Your furnace is one of the hardest working machines in your home. It works during the summer to cool your home and during the winter to keep you warm and cozy.

While proper furnace maintenance throughout the year can help keep things running smoothly, there is still the possibility of an unexpected problem or need for furnace repair. Though we advise to always call a professional, here are a few ways to troubleshoot the most common furnace problems.

The Pilot Light is Out

The pilot light on your furnace must remain lit for it to heat properly. If you notice your home is not heating, take a look at the pilot light.

Just remember to turn off your furnace at the thermostat before opening it up and looking inside. Next, locate the front panel of your furnace. Open the small door on the panel. Here you will find the pilot light.

To reset it, press the red button for a few seconds and use a long lighter or fireplace match to light the flame. This should reset and relight the pilot light. Once you turn the furnace on again, you should feel warm air coming from your vents. Should the issue not be resolved, contact a furnace repair professional for assistance.

Not Enough Heat?

Is the air blowing from your vents not as warm as you like? The good news is your furnace is running, so you will need to first check the thermostat settings.

Ensure the dial is set to the temperature you want. You may also try turning the unit to OFF, waiting a few moments, and then switching it back to ON.

Another issue that may be causing your home to not heat properly may sound like common sense – but is an easy oversight. Check to make sure all the air vents in each room are open fully. A closed vent will block any air from filling your home.

Next, check your air filter. A dirty or clogged air filter will also hinder proper airflow. We recommend changing the air filter twice per year—once in the spring and once in the fall—to maximize air flow.

A final step is to confirm the circuit breaker is set to the ON position. Still not feeling any heat? Call a professional HVAC technician to assess the issues and provide any assistance you may need.

Short Cycling Furnace

Do you hear your furnace running, but it turns off shortly after? It could be short cycling.

This will result in your home not properly heating. Check that maximum airflow is occurring by ensuring the supply and return vents are open.

Another cause of a short cycling furnace is a dirty air filter. When air is unable to flow freely through the filter, the furnace cannot distribute the heat properly.

Your Furnace Keeps Turning Off

If your furnace keeps turning off, check to see what temperature your thermostat is set to. If it is too low, this may be the reason.

Also, confirm your air filter is clean and unclogged. If you notice it looks a bit rough, try replacing or cleaning it.
Finally, take a look at the flame sensor on the furnace. A faulty flame sensor is a fix that is a bit more complicated, so you may opt to call a professional to address this furnace repair.

The Blower is Always On

Does the blower on your furnace seem to run endlessly? If so, you should first check the fan limit switch.

A malfunctioning switch cannot tell the unit when to turn ON or OFF and results in the constant running of the blower.

Also, confirm your thermostat is set to FAN. This mode indicates it will only run during the heating cycle and not continuously.

The Thermostat is Faulty

A common and easy furnace fix can be done with a malfunctioning or inaccurate thermostat.

First, check that the batteries in your thermostat are charged. If not, turn the setting to OFF, change the batteries, and set it back to ON. This will reset the thermostat.

You should also check that your thermostat is set to HEAT. A faulty furnace switch can cause heating issues in heating the home as well. If none of these checks remedy the issue, contact us for help.

Stay Prepared with Furnace Maintenance and Repairs

A properly working furnace is the key to a comfortable winter home. The common furnace problems mentioned above can oftentimes be easily fixed with a little troubleshooting by you.

Should you still need help with a furnace repair, our technicians are standing by to get your furnace back in order as quickly as possible.

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