Need Help to Repair Your Furnace? Read These Tips and Help Yourself

Furnaces contain many mechanical parts that could potentially break or come loose over time, which is why you require professional furnace service provider assistance. Below are some tips for taking care of the issue, yourself.

1. Check the Thermostat

Your thermostat could either be wired into your home’s electrical system or powered by batteries; according to this thread – if it uses batteries, ensure they are fresh before replacing them. Also open and blow away any dust accumulation in your thermostat before inspecting its settings to verify accuracy if an electronic or programmable model.

Before switching on the power again, inspect the wiring to make sure nothing has become disconnected or loose. Be wary when using a screwdriver not to damage any thin wires that connect the thermostat and furnace – frayed or damaged ones may indicate it’s time for replacement of this part of your setup.

If your older gas furnace does not start after lighting its pilot light, yellow flames in its burner may indicate dirt blocking oxygen flow and preventing complete combustion – leading to carbon monoxide emission into the atmosphere. Water might help; you could try pouring it down the drain line or replacing its ignition assembly (this requires special tools).

2. Check the Pilot Light

If the thermostat is set to “Heat,” and your pilot light is illuminated, yet your furnace still doesn’t produce hot air, there could be another component at fault. A common scenario would be for one of your circuit breakers or fuses controlling your furnace to have been recently tripped or blown; in this instance, manually flipping each breaker back and forth may help; otherwise contact a professional to repair.

Many people don’t realize their furnace has a pilot light, yet if yours does it is an essential part of its functioning. The pilot light ignites gas that is used to heat your house while helping control how much gas is being consumed by your furnace (source: https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2012/03/pilot-lights-are-evil/). Without it running correctly and safely your furnace could become inoperable and even hazardous if its pilot light goes out.

If your pilot light seems to go out frequently, it could be time to replace its burner cap and thermocouple. inspect your ductwork for gaps or holes that need sealing with metal duct tape instead of cloth duct tape; should these minor issues not provide relief, professional services may need to be called in for more extensive repairs.

3. Check the Vents

An effective furnace will only heat your house efficiently when its vents are open and free from obstructions that obstruct air flow. A visual inspection of these vents should reveal any obstructions preventing airflow – such as furniture or curtains blocking their openings – so click here to learn how to do such a procedure on your own.

Filters that have become dirty or clogged will also interfere with airflow through your vents, and replacing one may be all it takes to restore proper functioning of your furnace. Simply make sure it is installed in its appropriate orientation on the furnace intake vent. Most filters feature an arrow that indicates which direction air should flow; installing it incorrectly could reduce efficiency considerably.

Be sure to also inspect your exhaust vent regularly. An exhaust vent obstructed by snow, soot or any other material may allow carbon monoxide back into your home, which can be deadly if breathed in. If you suspect an obstruction has taken place with your exhaust vent, contact a professional immediately in order to avert a potentially lethal situation.

Your furnace’s exhaust vent should be located outside your house near its location, typically as a set of curved pipes running from the bottom to roof of your house. If obstructed by snow or debris accumulation, clear away using only hand techniques (a shovel or snow blower could damage its pipe structure), and inspect for cracks and holes which could allow CO leakage into your home.

4. Check the Power

If your thermostat has been adjusted but no warm air is coming through your vents, it may be time to check that furnace for power. Locate your home’s main electrical panel and look for a switch labeled “furnace” or “heater”. If the breaker has been switched off, turn it back on; otherwise if it trips again it could require replacement of either switch or fuse.

Make use of any small door switches on your furnace that allow you to test power coming into its control board, taping down its common wire leading into it and using a voltage meter to measure whether it reads 120VAC (hot). If not, your control board may be malfunctioning and the pros at Sun Air may need to come in and take a look. Sun Air can make sure everything is in the right place for you, so contact them today:

Sun Air Services
7304 Causeway Blvd, Tampa, FL 33619
813-684-9919

Another possibility could be loose low-voltage wire connections at your thermostat (source:https://www.thermostatcenter.com/thermostat-wiring/). A modern, electronically controlled furnace typically features six low-voltage wire connections between it and its body – this need to be securely attached both to both walls and bodies of thermostats for proper functioning. Disconnect it from its wall location and check each connection individually until everything seems tight again.

Older furnaces with pilot lights will require you to relight it regularly; this should be a straightforward process that should follow the user manual’s directions. Be careful not to touch it with anything metallic as most pilot lights now utilize electronic technology instead of traditional flames; nonetheless, natural gas should be turned off so as to reach the pilot light and relight it safely.