You arrive home after a long winter day and it feels colder than usual inside. At first you think it may just be you. So you check your thermostat and confirm that the temperature is not what it should be. You think “Oh no! The heat is out.” But before you call for furnace repair in Durham, NC, take a minute and check these things out first.
- Thermostat. First, make sure your thermostat is set to “heat.” This may seem silly, but you will feel a lot sillier if your furnace repair technician comes all the way out to your home just to tell you that. If the switch is in the right place, check the temperature setting. Make sure the thermostat is set to a temperature that is above the indoor temperature. Otherwise it won’t run because it thinks it is already warm enough. Next check the batteries in your thermostat, if it runs on batteries. Many thermostats do, and they usually give an indication when the battery is low. The digital screen will be blank if the batteries are already dead. If the thermostat seems to be in order, proceed to step 2.
- Filters. Dirty filters can cause your furnace to quit running. When filters get excessively dirty and dusty, it blocks the air flow to your furnace. If your furnace isn’t able to get enough air, it’s just going to quit on you. Replace filters with new ones. Do not simply clean the filter and put it back. Filters contain an oil that catches the dirt and dust, so once they have gotten dirty they will no longer work again. If you have changed all of your filters and your furnace still isn’t running, proceed to step 3.
- Electricity. Even if you have a gas furnace, it still requires electricity to get started and to run the blower. Even if the rest of your home has electricity, your furnace may not be getting power due to a tripped circuit breaker. Go to your electrical box and look for the circuit breaker labeled “furnace.” If your breakers are not labeled, look for one that is in a different position than the others. If one seems to be flipped the opposite way, flip it all the way to the off position and then back to the on position. If your furnace comes back on, you may be in the clear. But if the breaker trips again and again, you may have a more serious problem that requires a specialist. Sometimes there is a power switch that turns the power on and off to your furnace. It looks like a light switch, and can easily get turned off accidentally. Check this switch as well.
- Pilot light. Some older furnaces may still have a pilot light that is supposed to stay lit throughout the heating season. If this pilot light goes out, your furnace will not be able to create heat. There should be instructions for lighting the pilot light posted directly on the indoor unit of your furnace, or it may be in the instruction manual. Follow the directions to light it. If the pilot light continues to go out, you may have a bigger problem that requires a professional.
- Gas valve. Check to make sure your natural gas valve is not turned off. This is usually outside. If you have any other appliances that use gas, check those as well to determine if you have a gas problem or just a furnace problem.
If none of these steps restore your heating system:
Call Boer Brothers for reliable furnace repair in Durham
When the above steps do not fix the problem, it’s time to call a professional. At Boer Brothers, we are glad to come out and diagnose and repair your furnace. We are always available for furnace repair in Durham, NC, and we recommend preventative maintenance to keep your furnace in good condition and reduce the risk of system failure. Schedule service or call 919-813-2556.
To learn more about our preventative System Maintenance Program, click here or give us a call.