Are you dealing with a furnace that isn’t working properly or not putting out heat? As temperatures fluctuate and storms keep rolling through, it seems to be getting colder and colder as winter progresses. Whether you are dealing with furnace issues or one that is making noises, you may be wondering why your furnace isn’t working and what you can do to fix it. Here, Fritts Heating & Air discusses possible reasons why your furnace isn’t working and how you can go about repairing it. If you’re in need of furnace repair, be sure to give us a call ASAP.
Common Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Not working
Is your thermostat set to “Heat”?
Let’s start with the obvious issues customers sometimes overlook. Is your thermostat set to “heat”? If so, check that your temperature setting is high enough to activate the furnace. Remember to be patient and allow your system to kick into gear. It’s important to keep your thermostat user guide handy. That way, you can consult its troubleshooting section when a start-up problem happens. If you have more questions that your guide can’t answer, be sure to give us a call.
Are You Burning Too Much Gas?
When you get a gas furnace installed they need to be calibrated. If they burn too much gas, they may overheat and shut down mid cycle. When installing a gas furnace, our trained technician checks that the calibration is correct. Additionally, it’s recommended to do a combustion analysis once a year to make sure your furnace is still burning the optimal amount of gas.
Dead Blower Capacitor
The thing that starts your furnace is the capacitor. If it is dead, it can’t get your blower moving which means that you won’t have any heat. Sometimes, a broken capacitor simply doesn’t start the furnace, but in other cases, it can run the blower at excessively low RPMs, leading to a possible malfunction. If you suspect this kind of malfunction, ask your Fritts technician to check it out during your annual routine maintenance call.
Low Refrigerant
Like air conditioners, heat pumps need the right level of refrigerant to function efficiently. If you notice uneven heating or unexpectedly high energy bills, your refrigerant levels may be lower than expected. Fritts Heating & Air can help you get your levels back to normal and increase the refrigerant charge.
Check The furnace switch
If your thermostat is working, see if your furnace power switch is off. Look for the switch mounted on the side of the furnace. It may also be a simple light switch on the wall. Some furnaces have a switch with a fuse. Check to see if it’s blackened and burnt. If so, call Fritts Heating & Air to replace it and have the switch turned back on.
Is your pilot light on?
If you have a gas furnace, the pilot light must be on for it to work. Pilot ignition is a safety feature that ensures gas doesn’t flow through the burners until there’s a flame ready to ignite them. Lighting a pilot light can be dangerous. It’s recommended to hire Fritts Heating & Air before modifying anything in your furnace by yourself. DIY can cause more damage and lead to costly repairs.
Cracked Heater Exchanger
If your furnace is not working, the reason may be a cracked heater exchanger. Typically, this problem reduces your efficiency and causes a system malfunction.
Depending on the type of furnace, a cracked heater exchanger may leak carbon monoxide gas. Make sure you always have a working CO detector. If a technician finds a cracked exchanger during routine maintenance, you should have it replaced ASAP.
Ductwork Issues
Sometimes, heating problems don’t arise from your furnace. Sometimes the ductwork may be causing your problems. If your air ducts are dirty, clogged, or installed in a way that restricts air flow, your furnace cannot run properly, and it may start overheating and short cycling. Next maintenance call, have your Fritts technician check your air ducts for potential issues.
Neglecting Maintenance
Maintaining your HVAC equipment is crucial to the entire system working properly. In several cases, furnaces stop working simply because they haven’t been maintained properly. Some of most common issues related to lack of maintenance include the following:
- Your blower motor is dirty, it won’t blow cool air over your heat exchanger, causing the exchanger to overheat and stop working.
- The flame sensor doesn’t sense a flame. This cuts the flow of gas to your heater.
- Having a dirty or clogged air filter. This inhibits air flow through the entire furnace, resulting in major issues.
Need Furnace Repairs? Call Us Today!
Download our Brochure to learn more about our standard efficiency gas furnaces. Our office is convenient to Canton, GA and services the entire north metro Atlanta area. Keeping your heating system up and running is crucial to the success and longevity of your furnace. Fritts Heating and Air will come service your heating system before winter begins and after the cold season to ensure your furnace is maintained and functioning properly. Don’t wait another minute; contact us today for all of your standard gas furnace needs.