If you notice that your day & night furnace isn’t working, it’s important to troubleshoot the issue as soon as possible. As winter approaches and the temperature outside begins to chill, you may feel defeated and confused as your thermostat seems to be doing the same.
You may also find your family complaining about the cold temperature in your home. However, there are a few steps to keep your home warm and toasty during winter before calling in the pros.
You can make a few resolutions to repair the furnace or resolve the problem yourself. First, ensure you have your work gloves and essential household tools. Then, check the most common issues that lead to furnace problems. You may need to call a local HVAC technician if you still can’t get your furnace to turn on. Here are a few common tips for handling that:
Check the Circuit Breakers
If your gas furnace, like the Goodman Multi-Speed 2-Stage Upflow / Horizontal Gas Furnace, isn’t working, you should check whether the circuit breaker is tripped. If it is, reset the device and see if that fixes the problem. If not, there’s probably an issue with the propane or natural gas lines.
The first thing you should always get done if your day & night furnace won’t turn on is to check the circuits connected to your furnace. You can manually verify that the circuits are set in the “ON” position. If the breakers are in the “ON” position and the furnace still won’t turn on, you may have an electrical issue that you need to address, such as:
- First, always check the circuit breaker. Ensure the circuits for your furnace and other components are turned on. You can find these circuits in your main power panel, usually in your laundry room or basement.
- If your microwave and TV are not working, your power may be out. At this point, you should contact your electric company to learn more.
- If the light is on, the circuit breaker is on, and your furnace should be working. If the light is off, the circuit breaker may have tripped, and you’ll need to reset it.
For safety purposes, if the circuits in your home are tripped to the “OFF” position, do not tape the circuit breaker to the “ON” position. This is a safety hazard and could cause serious damage or injury.
Do You Clean the Filters?
If your furnace isn’t turning on, it might be because the air filter is dirty and blocking the flow of air. A clean air filter is necessary for the furnace to work properly. If your system does not have enough fresh air, it may not be able to function properly.
Your furnace filter should be checked and replaced regularly to prevent clogging. A clogged furnace filter will prevent the furnace igniter from being able to produce the required air mixture to turn on, and most HVAC systems have a safety feature that prevents the furnace from turning on due to fire danger.
Preview the Pilot Light
Modern gas furnaces have a built-in pilot light indicating when gas or propane flows into the furnace system. If this flow is interrupted, the furnace will deactivate to avoid leaking gas or propane into your home. If your pilot light is out, it may be due to your gas supply. It would help if you talked to a trained furnace company to help you with this repair.
Try the Thermostat Settings
If your furnace won’t work, another check you should do is with your thermostat settings in the following ways:
- As basic as this sounds, if your furnace is not turning on, you should ensure that the thermostat is indeed turned on.
- You may need to replace the batteries in your thermostat at least once a year or as needed.
- Clean the wiring on your thermostat to prevent dust or debris from interfering with the electrical system.
- If your thermostat is on a schedule or cycle, it could prevent the unit from turning on.
If your day & night furnace is not running even when you turn it on, it may need to be programmed again to the desired temperature and schedule. This may be because some thermostats will reset their settings if your gas furnace or home loses power.
It Could Be the Blower Motor
If your blower motor is not working, you may need to check the fuse or circuit breaker. This component is one of the most important parts of a day & night furnace. It is responsible for pushing air through the HVAC system.
Verify this by checking the blower motor. Look through the little plastic window to see if you can make out a blinking green light, which means it needs professional service. Be sure to mention the light to the HVAC company when you make a service call.
Or It Could Be the Ignition Switch
If everything else has been ruled out and you feel confident in your electrical skills, you will need to look at your ignitor. Be extremely careful when doing this, and ensure you understand the risks before proceeding. If you are uncomfortable with this, it is best to call a professional.
The ignitor sensor is a component of the furnace that, when dirty, can prevent the furnace from igniting properly. To clean the ignitor sensor, consult the furnace’s operating manual.
Bonus: If All You’re Getting Is Lukewarm Air, Try These
A furnace that won’t turn on is a problem because it means you’re not getting any heat. A furnace that blows lukewarm air is a problem because it means the furnace is not doing its job properly. You should try these tips, some of which may be retreads of the previous points:
- Examine the thermostat settings.
- See if the air filter is clean and isn’t clogged. If you discover the opposite, clean and unclog them.
- Ensure your circuit breaker is turned on.
- Verify if you have or haven’t experienced a power outage.
- See if the air ducts are clear.
- Verify that you own a two-stage day & night furnace.
Conclusion
If you’ve tried these steps and still can’t get the furnace to work, then it’s time to call professionals like HVAC Swami! Our group of experts cut through all the garbage tips you’ll find online and can get your day & night furnace figured out in no time. Find a pro on our website today!
