How Do You Troubleshoot a Furnace?

Furnaces are among the most vital components of our heating systems. They play a significant role in keeping a house warm, especially during the winter season. A malfunction in your furnace makes it less effective and unreliable when in need of keeping your home warm. Hiring a Seattle furnace repair service or simple troubleshooting may go a long way in ensuring your furnace is not entirely spoilt. This can be done by simple DIYs that may end up saving the day.

In the meantime, here are some instructions to help you in troubleshooting a furnace before calling in the pros;

Set Your Thermostat to ‘Heat’

Ensure that you set your thermostat right. Set your thermostat at a point that will bring your furnace back to normal. Should this not work, put it to 90 degrees to ensure it stays static while you troubleshoot. You do not want it turning `on’ and `off’ as you try to troubleshoot.

Check Your Circuit Breaker

A blown circuit breaker causes the malfunctioning of a furnace. Study your circuit breaker before turning the thermostat on. However, a blown circuit breaker should be replaced by a professional technician who has advanced knowledge of avoiding such a malfunction again.

Check Your Thermostat Batteries

Spoilt batteries may end up causing your home furnace not to work. Ensure that you check your batteries’ state, and should the cells be spoilt, put in new ones. In addition to this, you can opt to install a programmable home furnace. Programmable home furnaces flash the ‘low battery’ sign, therefore, giving you ample time to change the batteries.

Change Your Furnace Filter

Some furnace-related failures may be a result of filters. Filters act as cleaners of the air headed to the house from a furnace. However, a clogged filter restricts airflow, therefore, causing pressure to build up in your furnace. Further, the airflow is limited, and it may destroy the whole appliance should it not be repaired sooner. Additionally, you can opt to install a furnace model that will alert you once it detects any clogging. A filter that activates and deactivates occasionally is a sign that your filter needs a replacement.

Ensure Your Furnace is Getting Power

Confirm that the switch is on in your thermostat. Most furnaces will have an `On’ or ‘Auto’ sign on the thermostat. Should you switch on and the fan fails to come on, ensure that you hire a professional technician to have it checked.

Check Your Furnace Switch

A furnace switch may be turned off accidentally when mistaken for a light switch. Most furnaces have a fuse on the switch position. Ensure that you confirm the fuse is not burnt or darkened before switching it on. Should you find it burnt, replace it and switch on the furnace. However, failure for the furnace to switch on after a fuse replacement means a professional technician needs to sort it out.

Study Your Furnace for a Code

A problem with your furnace might be just ` a code away.’ Modern furnaces have an access panel where there are codes providing information on a solution to the problem you might be experiencing with your furnace. However, should it be challenging to understand what is provided on the codes, you need to hire a professional technician. 

Put Your Pilot Light on

A furnace will only function if the pilot light is on. A pilot light ensures that the furnace lights up if there is enough gas flowing through the burners. However, it would be best if you kept in mind; no modification should be done unless by the technician. Modifying one’s pilot light without required knowledge may end up destroying your furnace.

Check the Gas Valve

Ensure that you double-check your gas valve to solve your furnace problem. Further, check the gas cock to ensure it is in place before turning it on. Do not turn on the gas valve if you smell a gas leak.

Check Your Vents

The outflow in your furnace may be interrupted, mostly if the valves are blocked due to too much cold. A blocked vent will require professional help to unclog the blocked ducts. 

Troubleshooting a furnace by yourself may end up saving you time and resources used to hire a professional technician. Replacements and various installations can be done through DIYs’ guidance, but they should be done if one knows how to install or replace them. However, if you fail to understand what to do, ensure that you contact a professional technician to have your furnace checked and repaired.