6 Simple Ways to Save the Day (or How to Troubleshoot Your Furnace)

It's 5:30 am when you hit the alarm and notice it seems a little chillier than normal this morning. Thinking it is just a side effect of winter coming, you shuffle down the hall to the kitchen and notice the dog’s water bowl seems frozen too.

“Oh no,” you think. “Time to call for a heating repair- the last thing you need first thing in the morning.”

But WAIT!

What if we shared a few top-secret tips you can try first?

Before you disrupt your morning, spend the money on a repair bill or try to get the kids out the door without the benefits of heating- try these troubleshooting tips for your furnace. 

How to Troubleshoot Your Furnace

1. Make sure your thermostat is set to ‘heat’. Don’t laugh. It happens more often than you think.

2. Check your filter. It seems simple enough, but a dirty air filter causes the majority of furnace problems we see. If your air filter has enough dirt build up- your furnace may not be able to get any air.

3. Check the power. If you switch the thermostat to ‘on’ and the fan comes on, you know you have power. If the fan doesn’t come on- you may have a problem with your electricity instead.

4. Flip the switch. Furnaces have a switch known as the “furnace switch.” It looks like a regular light switch and sometimes is accidentally turned off. Simply try the switch and give it a few minutes.

5. Check the code. Most later model furnaces have a tiny window where light will shine through. The light will tell you your furnace has power and may flash a code that you can use to decipher the problem. You can open the access panels and find a key that will tell you what the code means.

6. Still have a pilot light? Furnaces more than 20 years old may have a pilot light that has gone out. Your owner’s manual has instructions for how to relight it.

Still don’t have heat? Give us a call. Don’t worry- we still think you’re a hero!