Troubleshooting for the Most Common Furnace Situations

A problematic furnace can leave you dealing with hot and cold spots in different areas of your home, insufficient warm air output, or even a complete lack of heat. Before you call an experienced HVAC professional for help, try these furnace troubleshooting tips for common situations.

Check the Thermostat

If your furnace quits working, check whether the thermostat’s display screen is lit, and if not, try putting in fresh batteries. If the thermostat is working but there’s limited or no flow of warm air from the registers, make sure that it’s in “heat” mode, then try raising the temperature setting by five degrees to see if this helps.

Inspect Shutoffs and Breakers

If the furnace won’t start up, check whether its shutoff switch is in the “on” position. If you’re not sure where the shutoff is located, check for a light switch-like control that’s situated on or near the furnace. Then, make certain that the blower’s compartment door is fully in place. If it’s not, it won’t depress the small power switch located behind it. If the furnace still doesn’t start, check for a tripped breaker in your main electric panel.

Replace the Air Filter

If it seems impossible to keep your home comfortably warm or your furnace quits unexpectedly, check the furnace filter. A clogged filter can restrict system airflow and cause short cycling that keeps the furnace from heating your home sufficiently. A severely clogged filter can even restrict airflow enough to trigger the high limit safety switch that shuts down the furnace to avert a fire.

Rule Out Ductwork Issues

If some rooms aren’t being heated well, ductwork issues may be the culprit. If your duct system has dampers, make sure they’re all open, and look for disconnected sections that need reattachment or obvious gaps that should be sealed with metal-backed tape. Additionally, check that all your registers are open and that nothing is obstructing the return air grilles.

If you need expert help solving a heating system problem in your Middletown home after trying these furnace troubleshooting tips, contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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