Schedule Service
6025962501
Though a furnace can stop working at any time in the year, most homeowners do not discover any issues until they turn it on during the fall. Should this happen to you, there are a few things you can do yourself to get your system up and running again. However, if you feel uncomfortable at any point in time, call a licensed HVAC technician to help. You don’t want to get into the middle of repairs and realize you are in over your head. But if you are handy and unafraid to open up your furnace, here are seven things you can try yourself before calling in the professionals.
Furnace not igniting because of incorrect thermostat setting
Many homeowners forget they need to change their thermostat setting back to ‘heat’ or ‘heating’ after a mild fall and forget they even have to tell their thermostat what kind of heating or cooling they want to take place in their home. Before we get into more difficult fixes, check your thermostat first.
Make sure the thermostat is set to heating and that the temperature is set high enough to actually turn the furnace on. It may be set at too low of a temperature to activate the furnace in the first place.
If you have a newer thermostat, the thermostat itself may be able to tell you if something is wrong. There may be an error code, or it might even tell you what is specifically wrong with your furnace.
Furnace wont ignite because of a dirty air filter
Furnaces need an adequate amount of air to be able to operate smoothly. If it has been a long time since you have changed your air filter, then that might be the reason your furnace is not lighting.
To change your air filter, open up the metal grate that houses the air filter and remove the old filter. Does the filter look physically dirty or caked in dust? If so, it is time to change your air filter.
Get into the habit of changing your air filter at least every 1-3 months. However, you should take a look at it periodically to see how well it is doing in between. If you have any pets or if you live in an area with a lot of pollen or pollutants, you may need to change it more often. Some air filter companies advertise that their filters do not need to be changed very often, but whether you do or do not need to change your filter very often depends more on your home’s environment than it does anything else.
Bottom line: keep your air filter clean. It will improve the performance of both your furnace and AC system.
Furnace not igniting burners because of tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse
It is possible a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse may be the underlying reason your furnace is not igniting properly. If this is the case, it is possible you would not know from your thermostat if you have an older model. Though this may seem too simple, rule this one out before proceeding.
Go to your electric panel and see if any of the circuit breakers have been tripped. If so, turn them back on. If it immediately trips again, you may have a short somewhere in your system. Do not try to turn it on again. Contact a licensed technician.
If you have an older home with a fuse panel, you will want to turn the power off to your entire house. To do this, pull out the main fuse block. For extra safety, an amp meter should also be used to verify that power is truly off. Next remove the fuse that corresponds with your furnace. If it looks black or cloudy, or there is a visible gap between the main center wire, then the fuse has blown. Refer to the amperage rating at the top and replace with a fuse of the same number. Do not try to use a lower or higher fuse as this will cause the fuse to blow out once again and could damage your furnace even further.
Gas furnace will not ignite because of a faulty gas line
A faulty gas line could be the reason your gas furnace is not lighting. First, check and make sure that your gas is turned on. Your shut-off valve should be outside and will resemble a rubberized strip of metal about five inches long. If it is perpendicular to the gas pipe then it is turned off. If it is parallel with the gas pipe, it should be on.
However, if you have any other gas appliances in your house, such as a gas stove, you can simply check to see if it is working. If you are able to light a burner, for example, or a gas fireplace, then your gas line is not turned off.
Though naturally odourless, natural gas has an odorizer called mercaptan added to it to give it a rotten egg smell. If you smell something peculiar and suspect you may have a gas leak, exit your house and call 911 immediately.
Oil furnace won’t ignite/ gas furnace not igniting because the furnace has been turned off
Both oil furnaces and gas furnaces have a physical power button. If the furnace is located in a space that people frequent, it is possible the main power switch has been turned off. Locate it and make sure it is turned on. If it turns on for a moment and then immediately turns back off, there is an internal issue and you should contact an HVAC technician before investigating further.
Furnace not igniting burners because pilot light has gone out or electronic ignition has stopped working
If you have an older gas furnace, your system uses a pilot light to ignite the burners. A pilot light is a small flame that burns year-round. It is so small that it consumes very little gas. You should see it inside of your furnace just above the burners. If it is lit, it is not the cause of your problems. If not, you can use a small match to light it back up. However, if this fails to turn your furnace on, then your issues are more substantial and you should call a professional asap.
If you have a newer furnace, you probably have what is called an electronic furnace ignition. Also located above the burners, an electronic furnace ignition heats up as an electric current runs through it. If it is running, it should glow and produce a popping sound. If you hear a lot of popping sounds but the system is not igniting, this usually means that it is dirty. Turn off the system, unscrew it from the furnace frame and clean it gently with a small cloth. Once clean, carefully reinstall it and turn the power back on to your furnace. Note: You may need to turn the temperature up to get the furnace to engage.
Gas or oil furnace not igniting because of dirty burners
Dirt or grime on the burners themselves can restrict the flow of air and prevent the burners from lighting. If, upon inspection, the burners look dirty, you can try cleaning them to get them to ignite.
To clean them first turn off power to the furnace by flipping its circuit breaker to the off position. Next, remove the burners using a drill and clean them with a hard wired brush. Remove as much as possible from all sides of the burners and then spray the entire unit with a can of compressed air. Once the burners are clean, reattach them to frame and turn the power back on.
Furnace maintenance tips
To ensure your furnace runs smoothly when you need it to, follow these maintenance steps throughout the year.
- Routinely clean/ replace air filters
- Have the ducts, vents, and blower cleaned once a year
- Have your furnace and thermostat inspected by a licensed HVAC technician once a year
How to know if you need a repair vs replacement?
A professional HVAC technician will tell you if it is time to replace your furnace system. Some tell-tale signs, however, include:
- Increased energy bills because this suggests your furnace is not running as efficiently as it once did
- Increased dust and particles in the air while the furnace is running
- Excessively dry air in the winter
- Furnace frequently requires repairs
- Furnace frame is cracked or rusted
- Rooms are not heating evenly
- Furnace is older than 20 years
Is this something I can fix myself?
It depends on your comfort level removing burners and replacing electronic ignitions. If that is something you are comfortable with, you may be able to fix it yourself. In many cases repairing a furnace is a job better suited for a licensed professional so that you know it is being done right. If done incorrectly, it can cause other problems that may not be so easy to fix further down the road.