6 Reasons Why Your Furnace Isn’t Turning On
When you think of the heating system in your home, you probably imagine your family being warm and cozy while the cold weather rages outdoors. There’s no better feeling than turning on the furnace on a frigid day. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your furnace can’t experience problems from time to time.
If your furnace won’t kick on — especially when you need it most — it’s easy to panic. Why isn’t your heating system turning on? Is there an easy solution to this problem, or will it require the assistance of a professional HVAC technician?
Let’s go over the potential reasons why your furnace isn’t turning on and what you can do to fix the issue as soon as possible.
Thermostat Woes
Since there are many potential reasons why your furnace isn’t turning on, it’s best to start with the problems that are easiest to fix. First and foremost, you’ll want to check that the thermostat is set to “HEAT.” It’s possible that you switched your thermostat to a different setting, such as “COOL,” at one point or another and forgot to change it.
If your thermostat doesn’t appear to be working properly, you might also need to change the batteries. Many thermostats with screens will let you know that the battery is dead or needs to be replaced soon.
Checking your thermostat only takes a few minutes, but it can end up being a simple fix to a major problem. If your heating system still won’t turn on after reviewing the thermostat settings, there are many other causes worth considering.
Circuit Breaker Problem
Do you have a gas or electric furnace? Whatever the case may be, you might want to check to make sure that the circuit breaker controlling the furnace hasn’t tripped. Even if your furnace runs on gas, it still needs to be plugged in to work.
There are many potential reasons why your furnace won’t turn on, and a tripped circuit breaker is certainly worth considering. Simply switching the circuit breaker to the correct setting can restore power to your furnace and have you back on your way to enjoying a warm, comfortable home.
Dirty Air Filter
Your furnace filter has an important job, as it collects a wide range of airborne contaminants and prevents them from entering your home. These airborne pollutants can include everything from dust, dirt, and pollen to pet hair.
If your heating system’s air filter becomes clogged or dirty over time, it can limit the airflow coming and going from the furnace. As you can probably imagine, this lack of airflow can spell trouble for your heating system’s performance. For example, insufficient airflow can result in the heat exchanger overheating, which can then cause the furnace to turn off.
When discussing the potential reasons why your furnace isn’t turning on, don’t overlook the importance of air filters. The general rule of thumb is that homeowners should replace their air filters every 90 days. However, some factors can influence how often you change the air filter, such as whether or not you have pets, allergies, or asthma.
Pilot Light Issue
Some gas furnaces have a pilot light that needs to be ignited in order to work properly. The pilot light is a little blue flame that ignites the burner; if the pilot light is out, the furnace won’t be able to function.
Gas furnaces with pilot lights will have a safety feature where the heating system won’t turn on if the pilot light is out, as a way of preventing natural gas from being spread throughout the house. Since this is one of the possible reasons why your furnace won’t turn on, it’s certainly worth checking out. However, if you don’t feel comfortable checking the pilot light yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a furnace specialist for assistance.
Disrupted Gas Line
Did you know a closed or disrupted gas line could be one of the reasons why your furnace won’t turn on? As a first step, you’ll want to check to see if the gas is turned on. You can do this by inspecting the shut-off valve located outdoors.
If the gas is turned on, it’s possible that a low gas supply could be to blame. You can typically check your gas supply by turning on other gas-powered appliances in your home and seeing if they work correctly. If not, It’s a good idea to contact your gas supplier as soon as possible and report the problem.
Malfunctioning Blower Motor
Your furnace’s blower motor has an incredibly important job. When the warm air is ready to be distributed throughout your home, the blower motor is the component responsible for pushing it through the air ducts. Of course, if the blower motor malfunctions, you won’t feel any warm air coming out of the vents.
If you think a faulty blower motor could be one of the reasons why your furnace won’t turn on, get in touch with a professional HVAC technician right away. A trained and experienced expert can perform an inspection, diagnose the problem, and provide you with a repair.
Stay Warm With Help From Our Heating Experts
Since there are many potential reasons why your furnace isn’t turning on, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you want to get to the bottom of the problem, get in touch with Connors Plumbing, Heating and Air! Our Southern Minnesota air conditioning and heating experts are proud to offer a wide range of services.
One of the first steps in preventing your furnace from malfunctioning is scheduling annual maintenance. Fortunately, we can help with that and more. We specialize in everything from furnace repairs and maintenance to HVAC system replacements. If you have an issue concerning your heating system, plumbing, or air quality in Mankato, MN, or the surrounding area, rest assured that we can handle it all.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
