My Furnace Isn’t Working, Now What?

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Furnace Stopped Working | Hamilton Home Comfort

If you’ve noticed that your home has been chillier than normal then your furnace might have stopped working. There are a few reasons why your furnace might not be working and you should go through some basic troubleshooting before you start looking at repair costs. If you’re having an issue with your furnace, have a look at some of the more common problems that can arise and how to fix them.

There are a number of things you can look at and fix yourself before you call in a professional. If your furnace stopped working, try as many of these tips as you can and if none of them work, then it will be time to all in the pros to help you get your home back to warm and cozy again.

Your Furnace Stopped Working?

1. Check for simple solutions

Sometimes the solution to your furnace problem can end up being pretty simple. The first step is to check the setting and battery on your thermostat. Sometimes your settings can be changed by a rogue family member or someone cleaning nearby and it will just be a matter of resetting them back to the way you prefer. Make sure you also check out the battery in your thermostat as that can also run out which might leave you unable to adjust your settings.

Another issue with your thermostat could be the wiring and the connection to the furnace itself. A simple way to check this is by following the wiring from the thermostat to the furnace and looking for visible breakage. If you find some broken wires, they can be spliced and covered with electrical tape if the power is off.

2. See what needs to be cleaned

There are a few components to your furnace that will need to be cleaned and maintained to prevent any issues in the future. The first thing you should keep up with is the filters. The filter will need to be changed and checked depending on the type of filter your furnace uses (a flat filter will need to be replaced every month while a pleated filter should at least be checked monthly and changed when you are unable to see through it) and this is important to keep the furnace healthy.

Another thing that needs to be cleaned often is the vents that exhaust outside. Because they are facing the elements, they can become clogged with debris and leaves in the summer and sometimes be covered up by snow in the winter. If these exhaust vents aren’t cleared properly then the gas can become backed up and start affecting the condition of the furnace which might result in the furnace turning off so keep these spots clean.

4. Make sure everything is on

If you’re doing any sort of maintenance around your gas line or you’re doing some work to the line itself, you’ll need to make sure your gas is turned off for safety reasons. If you forget to turn your gas back on then your furnace will not be able to run so make sure you flip it back on after you’re done. Many gas lines have a handle that needs to be turned from perpendicular to parallel and others will have a spinning valve that will need to be loosened by hand.

If you have an older furnace and your gas line is turned on then make sure your pilot light is lit. This will vary based on the style of your furnace but most have a small glass door that will allow you to see the flame. Lighting your pilot light will also depend on how your furnace is designed so check the manual or call an expert before you attempt to relight the pilot light yourself.

5. Go room by room

If you’re finding that the heat isn’t working in one or two rooms then you should check out the ductwork that leads to those rooms. If you’re able to, open up the wall and make sure all the connections for the ductwork are secure. The repair job will depend on how bad the damage is but a loose connection can usually be fixed with a bit of duct tape.

If your ductwork is connected properly then check out the vents themselves. For homes with lots of traffic from pets and children, the vents that lead into the rooms can become clogged with pet hair or accidentally become covered. Make sure your vent covers aren’t damaged, aren’t covered, and check that they aren’t clogged with debris before you start considering calling a professional furnace repair company.

6. Check your chimney

Some furnaces use an existing chimney to release the exhaust that’s produced but just like any other interior vents, these can become clogged. Some chimneys can be accessed from inside while others will require getting right onto your roof to check.

If you can see that your chimney has a blockage then it’s best to leave it to the professionals to clean. Chimneys are not only tight spots to fit into but they are often weakened if they’re older and a professional will be able to clean them using tools and techniques that are safe.

Local Furnace Repair

If you’ve been troubleshooting your furnace and you still can’t get it working then it’s time to call the professionals to come in and help you out. There’s a huge cost when it comes to repairing vs replacing your furnace and getting it maintained is much less expensive. A professional furnace repair company can help you figure out what parts of your furnace will need to be fixed and what needs to be swapped out for a new part.

If you’re worried about your furnace breaking down, make yourself a schedule so you can keep your furnace and filter maintained properly. Ask your local furnace repair expert about the best way to keep your furnace and thermostat working properly. They will be the best people to help you keep your furnace in its best shape.