Preparing for Your Big Day

Posted on: 2 May 2023

You shouldn't have to do much to keep your home heated through the winter. Once you switch your thermostat to heating mode, the brains inside your thermostat and your furnace's control board should do the rest. Unfortunately, even the most reliable furnaces will sometimes suffer from frustrating problems.

If you've turned up your thermostat and aren't feeling anything from your vents, there's a good chance your furnace isn't igniting. Ignition problems with a furnace can range from very simple to incredibly complex, so this guide will help you understand why your furnace isn't keeping you warm and what you might be able to do about it.

What You Can (And Should) Do First

Working with a natural gas furnace means working with potentially dangerous combustion equipment. Not only does your furnace require explosive fuel, but it can also produce harmful gases as a byproduct. For these reasons, performing major repairs on a furnace without a professional background is often a poor idea.

However, you can check a few things when your furnace refuses to turn on. First, deal with any potential power interruptions. Your furnace should have a large switch nearby; even a natural gas furnace won't ignite if this switch isn't on. Other things to check include the breaker (or fuse) for your furnace and the furnace cabinet door. The furnace door must be closed and secured, or the furnace won't start.

If you can't find any obvious electrical problems, your next step should be to check your filter. Is the filter old, dirty, or visibly damaged? A clogged filter can restrict airflow, cause your furnace to overheat, and potentially trip safeties that will stop it from igniting. Try replacing your filter and waiting a while to see if your furnace kicks back on.

When To Call for Backup

Knowing how to check a few basic problems with your furnace can help save you from an expensive and unnecessary service call. However, a furnace with a new filter and a good power connection should typically fire up quickly and reliably. If your furnace still isn't igniting, you likely have a more severe issue that will require professional attention.

Common ignition problems include faulty draft inducer motors, dirty burners, failing hot surface igniters, or even issues with your gas valve. Although your furnace may provide an error code to point you in the correct direction, diagnosing the underlying cause of a furnace that won't turn on will often require in-depth diagnostics best performed by a professional.

You should consider switching your furnace off if it isn't igniting and leaving it off until help arrives. Furnaces will sometimes repeatedly try to ignite before entering a failsafe mode, and these repeated attempts may cause additional damage to critical components. Leaving your furnace off will minimize the potential for additional damage until you can repair the underlying issue.

For more information about furnace repair, contact a local company.