Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Inspect the Thermostat
To begin, make certain that your thermostat is telling your heater to turn on.
Digital Thermostat
- Change the batteries if the display is not displaying anything. If the digital display is mixed up, the thermostat could need to be swapped out.
- Make certain that the switch is on “heat” instead of “off” or “cool.”
- Make sure the program is displaying the correct day and time and is set to “run.” If you’re having a hard time overriding the program, set the temperature by using the up/down arrows and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to start if thermostat is causing an issue.
- Set the temperature setting to 5 degrees hotter than what the room temperature currently is.
If your heat hasn’t started within a few minutes, make sure it has juice by changing the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t begin to run, your furnace might not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you utilize a smart thermostat—like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting will be determined by the model you have. Take a look at the manufacturer’s website for assistance. If you aren’t able to get your Wi-Fi thermostat to operate, call us at 254-307-9572 for heating and cooling service.
2. Inspect Breakers and Switches
Next, confirm your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Look for your main electrical panel. If you don’t know where it is, keep an eye out for a silver metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet aren’t wet before using the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker titled “furnace” or “heat,” and double-check it’s turned “on.” If you discover a tripped breaker, it will be in the middle or “off” area.
- Using one hand, steadily flip the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker instantly trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and get in touch with a team member from Bell Air Conditioning Inc at 254-307-9572 immediately.
It doesn’t matter how old your furnace is or what brand it is, it has no less than one regular wall switch positioned on or near it.
- Ensure the control is moved up in the “on” position. If it was turned off, it could take your furnace up to five minutes to ignite. (If you don’t know where to find your furnace, look in your basement, garage or utility closet. It may also be in a crawl space or attic.)
3. Get a New Air Filter
When it comes to heater issues, a dirty, clogged air filter is regularly the top offender.
If your filter is too dusty:
- Your heater won’t keep heating your home, or it might get too warm from reduced airflow.
- Your gas expenses may increase because your heat is running too often.
- Your furnace may break down too soon due to the fact a dirty filter forces it to work harder.
- Your heating system can lose power if an extremely clogged filter is the cause of a tripped breaker.
While it depends on what type of heating system you have, your air filter can be found inside the blower compartment of your heater, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To replace your filter:
- Turn off your heater.
- Pull out the filter and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t view light through it, get a new one.
- Insert the new filter with the arrow motioning toward the furnace to prevent damage.
Flat filters should be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you could have to change your filter more frequently.
To make changing your filter easier down the line, write with a permanent pen on your furnace exterior or ductwork to list the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Examine the Condensate Pan
Also known as drain pans, condensate pans capture water your heater removes from the air.
If moisture is leaking out of your furnace or its pan has too much water in it, try these recommendations.
- If your pan contains a drain (look for a PVC pipe), make sure that it’s clear. If it requires draining, use a special pan-cleaning tablet you can buy at home improvement or hardware shops.
- If your pan uses a pump, inspect the float switch. If the button can’t be moved from the “up” position with standing water in the pan, call us at 254-307-9572, because you will likely have to get a new pump.
5. Check for Heater Error Codes
If malfunctions keep on happening, take a look at your furnace’s plastic window to check the blower motor’s status. Depending on the model, the light could also be mounted on the outside of your heating system.
If you note anything except a steady, colored light or twinkling green light, call us at 254-307-9572 for HVAC service. Your heating system may be emitting an error code that needs professional help.
6. Brush off the Flame Sensor
If your furnace tries to operate but shuts off without blowing warm air, a dirty flame sensor might be responsible. When this occurs, your furnace will attempt to turn on three times before a safety feature turns it off for approximately an hour.
If you feel comfortable with taking the panels off your heating system, brushing off your flame sensor is a job you can do personally. Or, one of our heating service specialists has the ability to complete it for you.
If you want to clean the sensor on your own, you require:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Portion of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A dry, clean paper towel
As the next step:
- Shut off the furnace’s power through its wall switch or breaker. If you don’t have an electric gas valve, you will need to shut off the gas in addition.
- Remove the heating system’s front panel and trace the wire to the flame sensor.
- Remove the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to gently clean the metal rod.
- Clear the rod with a paper towel.
- Remount the sensor.
- Put the furnace doors back on.
- Restore power to the furnace. It might proceed through a set of checks before resuming usual running. If your heater doesn’t ignite, the sensor could require replacement or something else may be causing a problem. If this happens, call us at 254-307-9572 for heating and cooling repair help.
7. Relight the Pilot Light
If you are using an aging heater, the pilot light could be turned off. To reignite it, look for the steps on a sticker on your heater, or try these recommendations.
- Find the toggle below your heater that says “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Push the switch to the “off” position.
- Wait at least five minutes to prevent sparking a fire.
- Push the knob to “pilot.”
- Press the “reset” button as you move the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Release the “reset” button once the pilot light is lit.
If you have tried the instructions twice and the pilot light still won’t ignite or remain lit, contact us at 254-307-9572 for furnace service.
Inspect Your Gas Delivery System
Try switching on a second gas appliance. If it doesn’t work, your natural gas delivery might be shut off, or you may have run out of propane.