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It’s fall and you’re trying to turn on the furnace for the first time after summer to check if it’s working, and it’s not switching on at all. As your furnace has many components, the problem could be with any or a few of them. Have furnace services inspect your furnace or keep reading to learn the causes of furnace problems.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Checking the power supply to your gas, oil, or electric furnace should be the first thing to do. A circuit breaker allows electricity to a certain part of the house. Check for the circuit breaker that provides power to your furnace or the part of the house where the furnace is located.
Locate the breaker box which is usually in the basement or garage of a house. Ensure that the circuit breaker is in the on position. A tripped circuit breaker is one of the common reasons why a furnace doesn’t start when homeowners try to kick it on for the first time after summer.
Faulty Thermostat or Incorrect Thermostat Settings
A malfunctioning thermostat will cause furnace ignition problems. But another reason for the furnace not turning on is the incorrect settings of the thermostat. Check if your thermostat is programmable. If it is, reset its settings and switch on the furnace again.
In addition to that, some thermostats have an individual power supply such as batteries. Whether you used your HVAC system in the summer or not, the thermostat batteries may be drained. Check the batteries and replace them. Plus, make sure that the thermostat settings are in heat mode and not in cold mode.
Dirty Furnace Filter
Many furnaces have a safety feature that turns off a furnace when the air filter is dirty or clogged. As you’re turning on your furnace after summer, it’s highly likely that the furnace filter will be dirty. Some furnaces stop working due to a dirty filter because the airflow is restricted. So, the machine overheats and turns off.
Locate the furnace filter and clean or replace it. Furthermore, make sure to change/clean the furnace filter every month. For keeping track of the replacement of furnace filters, write down the date when you inserted the furnace filter for the first time and change it 90 days later. Also, clean or change the air filter installed on the air vent registers.
Malfunctioning Pilot Light
The small flame that keeps lit all winter even when the furnace is cycled off is called a pilot light or ignitor. It enables the furnace to cycle on and off without any external input. If the pilot light is faulty, it won’t turn on and in turn, the furnace won’t start.
Many furnaces have a small glass window from where you can see the pilot light. If it’s not on, pick up the instruction manual of your furnace to see the instructions for relighting the pilot light of your furnace.
Along with that, check the color of the pilot light. It should be blue. If it’s green, purple, red, or orange, the furnace may need to be cleaned from the inside. You will have to turn off the furnace, open the front compartment, and clean it or hire a professional.
Is The Furnace Receiving Gas/Oil?
A simple reason for a furnace not turning on is less or no fuel supply. A gas furnace will need a gas supply. If the gas valve is turned off, the furnace won’t start. To check whether you’re receiving the gas supply is to turn on any other gas appliances. Moreover, check for leaking gas pipes as well.
If you’re smelling gas near the furnace, near the gas valve, or in any other location, contact your gas supplier immediately.
Clean The Drain Pipe
Your furnace was left unattended in the summer so its drain pipe might be clogged. When the drain pipe of a furnace is clogged, it triggers a safety switch that stops the furnace from turning on. Empty water from the drain pan of the furnace and clean it with a detergent or a bleach solution. To avoid it, carry out HVAC system maintenance regularly.
Conclusion
That’s it! Furnaces of any type last many years so the cause of the problem may be the above-mentioned things. For quick and proper repairs, get in touch with furnace repair services Falls Church.
