“Out of sight, out of mind” applies to most of our home’s HVAC system. They’re usually in the basement and programmed to automatically heat or cool your home, so you probably don’t give them much thought. That is until yours stops working. The idea of a cold home in the middle of winter is enough to make anyone panic, but the experts at Lion Home Service know how to handle a heating emergency.
In fact, it may not be a serious problem at all, so take a deep breath, grab a sweatshirt, and go through our checklist to see if you can get your furnace up and running on your own. If these simple tips don’t get warm air blowing again, give us a call and we’ll help you get heat in a hurry with our emergency 24 hour service.
1) AIR FILTER & AIR flow
Don’t be embarrassed if you fix your problem with this first step. Check to make sure the air filter is clean. An extremely dirty air filter can block air flow, and the furnace won’t have enough air flowing through it to move the heat. As a safety feature it is designed to shut down if it gets too hot. So replace the air filter if it seems dirty. Use our Filter Subscription program to help remember to change it! Your indoor air quality means more now than ever.
Also, be sure to clear leaves, snow, or debris from intake and exhaust vents restricted airflow can cause overheating or system damage. And make sure that curtains, furniture, and boxes are not blocking indoor registers and returns.
2) POWER
Check to make sure power to the furnace is on. Even gas furnaces need electricity to work. There should be a switch close to the furnace. Did someone bump it and turn it off? Check the fuse or circuit breaker at the electrical panel. Did the fuse blow or the breaker trip off? Replace the fuse or reset the breaker. If it happens again right away, it’s time to call in a company you can trust.
3) THERMOSTAT
Check the settings on your thermostat. Make sure it is “On”, turned to “Heat” or “Auto” mode, and the temperature control selector is set higher than the current room temperature. The fan switch can be set to “On” or “Auto”. As a test, try raising the thermostat to its highest temperature setting to see if the furnace comes on.
4) Reclose Door
If your furnace was recently tuned-up, this could be the reason. There’s a safety switch on the furnace door that prevents the fan and burner from running while the access panel is being serviced so if the door isn’t closed properly, your furnace won’t work.
5) GAS VALVE
Make sure the gas supply to the furnace is fully open. You could also check to make sure the gas control valve inside the furnace is open. If you smell gas, don’t turn any lights or fixtures on or off, leave your home immediately and then use your mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to call the gas company for emergency repair.
6) PILOT LIGHT
Finally, older model furnaces have a little flame that is always lit, which then lights the main furnace when your home needs heat. Has it blown out? Do you light it, but can’t keep it to stay lit? Then the most likely cause is a dirty or broken sensor, called a thermocouple. This small probe is mounted directly in the flame of the pilot light to tell the furnace whether the flame is lit or not. If that sensor is not working then there is no way to see the flame and the furnace shuts the gas valve to prevent gas from filling the house.
Newer model furnaces don’t have a pilot light that is always lit, but automatically light each time the furnace needs to heat your house. These furnaces are more reliable, but also more complicated to fix. One simple step to try yourself is to turn off the power to the furnace for about a minute, and then turn it back on. That may reset the controls and let the furnace start up. Still nothing? Time to call in the professionals!
THE LION GUARANTEE
100% SATISFATION GUARANTEE- We agree to accept responsibility for your complete satisfaction with the materials we use and the workmanship we provide. During the first year, if you are dissatisfied with our service or our people for any reason, we will do whatever it takes to make it right and correct the problem to your satisfaction.
Lion is HERE TO HELP!
If you’ve checked everything mentioned above and you still have no heat, give us a call at Lion Home Service and we’ll be happy to help you! We can help 24 hours a day for Furnace Repair, Furnace Maintenance or Furnace Installation. We serve Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Windsor, Wellington and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with an expert you can trust 970-399-9940
