Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Examine the Thermostat
To begin, make sure your thermostat is telling your heat to ignite.
Digital Thermostat
- Swap out the batteries if the monitor is not displaying anything. If the digital screen is scrambled, the thermostat could need to be replaced.
- Make certain that the control is on “heat” rather than “off” or “cool.”
- Make certain the program is showing the appropriate day and time and is set to “run.” If you’re having trouble getting out of the program, set the temperature by utilizing the up/down arrows and using the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to ignite if thermostat is causing trouble.
- Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees above the room temperature.
If your furnace hasn’t kicked on within a couple minutes, ensure it has power by moving the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t operate, your furnace may not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you use a smart thermostat—like one designed by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting will be determined by the model you have. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still unable to get your Wi-Fi thermostat to function, call us at 360-255-5857 for heating and cooling service.
2. Check Breakers and Switches
Next, verify your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Find your main electrical panel. If you have no idea where it is, look for a silver metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Make sure your hands and feet aren’t moist prior to using the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker titled “furnace” or “heat,” and double-check it’s reading “on.” If the breaker has tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” spot.
- With one hand, firmly flip the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker instantly trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and get in touch with an expert from Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning at 360-255-5857 immediately.
It doesn’t matter how old your furnace is or what brand it is, it has at minimum one regular wall switch situated on or close to it.
- Ensure the switch is flipped up in the “on” position. If it was switched off, anticipate your furnace could take up to five minutes to ignite. (If you don’t know where to locate your furnace, look in your basement, garage or utility closet. It can also be in a crawl space or attic.)
3. Put in a New Air Filter
When it comes to furnace breakdowns, a filthy, full air filter is frequently to blame.
If your filter is too grungy:
- Your furnace won’t keep heating your home, or it may get too hot from reduced airflow.
- Your utility costs might go up because your heating system is switching on more than it should.
- Your heating system could stop working prematurely due to the fact a dirty filter causes it to overwork.
- Your heating might be cut off from power if an extremely dirty filter results in a tripped breaker.
Depending on what type of heating system you have, your air filter is located in the interior of the blower compartment of your heating system, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To put in a new filter:
- Switch off your heater.
- Pull out the filter and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, get a new one.
- Install the new filter with the arrow facing toward the heating system to avoid damage.
Flat filters need to be replaced every month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you may have to replace your filter more frequently.
To make the procedure smoother in the future, write with a permanent writing tool on your heater exterior or ductwork to list the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Check the Condensate Pan
Otherwise known as drain pans, condensate pans hold water your heating system removes from the air.
If moisture is leaking from within your furnace or its pan has standing water in it, try these steps.
- If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), check that it’s clear. If it needs to be drained, drop in a special pan-cleaning tablet you can purchase at home improvement or hardware retailers.
- If your pan uses a pump, take a look at the float switch. If the button can’t be moved from the “up” position with water in the pan, call us at 360-255-5857, because you will possibly have to buy a new pump.
5. Check for Furnace Error Codes
If failures persist, look at your heater’s plastic window to verify the blower motor’s status. Subject to the type, the light may also be fixed on the outside of your heater.
If you notice anything else besides a solid, colored light or flickering green light, reach us at 360-255-5857 for HVAC service. Your heating system may be communicating an error code that requires specialized assistance.
6. Scrub the Flame Sensor
If your furnace attempts to run but shuts off without blowing heat, a filthy flame sensor can be to blame. When this occurs, your heating system will make an attempt to turn on three times before a safety mechanism turns it off for around an hour.
If you feel comfortable with taking the panels off your furnace, gently scrubbing your flame sensor is something you have the ability to do personally. Or, one of our heating service experts is able to complete it for you.
If you are confident cleaning the sensor personally, you need:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Bit of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A fresh paper towel
Next:
- Turn off the furnace’s power by using its wall switch or breaker. If you don’t have an electric gas valve, you will need to shut off the gas along with it.
- Take off the heating system’s front panel and track the wire to the flame sensor.
- Remove the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to gently scrub the metal rod.
- Wipe off the rod with a paper towel.
- Screw the sensor back in.
- Secure the furnace doors.
- Restore power to the furnace. It might proceed through a set of tests before resuming usual running. If your heating system doesn’t turn on, the sensor could have to be replaced or something else may be creating an issue. If this happens, contact us at 360-255-5857 for heating and cooling repair assistance.
7. Light the Pilot Light
If you have an aging heater, the pilot light could be turned off. To light it, look for the guide on a label on your heating system, or try these guidelines.
- Locate the lever beneath your furnace labeled “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Turn the switch to the “off” position.
- Wait at least five minutes to limit the possibility for starting a fire.
- Push the switch to “pilot.”
- Press the “reset” button as you push the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Release the “reset” switch once the pilot light is lit.
If you have gone through the instructions twice and the pilot light still won’t light or keep ignited, contact us at 360-255-5857 for furnace service.
Examine Your Gas Delivery System
Try using an additional gas appliance. If it doesn’t operate, your natural gas service could be shut off, or you might have run out of propane.