Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Examine the Thermostat
To begin, make certain that your thermostat is instructing your heater to turn on.
Digital Thermostat
- Replace the batteries if the screen is not displaying anything. If the digital monitor is messed up, the thermostat might need to be changed.
- Make certain that the button is set to “heat” instead of “off” or “cool.”
- Ensure the program is set to the right day and time and is scheduled to “run.” If you’re having a hard time overriding the setting, set the temperature by using the up/down arrows and holding the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to turn on if thermostat is causing trouble.
- Turn the temperature setting to 5 degrees hotter than what the room temperature currently is.
If your heat hasn’t turned on within several minutes, make sure it has electricity by toggling the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t begin to run, your heating system might not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you use a smart thermostat—for example one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for support. If you’re still unable to get your Wi-Fi thermostat to operate, contact us at 541-286-6617 for heating and cooling service.
2. Examine Breakers and Switches
Next, check if your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Find your main electrical panel. If you don’t know where it is, look for a silver metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Make certain that your hands and feet aren’t wet prior to opening the panel or breakers.
- Locate the breaker labeled “furnace” or “heat,” and double-check it’s moved to “on.” If the breaker has tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” spot.
- With one hand, quickly flip the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker immediately trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and get in touch with a team member from Titan Heating & Air Conditioning at 541-286-6617 right away.
Regardless of your furnace’s age or brand, it has at minimum one ordinary wall switch located on or by it.
- Ensure the control is moved up in the “on” placement. If it was shut off, it could take your furnace up to five minutes to ignite. (If you don’t know where your furnace is located, check your basement, garage or utility closet. It could also be in a crawl space or attic.)
3. Buy a New Air Filter
When it comes to heater issues, a dirty, blocked air filter is regularly to blame.
If your filter is too dusty:
- Your heat won’t stay on, or it might get too hot from limited airflow.
- Your energy bills may be higher because your furnace is working too often.
- Your heating system could stop working prematurely because a filthy filter triggers it to work harder.
- Your heating system might lose power if an overly dirty filter causes the breaker to trip.
Based on what type of furnace you have, your air filter will be within the blower compartment of your heating system, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To swap out your filter:
- Turn off your heating system.
- Take out the filter and angle it toward the light. If you can’t view light through it, get a new one.
- Put in the new filter with the arrow facing toward the heating system to avoid damage.
Flat filters ought to be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you might have to replace your filter more frequently.
To make the process go more quickly in the future, use a permanent marker on your furnace outside or ductwork to indicate the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Examine the Condensate Pan
Commonly known as drain pans, condensate pans hold liquid your heating system pulls from the air.
If moisture is seeping out of your heater or its pan has too much water in it, try these recommendations.
- If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), double-check that it isn’t full. If it should be drained, drop in a special pan-cleaning tablet you can buy at home improvement or hardware shops.
- If your pan contains a pump, check the float switch. If the button is jammed “up” with water in the pan, call us at 541-286-6617, because you will probably need a new pump.
5. Check for Heating Error Codes
If malfunctions persist, take a look within your heating system’s plastic window to confirm the blower motor’s status. Subject to the brand, the light could also be attached on the surface of your heater.
If you note anything except a steady, colored light or flickering green light, reach us at 541-286-6617 for HVAC service. Your furnace may be giving an error code that requires professional service.
6. Scrub the Flame Sensor
If your furnace tries to start but switches off without putting out heated air, a dusty flame sensor can be responsible. When this takes place, your heater will make an attempt to ignite three times before a safety mechanism shuts it down for about an hour.
If you feel confident with taking the panels off your heater, gently scrubbing your flame sensor is something you have the ability to do on your own. Or, one of our heating service professionals has the ability to complete it for you.
If you are confident cleaning the sensor on your own, you need:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Piece of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A fresh paper towel
Then:
- Shut off the furnace’s power with its wall switch or breaker. If your furnace’s gas valve isn’t electric, you must turn off the gas in addition.
- Remove the heating system’s front panel and follow the wire to the flame sensor.
- Unscrew the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to carefully rub the metal rod.
- Wipe off the rod with a paper towel.
- Screw the sensor back in.
- Put the furnace doors back on.
- Turn the furnace’s power back on. It could run through a set of tests before resuming regular running. If your heating system doesn’t turn on, the sensor may have to be replaced or something else may be wrong. If this happens, contact us at 541-286-6617 for heating and cooling repair help.
7. Reignite the Pilot Light
If you own an older heating system, the pilot light could be turned off. To relight it, find the steps on a label on your heater, or follow these guidelines.
- Locate the lever on the bottom of your heater that says “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Push the switch to the “off” position.
- Wait at least five minutes to limit the possibility for sparking a fire.
- Turn the dial to “pilot.”
- Hold down the “reset” switch as you push the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Depress the “reset” switch once the pilot light is lit.
If you have tried the guide twice and the pilot light still won’t ignite or stay lit, contact us at 541-286-6617 for furnace service.
Examine Your Gas Delivery System
Try turning on a second gas appliance. If it doesn’t operate, your natural gas source could be switched off, or you may have run out of propane.