Check your furnace switch. Often this switch (that looks like a light switch) can be accidentally turned off.

With a high efficient furnace there are 2 plastic pipes going outside, one is an exhaust and the other an intake. When it is cold outside, these pipes can frost over or with lots of snowfall get plugged with snow and this causes the furnace to turn off on a safety switch. Visually check the piping for blockage, if there is, clear and power down furnace and turn back on – this will reset the board and unit should start up.

One of the most common issues with a furnace is that it stops operating normally due to issues with the thermostat. It could be as simple as the thermostat being turned off, or maybe it isn’t set correctly. You always want to make sure that it is set to the “heat” setting and that the temperature you want is set properly.

One of the more embarassing fixes is a thrown breaker. There are many reasons for a breaker to trip, but the important thing is to quickly check. Hopefully your electrical panel is labled, but if not, you can usually see when a breaker is tripped. It is possible that your furnace and blower are on separate circuits, so look carefully.

You would be surprised at how quickly dirty filters can degrade the performance of a furnace. When filters are dirty, your furnace has to work much harder to blow air through the dirt and dust on the filter. As the pressure builds up, it could cause the blower to shut down. It’s as easy as checking your filters on a monthly basis and changing them if they are dirty.

Similar to a dirty furnace, a dirty or clogged fan unit will also make it harder for your furnace to push air through your houes like it was designed to do. Removing a furnace fan unit requires a bit of technical know-how, but it is fairly simple and safe. Once you have it out, you can clean it with a brush or cloth, and a vaccuum.

Sometimes it seems like it is only one or a few rooms that are not getting heat. If this happens, quickly check to see if all of the registers are opened properly and the cold air returns are not blocked. It is also a good idea to check all accessible ductwork to see if there are any issues with joints and seams.

It is also possible that the gas valve could have been accidentally bumped or shut off. It can happen if working around the furnace, moving things or even just cleaning up. Gas valves are labeled clearly and you can feel safe turning it to the on position. Once you have it in the right position, the furnace should start up again.

Common Repair Issues that Require Expertise

Wear and Tear on Furnace Parts

Your furnace parts will eventually breakdown and start to wear out. There are a lot of parts that can wear out including Belts, bearings, filters, motors, switches, fan blades, pilot and burners—all should be regularly checked to ensure they are in good working order.

Your furnace thermostat is the brain of your heating system. It is possible that the furnace is working just fine even though the thermostat is failing and causing it to act like there is something wrong. Troubleshooting a thermostat can be tricky and a trained technician will have all of the testing tools required.

The ignition and pilot system is critical to your furnace for producing heat. Without a properly functioning ignition system, it is not possible for your furnace to produce heat. There are many ignition systems including: electric-powered (electrical spark), and gas or hot surface ignition.

Furnaces have moving parts with bearings like the blower motor, and as a result there is some normal noise. However, if you begin to hear strange or intermittent sounds like clangs, bangs, rumbles, rattles, squeaks, or other noises, this can indicate all kinds of potential problems. Your heater may have ingested outside debris or been inhabited by household visitors. There may also be loose or detached parts.