Causes of Furnace Not Turning On
Why Won’t My Furnace Turn On? It can be downright frustrating to have furnace problems in the middle of a Calgary winter. Our technicians put this list of steps together to help you troubleshoot your furnace.
If you have properly maintained your furnace, the problem could be a simple fix that will not require the help of a professional. It could save you a couple of hundred dollars.
Since most homeowners in Calgary have a forced air gas furnace, the focus of this article is why gas furnaces do not start.
No Power
The first thing to check is the power source.
Even with a gas furnace, some of the components run on electricity. Check your circuit breaker to ensure all switches are in the “ON” position. However, if it continues to trip, call an HVAC technician.
Ensure that you did not accidentally turn “OFF” the switch inside the furnace or the power disconnect switch by the furnace.
Check Your Thermostat Settings
A thermostat is a control used to regulate the temperature in a heating system. Once you set the preferred temperature, the thermostat works to keep your room at the preferred temperature. Once the temperature drops, the furnace turns on to increase the temperature.
Following are some of the ways that you can make sure that your thermostat is functioning correctly:
1) If your furnace is not heating the house sufficiently, turn up the heat on the thermostat. It may have reset when the power went out.
2) With a programmable or smart thermostat, you may have set it to increase the temperature when you’re home or reduce the heat when you’re away or sleeping. In this case, adjust the settings.
3) Check the batteries. Change the thermostat batteries at least after every year.
Blower Motor
The blower motor turns the blower fan, sending the air through your air ducts and into each room.
Like other components in your HVAC system, the blower motor wears down over time. For instance, it may fail due to overheating and excessive moisture. A dirty blower motor wears down quicker.
Your local furnace contractor can help you choose and install the correct blower motor.
Gas Line
Ensure that you did not turn the gas off by examining the outside shut-off valve. Or, instead, start another gas-burning appliance, such as a stove.
If the gas line is not the problem, check to ensure the gas supply to the furnace itself is flowing correctly.
If you smell gas, leave your home right away. When in a safe location, contact an HVAC professional to assess the problem.
Air Filter
One of the most straightforward solutions is changing or cleaning the air filter.
Without regular maintenance, dirt and dust may have fully clogged your filter, vents, and registers. To resolve this issue, do the following:
1) Ensure the furnace filter is clean;
2) Ensure all registers are clear of furniture and other blockages.
If this does not solve the problem, you may need a professional company to clean your air ducts.
Pilot Light
Since 2010, gas furnaces now have an electronic ignitor. As a result, these newer heaters do not use a pilot-light system.
If you have an older heating system, the pilot light or ignition sensor could be the issue if you hear it click but not fire up.
Follow these steps, and you may be able to solve the problem yourself.
- Turn off the gas in the furnace.
- Remove the front panel to find the ignitor or ignition sensor.
- If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, clean it.
Schedule a Call with a Furnace Company
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the reasons why your furnace won’t turn on. Moreover, you can follow some of the troubleshooting steps to get your furnace up and running again.
If the above steps do not resolve your problems, schedule a call with a trusted furnace company in Calgary, Alberta.
