Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Check the Thermostat
To start, make certain that your thermostat is telling your heater to ignite.
Digital Thermostat
- Change the batteries if the display is empty. If the digital display is jumbled, the thermostat could need to be changed.
- Ensure the control is set to “heat” rather than “off” or “cool.”
- Make sure the program is showing the correct day and time and is scheduled to “run.” If you’re having a hard time turning off the program, adjust the temperature by utilizing the up/down arrows and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to ignite if thermostat is causing an issue.
- Turn the temperature setting to 5 degrees above the temperature of the room.
If your heating hasn’t started within a few minutes, make certain that it has electricity by moving the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t begin to run, your heater might not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you have a smart thermostat—like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for support. If you aren’t able to get your Wi-Fi thermostat to function, call us at 662-281-1231 for heating and cooling service.
2. Check Breakers and Switches
Next, check if your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Locate your main electrical panel. If you have no idea where it is, keep an eye out for a metallic metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Make certain that your hands and feet aren’t wet before using the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker labeled “furnace” or “heat,” and make sure it’s reading “on.” If you find that the breaker tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” position.
- Using one hand, steadily turn the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker instantly trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and contact a team member from Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc at 662-281-1231 quickly.
No matter your furnace’s age or brand, it has at minimum one standard wall switch placed on or by it.
- Make sure the control is facing up in the “on” spot. If it was switched off, it could take your furnace up to five minutes to start. (If you don’t know where your furnace is located, check 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 issues, a grungy, blocked air filter is regularly to blame.
If your filter is too grungy:
- Your heat won’t be able to stay on, or it may overheat from limited airflow.
- Your gas expenses could be higher because your heater is running too often.
- Your heater could break down prematurely because a dusty filter forces it to overwork.
- Your heating might be disconnected from power if an extremely dirty filter results in a tripped breaker.
Depending on what model of heating system you use, your air filter is located within the blower compartment of your heating system, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To swap out your filter:
- Cut the power to your furnace.
- Take out the filter and hold it up to the light. If you can’t view light through it, get a new one.
- Insert the new filter with the arrow facing toward the heating system to prevent damage.
Flat filters ought to be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you could have to put in a new filter sooner.
To make the process smoother down the line, write with a permanent marker on your heating system housing or ductwork to show the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Check the Condensate Pan
Also known as drain pans, condensate pans capture moisture your furnace draws from the air.
If moisture is seeping out of your heating system or its pan has too much water in it, use these guidelines.
- If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), double-check that it isn’t full. If it should be drained, drop in a special pan-cleaning tablet you can buy at home improvement or hardware retailers.
- If your pan uses a pump, check the float switch. If the lever is jammed “up” with standing water in the pan, call us at 662-281-1231, because you will possibly have to get a new pump.
5. Check for Heating Error Codes
If malfunctions keep on happening, look inside your furnace’s plastic window to confirm the blower motor’s status. Subject to the model, the light might also be mounted on the surface of your furnace.
If you note anything else besides an uninterrupted, colored light or flickering green light, call us at 662-281-1231 for HVAC service. Your heater might be emitting an error code that requires professional assistance.
6. Clean the Flame Sensor
If your heater tries to run but shuts off without blowing warm air, a grimy flame sensor could be to blame. When this occurs, your furnace will make an attempt to turn on three times before a safety feature turns it off for about an hour.
If you feel comfortable with opening up your heating system, brushing off your flame sensor is something you are able to do yourself. Or, one of our heating service specialists can do it for you.
If you want to clean the sensor personally, you need:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Portion of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A fresh paper towel
Next:
- Turn off the heater’s power with its wall switch or breaker. If your gas valve isn’t electric, you have to turn off the gas along with it.
- Lift off the heater’s front panel and track the wire to the flame sensor.
- Unscrew the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to gently scrub the metal rod.
- Clear the rod with a paper towel.
- Remount the sensor.
- Secure the furnace doors.
- Switch the furnace’s power back on. It could proceed through a series of inspections before continuing normal running. If your furnace doesn’t turn on, the sensor may need to be replaced or something else may be causing a problem. If this occurs, get in touch with us at 662-281-1231 for heating and cooling repair help.
7. Light the Pilot Light
If you own an outdated heating system, the pilot light could be extinguished. To relight it, find the guide on a sticker on your heating system, or follow these steps.
- Find the toggle beneath your heater that says “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Push the switch to the “off” position.
- Take a break for at least five minutes to prevent creating a fire.
- Push the dial to “pilot.”
- Press the “reset” switch as you move the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Depress the “reset” lever once the pilot light is burning.
If you have gone through the list twice and the pilot light still won’t burn or keep burning, call us at 662-281-1231 for furnace service.
Examine Your Gas Source
Try turning on a second gas appliance. If it doesn’t operate, your natural gas service might be shut off, or you could be out of propane.