What Do You Do When a Furnace Stops Working?

1. What DoYouDoWhen a FurnaceStopsWorking? If you have a furnace system in the home, you rely on this system to provide you with comfortable heating during the winter months. When a furnace stops working, it can be worrisome and frustrating. All you want to do is heat your home and the furnace just wants to be stubborn and not function properly. Before contacting a professional, be sure to check a few areas first. You may find a simple solution can get your system back on track in no time. Below are a few steps you can take when your furnace decides to stop working. Thermostat The first area in which to look is the thermostat. If the thermostat is not working properly, the unit will not function. Check the thermostat to make sure the unit is on and placed on the heat setting. Check the batteries of the thermostat, do they need replacing? Many times, batteries become low in charge and are a common cause for a furnace to stop operating properly. Switches/Breakers Another solution for a broken down furnace is the power supply. Check your switch board or circuit breaker to see if you tripped a circuit. You should know the switch for your furnace and make sure the switch is On. If not, flip the

2. switch On. You can flip to On then Off and wait a few minutes then back to On to ensure the power is going to the unit. This is another common reason way a unit can stop functioning. Filters The air filter of a furnace is an important part of the daily operations of the system but an area in which home owners forget to maintain. Check the filter and see if dust and debris is caked on. If the filter is full and in need of changing, take it out and install a fresh filter. After changing the filter, see if the unit begins to operate as it normally would. Gas Line If you have a gas furnace, you need to check the gas line of the unit. The system should have a lever that will alert you of the gas line. The lever should be set to the Open setting. If it is not, you will need to move the lever to open the gas line. If the gas line is open, then this is not your issue. Chimney When a furnace operates with a chimney, you can easily have a clog in your system. Over time, the system can see a build-up of steam which can adhere to the chimney walls. If this is the problem, you will have to contact a professional to clean the debris so that your unit can release steam once again via the chimney. It is not recommended for you to clean this area yourself as climbing to the roof of the home can be a dangerous task. Vents/Intake The release vents and air intake of the furnace system should be intact and able to release air accordingly. If you have covered any of these vents, you

3. are preventing the heat from reaching areas of the home. Move furniture and other items that may be blocking the vents to correct the heating issue. Seeking Professional Assistance If you have looked over these steps and find that your system is still not operating properly, you will need to contact a professional. A heating technician will be able to look over your entire system and open up the unit to determine where the problem lies. Then you can have your heating system back in action, heating the home once again!