Furnace Not Working Correctly? 3 Things To Check

Posted on: 11 March 2020

If your furnace is not working correctly, before you panic, you need to check and see if the problem is easy to fix or if you need to call in a professional. Oftentimes, what seems like a big issue with your furnace is something you can easily repair on your own. If your furnace isn't working properly, it is important to go through some basic troubleshooting.

#1: Check the Thermostat

First, check your thermostat. If your furnace doesn't seem to be coming on when you think it should or keeping your house at the right temperature, you need to check the thermostat.

Then, make sure your furnace is set to heat rather than the fan. If you accidentally turned on the fan, your furnace is just going to circulate the air in your home. The air will not feel warm.

Third, you need to make sure the temperature is set high enough. If, for example, your thermostat is set to 60 and your house is at 64, your furnace is not just going to turn on. You need to turn your thermostat up to about 68 so that it will turn on.

#2: Check the Power

The second thing you need to do is check the power to your unit. If you have an electrically powered furnace, make sure the breaker has not been tripped. If the breaker was tripped, you need to reset the breaker to use your furnace.

If you have a gas-powered furnace, you are going to want to make sure the pilot light is on. If the pilot light isn't on, you need to turn it back on. If the pilot light does not stay on, you may have a serious issue that a repair technician will need to address.

#3: Check the Air Filter

A dirty air filter can cause a host of problems with your furnace. A dirty air filter can cause your furnace to act up and can cause a host of issues, from your furnace cycling on and off too often to your furnace heating your home unevenly.

Many furnace problems don't require a complicated fix. All that you really need to do is change out the air filter. Change out your air filter and see if that fixes the issues you are having with the furnace.

If your furnace is acting up, check the setting on your thermostat, make sure your furnace is powered on, and check the air filter. If these simple checks don't work, call in a professional about furnace repairs.  

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