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It\u2019s the \u201cWorst Thing That Can Happen During the Winter\u201d\u2014a home furnace that suddenly stops heating. If it\u2019s a cold day, this can be a serious emergency.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s the \u201cWorst Thing That Can Happen During the Winter\u201d\u2014a home furnace that suddenly stops heating. If it\u2019s a cold day, this can be a serious emergency.<\/p>\n
When your furnace stops working, try these steps before calling a pro:<\/span><\/p>\n For older furnaces, see if the pilot light is out<\/span> What do you do when you\u2019ve got a cold furnace? The right answer is: \u201cCall an HVAC professional to repair it.\u201d But that\u2019s only part of the right answer. There are some checks you can make first to see if the furnace stopped working for a simple reason. Once you\u2019ve eliminated these basic mistakes and errors, you can reach out to a professional to come in and find out what caused the furnace to fail and then fix it.<\/p>\n When your furnace stops working abruptly during the day, it may be due to a house-wide or neighborhood-wide power failure. Sometimes you can miss the general loss of electricity if it\u2019s still bright out. Check lights and appliances to see if this is the case.<\/p>\n (We should mention this now, otherwise it\u2019ll come up over and over again: gas furnaces also must have electricity to run. Their blower fans run on electricity, and most modern furnaces use electronic ignition systems rather than standing pilot lights).<\/p>\n This may seem obvious\u2014but that\u2019s why people often overlook it. A simple incorrect setting on a thermostat can cause the furnace to shut off early or refuse to come on when it should. If you have a programmable thermostat, check to see if anyone has changed the program without notifying you. If you discover a blank thermostat screen, the furnace has probably tripped its limit switch and you should call for repairs. In some cases,<\/span>\u00a0a high-efficiency furnace may help<\/span><\/a> reduce energy costs when operating correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n Open the electrical panel for the house and see if any breakers have tripped. We recommend having all the circuits labeled with the parts of the house they control so you can immediately tell which appliances are affected. If the breaker for the furnace has tripped, reset it and try the furnace again. If the furnace comes on, but the breaker trips a second time, there may be an electrical issue that’s worth repairing<\/span><\/a> rather than replacing the system outright.<\/span><\/p>\n The furnace has its own gas line with a valve on it so you can shut off gas flow in an emergency. See if the valve is closed or has become stuck.<\/p>\n Older furnaces that don\u2019t use an electronic ignition system will have a pilot light. Examine the furnace cabinet to see if the pilot light has gone out. If you can\u2019t relight it and keep it lit, and there isn\u2019t anything wrong with the gas line, you should\u00a0<\/span>have a technician check the burners<\/span><\/a>, as they may be the cause of the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\nSee if the house still has power<\/h3>\n
Check the thermostat settings<\/h3>\n
See if any circuit breakers have tripped<\/h3>\n
Check the gas line<\/h3>\n
Check the pilot light (if there is one)<\/h3>\n