey’s furnace filter, hold it up to the light. If you can not see light coming through, the filter is obstructed and you need to replace the filter. It is a great suggestion to buy 2 filters and change your filter twice a year, once in springtime and once in autumn. Keep in mind that these air filters are crafted for one-way air flow. Ensure the filter is placed the correct direction.
Your furnace’s burners can become clogged up or obstructed and because of this, your burner is contaminated with debris and this ought to be taken care of as soon as possible. A sure indication of burner contamination is if the burner flames are yellow, not continually blue and even. Over the summer season, dirt and soot can develop on the burners and an annual maintenance cleaning is all it requires to keep your burners functioning efficiently.
Many furnaces have electronic ignitions and these can malfunction. A fast repair is to turn the furnace power on and off to reset the ignition. If this doesn’t fix it, it may be an indicator that there is something else causing the pilot light to not work properly. This might be a damaged heating element, and if so, you need to have a certified service professional go over the burner to inspect if it is split or otherwise compromised.
What happens if you discover your furnace isn’t blowing air at all? This can be an issue with the thermostat, blower motor, transformer, control panel or capacitor. At first look, see to it that the blower isn’t obstructed at all. Then, if you have actually inspected the thermostat and it is adjusted properly, a service technician must take a look at the other possible causes listed previously for issues and maybe replacement of that component.
Your furnace has a control called a limit switch. A malfunction with this switch may cause the blower to run constantly, even if your thermostat is set to “auto”. Figuring out if the problem is with the thermostat or limit switch is rather simple. The limit switch is a fail safe type of device: if the furnace becomes too warm, the heating element turns off automatically when it gets a signal from the limit switch. If the blower still runs constantly, yet there is no heat, the high limit switch could be at fault and your heating and cooling technician will replace the switch.
Did you know that your furnace door has a safety switch? The access door is wired to make sure that when the door is open, the furnace can not light and the fan will not switch on. Check your access panel to see to it that it is completely closed if your furnace is not turning on.
If you have a gas or oil furnace, you have a gas or oil supply line that is running to your furnace. This supply line has a shut off valve nearby. You can check to see if in some way over the summer the gas/oil supply line to your furnace was inadvertently turned off. The basic repair for this is to open the gas/oil supply line.
One thing that you don’t want to attempt and fix yourself is a gas leak. If you smell gas from your furnace or anywhere around the furnace, please call a qualified hvac repair company immediately. Your furnace might not be working because of a leak such as this and the very best course of action you can do for the safety and security of your family and your residence is to hire a qualified contractor to repair the leak right now. We can take your call 24/7/365.
Older houses commonly vented furnaces through the roof. Newer high efficiency heating systems have air intake and discharge vents that vent horizontally to the outside via the walls of your home. These vent pipes can end up being blocked with fallen leaves or other junk which can impede their efficiency. If you have safety testing covering these air outlets, make certain that they are not entirely blocked with dirt which is keeping air from entering or leaving the system.
A twice yearly check-up of your furnace and central air system will certainly make sure that the initial cold snap will not leave you stuck inside a cold house come Autumn or a sweltering house on the first 90 plus degree day in the springtime. Normal maintenance is the solution to getting your furnace in good working order to ensure that when you need it, it is ready to provide the performance you require.
For repair work, maintenance and great craftsmanship for your heating system, please call us to look after your furnace issues. We’re here 24/7 and welcome the chance to help you get your furnace functioning properly once more.