Furnace Tips for Common Problems

December 17, 2023

Furnace Tips for Common Problems

1. My furnace does not turn on.
2. My furnace is on, but it’s not heating my home as it should.
3. My furnace is making a horrible noise!
4. My furnace turns on and off too frequently.
5. Why is my blower constantly running?
6. I think my thermostat is faulty. How can I check?

Problem: My Oil or Gas Furnace Is Not Working If your furnace is not starting, or if it does turn on but there’s no heat coming out, be sure to check the following items to see if they could be the trouble behind your furnace issue:

• Is your thermostat set too low and therefore, not requesting heat? Make sure your thermostat is in heat mode and is set at the appropriate temperature setting that you would like.
• Is your thermostat working? Move the temperature up or down a few degrees to see if your furnace turns on. If not, you may need to have your thermostat replaced.
• Is your circuit breaker or fuse controlling the furnace tripped or blown? Look at your fuse box to see. If it is tripped, reset your circuit breaker. If it is blown, replace the fuse.
• Is your pilot light out? If so, relight the pilot light.

Problem: No Heat From Furnace or Furnace Turns On But No Heat If your furnace is not starting, or if it does turn on but there’s no heat coming out, be sure to check the following items to see if they could be the trouble behind your furnace issue. There could be dozens of reasons, but we have found these to be the most common:

• Is your thermostat set too low and therefore, not requesting heat? Make sure your thermostat is in heat mode and is set at the appropriate temperature setting that you would like.
• Is your thermostat working? Move the temperature up or down a few degrees to see if your furnace turns on. If not, you may need to have your thermostat replaced.
• Is your circuit breaker or fuse controlling the furnace tripped or blown? Look at your fuse box to see. If it is tripped, reset your circuit breaker. If it is blown, replace the fuse.
• Is your pilot light out? If so, relight the pilot light.

Problem: Noisy Furnace Is your furnace making noise, and you’re not sure why? A furnace should normally be pretty quiet. If there are unexplained noises, however, there is usually a problem. View common reasons behind a noisy furnace: download full movie Split 2017

• A squealing noise could be caused by a loose blower belt. Check the belt; it should depress about one inch at the center of its span. If not, it should be tightened. If it is frayed, it should be replaced. The squealing noise may also be the result of motor or shaft bearing parts that need oil. They are usually located at the end of each shaft. Simply oil them with a light oil and cloth.
• A rumbling noise may be caused by dirty gas burners or a poorly adjusted pilot light. In either case, you should call a professional service technician to fix the problem.
• You may also have a noisy furnace simply because it is having to work harder because the filter needs to be replaced. Find the filter in the unit and replace or clean it.

Problem: Gas Furnace Problems Are you experiencing gas furnace problems? Is your gas furnace not producing enough heat? Is it going on and off too frequently? Is the blower constantly running? A few common gas furnace troubleshooting items to check are below:

• Do you have a dirty air filter in your furnace? This could cause your furnace to not achieve the temperature setting you have your thermostat set to and constantly run. Simply replace your filter. Filters should be replaced every 2 months.
• Are your gas burners dirty and need adjustments? While you could clean the gas burners yourself, it is best to leave this to the experts. You could greatly damage your furnace if this procedure is not done correctly.
• Does your blower motor need oiled? If your gas furnace comes on or off too frequently, it may be because the parts in your blower motor need oiled. These parts are usually at each end of the shaft. Simply oil them using a light oil and cloth.
• Is your furnace belt properly tightened? If the belt in your gas furnace is too loose, your furnace will not run properly. The belt should depress about one inch at the center of the belt span. If it is too loose, simply tighten it. If it is frayed, it will need to be replaced.
• Is your thermostat set to fan continuous, or is it faulty? If the fan is set to continuous, simply change the thermostat fan setting.

Problem: Thermostat Not Working and Other Thermostat Problems The thermostat for your furnace is the control device that determines when your furnace should turn on and off, and how much heat is needed to reach your family’s desired indoor air temperature. If your furnace is not turning on or producing heat, it may be because you have a broken thermostat. Check the following to see if any of these items are causing your thermostat problems:

• Is your thermostat in heat mode?
• Is it set at the appropriate temperature setting that you would like?
• Have you move the temperature up or down a few degrees to see if your furnace turns on?
• Do the batteries need to be replaced on your thermostat?
• Is your thermostat in a drafty hallway or by an outside source that could be affecting the performance of the thermostat? If so, consider moving the thermostat to an area that is not affected by outdoor areas or temperatures.
• Do you need extra insulation to fix your digital thermostat problems? To find out:
  • Turn off the power to both the thermostat and heating system.
  • Remove the thermostat cover and see if any cool or warm air comes through.
  • If so, remove the entire unit and caulk or add extra insulation around the opening.
• Make sure your thermostat is clean from dust and dirt. Using a small toothbrush or paintbrush, clean the small metal plates (the contacts) within the unit. Do not touch these contacts, or any other interior parts, with your fingers.
• Check wires in the thermostat for corrosion. If any is found, remove the wires and clean using a wire stripper.