5 Things to Check when your Furnace Won’t Turn On

11 Jan 5 Things to Check when your Furnace Won’t Turn On

SERVING AREAS OF BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

Tennessee winters aren’t known for being too harsh, but that’s entirely relative. Spend any amount of time in your home without any heat, and you might beg to differ with us. Whether it be your air conditioner going out in the middle of July, or your furnace not turning on when it’s cold, these types of things always seem to happen when you least expect. Today on the blog, our furnace repair technicians in Kingsport want to share with you five things to check when your furnace won’t turn on. Then, if you’re still left feeling as cold as your ex, contact a top-rated furnace repair company in Johnson City right away for an inspection.

1. Check to make sure the unit is turned on

We aren’t trying to make you feel silly here, but you’d be surprised how many times someone thinks that their furnace is turned on, wondering why the unit isn’t putting out any heat. All the while, they find out they never actually turned it on to begin with, or someone else in the home had turned it off. So, in all seriousness, this should be the first thing that you check. Be sure that the unit is actually on. It might be the easiest troubleshooting trick in the book! It’s also the first thing that our technician is going to check too.

2. Check your thermostat

This goes right along with making sure that your unit is turned on. You also should check the thermostat and make sure it is above room temperature. Be sure that the HEAT setting is selected, and that it is on AUTO, not ON, which blows cool air out of the registers. If this doesn’t fix the problem, move on to assessing airflow.

3. Check the gas supply line

If you have a gas-fueled furnace, be sure to check the gas supply line and ensure that it is turned on. If it is, then there is something else causing the problem. If, however, you smell gas, leave your home immediately and call a repair company.

4. Check the furnace filter and registers

This is a commonly forgotten aspect of the furnace’s operation. Many homeowners often forget to check or change their furnace filters, which not only is bad for the unit but for your health as well. Check to make sure the filter isn’t dirty because it could, at the least, limit airflow, or completely obstruct air from flowing through the registers. That’s another good point, make sure all of your registers (air vents) are open and not obstructed or blocked by furniture or anything else. Despite what you might have heard, or read online, closing off registers in unused rooms isn’t economical.

5. Check the pilot ignition light

If you have a gas furnace, check the pilot light. If the pilot ignition clicks but does not start up, then you could be dealing with a faulty sensor. This could be a simple DIY job for some, but most homeowners will need to call an HVAC repair company in the Tri-Cities to do the job safely. Just be sure to refer to your furnace’s owner’s manual before attempting any repairs, and only do so if you have the proper tools. Otherwise, the safest call is to contact the pros!

Having your heat go out during the winter is inconvenient. We make dealing with this type of problem much easier when you contact Thompson Electrical Service at (423) 343-5726 today. We will repair your HVAC unit, so you stay warm throughout the winter.