During a Northeast Ohio winter, you don’t want to be left without heat or with insufficient heating, which is why it’s so important to have some basic furnace troubleshooting skills. That way, you’re better equipped to diagnose furnace problems, either to address them yourself or do a better job of explaining the problem to an HVAC technician.
If the Furnace isn’t Kicking On
- First, check to see if the thermostat is properly set. It should be on “heat” mode with a setting that’s higher than the temperature in the room. If the thermostat works on batteries, check those, too. Is the furnace getting power? Check the breaker box to make sure the circuit that operates the furnace hasn’t tripped.
- Perhaps ignition is the problem. Pilot lights in older furnaces sometimes go out, and it’s simply a matter of relighting the pilot. However, if the pilot continues to go out, or if the electronic ignition in a modern furnace isn’t working properly, you’ll need to contact a trusted service technician.
- A part might be loose or detached from the blower motor or a belt might have slipped. A sign of this is a rattling or banging noise in the furnace compartment shortly before the furnace stopped working.
- The problem might be one or more clogged burners in the combustion chamber. This may be preceded by small explosions that occur when gas is delivered to the burner in irregular amounts, a result of a partially clogged burner. If the problem worsens, the furnace will shut down.
If the Furnace isn’t Providing Enough Heat
This could be any of a number of furnace problems, including a dirty filter, dirty or leaky ductwork, closed registers, an aging furnace, or if this is a longstanding problem, an undersized furnace.
Many of these issues can be prevented with a furnace tuneup. This will also ensure that gas lines and venting pipes are secure.
If you’re having furnace problems in your Lorain, Cuyahoga or Erie County home, please contact us at Energy One Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace problems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area