Furnaces work by heating air that flows through your home’s ductwork and vents to heat up, which then travels through a plenum connected to your furnace before being distributed throughout your residence. But if something goes wrong, do you know what to do?
Check the Thermostat
Thermostats are an integral component of your furnace system. They monitor indoor temperature, determine heating cycles, and activate your furnace based on your set temperatures. Most thermostats feature an LCD screen which displays your settings; if yours has gone dark it could indicate dead batteries or malfunction of some sort.
If you aren’t sure what steps to take, this link recommends that you try setting the thermostat higher. Over time, thermostats tend to forget their programming settings; therefore, it may be beneficial to reset them every month or two.
Fixing thermostat issues quickly and easily is achievable when wires connecting it with the furnace become loose or damaged; in such a situation, communication between them cannot occur and thus your furnace cannot function as intended. Make sure all wires are attached firmly without damage before making adjustments to ensure optimal results.
Check the Pilot Light
A pilot light is the small flame located inside of a gas furnace which serves to open its gas valve. If it goes out, your system may shut down. While occasional outages of pilot lights are normal, if this one continues going out you should investigate as it may need repair services from professionals.
Locating your pilot light should be your first step when troubleshooting furnace issues Once found, open its door to see if there’s a flame coming through; otherwise it could indicate your pilot light has gone out. Also take note of its color; an ideal pilot flame should have blue with yellow tips – any differences mean cleaning out its orifice may be required.
If your pilot light is flickering or wavering intermittently, this could be caused by draft. Drafts usually result from dust particles accumulating inside of its pilot tube; to remedy it, use a needle to clear out its interior with ease.
Once the pilot tube has been cleaned and disinfected, carefully attempt to relight it with a long-handled match (similar to those used for lighting barbecues). If this option is unavailable to you, use pliers to hold the match while keeping your hands away from its flame. Once done, switch back the knob back onto “pilot”, and wait at least five minutes so any leftover gasses dissipate completely.
Check the Burners
Once your thermostat turns on the gas furnace, its burners ignite natural gas and air to heat your house. Warmed air travels through ducts before being distributed throughout the home by a blower fan. Maintaining clean burners will prevent them from overheating or burning out prematurely.
The blue flame test is an easy and straightforward way to check if your burners are dirty. Simply remove the covers of any gas furnaces, turn on your thermostat, and observe the flames – they should all be blue with equal sizes. Any yellow or orange flames indicate they require cleaning; should any seem irregular, call your heating and cooling company immediately!
Checking the air filter is another simple and inexpensive task to keep an eye on, since this element serves to filter out contaminants such as dust, dander and pollen from your air ducts. A clogged filter may lead to inefficient operation – though replacement should be straightforward and inexpensive. Changing filters monthly or at least quarterly depending on manufacturer instructions is advised for optimal efficiency.
Check the Filters
Before warm air from your furnace enters your home, it must pass through an air filter to filter out dust, dander, pollen and any microorganisms that might clog it up and reduce efficiency. If your gas furnace doesn’t seem to be performing as intended, check its filters – it is a simple and inexpensive step that could make all the difference in its heating efficiency!
Filters typically exist within return ducts or near the blower chamber and should be easy to locate; otherwise you may have to unscrew a cover, open a latch or hinge and slide out the filter from its slot. If any resistance occurs or it seems as though something is holding it in place then it would be wiser to try identifying what holds it there before continuing any other steps.
Once you have installed your new filter, securely screw it in and close any doors or vents that were open while taking out the old one. Be mindful to install it with its arrow facing in the correct direction – filters are designed to filter air in one direction only; installing them backwards could result in trapping debris into them and restricting your furnace’s airflow.
Your house’s conditions will ultimately dictate when and how frequently to replace its filter. For instance, if anyone smokes within your household then more frequent replacement may be necessary as its filters will quickly become worn from being exposed to smoke ash and other pollutants.
