When you attempt to turn on your heater and find out that it is not working, you do not have to immediately call in the professionals. If your home’s heater has malfunctioned, it does not necessarily mean that a furnace repair is in order. Here are a few things that you need to check before you call in heater repair professionals.
Thermostat
The first thing that you need to check is the thermostat of your heating system. Make sure that the system selector switch is turned on and that the temperature is set at least three degrees over the room temperature.
If the heater’s thermostat is battery powered, check first whether the display console is on. If not, you might simply need to charge the batteries.
If you have a forced air furnace system installed in your home, take a look at the switch for the furnace fan. Make sure that it is turned on; if it is not, turn it on. Afterwards, check whether the fan is working by listening to its sound and checking for air coming out of it. If the fan is not working, your heater may not have power.
Check the power
The next thing that you need to check is the electrical supply to your heating system.
First, make sure that emergency shut-off switch for your heater is turned on. The switch may have been accidentally turned off. In some heating systems, the power is cut off when a door is opened or a service panel removed. A heater not working may simply be a case of a door left unclosed or service panels that have not been replaced properly.
If you turned on the emergency switch but the fan is still not working, or if you are sure that the unit’s door is closed shut and the service panels have been replaced, you need to check the main power.
Check the breaker or fuse designated for your home’s HVAC system for tripped breakers or blown fuses.
If you have experienced any of these problems recently, you have to call in a qualified electrician to check the problem for you.
Ignition
If everything appears to be in order but the furnace is still not producing heat, you may have a problem with the ignition.
First, make sure that the heater has fuel. In many cases, a furnace may not be functioning because the homeowner forgot to top up the furnace’s fuel supply.
And in other cases, you may have to reset the heater’s burner after topping up the fuel. If you have an old gas furnace, you may need to check the standing pilot and turn it on. If the pilot will not turn on or turn off, you need to call in the professionals.
