Tips for troubleshooting your furnace before calling a professional

We've all been there. First cold day of the winter season, you turn on your furnace and... nothing! Before calling for professional help, you can troubleshoot the problem by checking the following on your own first:

Thermostat

• Do the batteries need to be replaced? If so, replace them.
• Make sure it's set to heat, and that the temperature is set higher by at least five degrees than the room temperature.
• Have a forced air furnace? Make sure the thermostat switch controlling the furnace fan is switched “on.”

Fuel Level

• Check it! Seems pretty obvious but it's the one step that people often forget about.

Circuit Breaker

• Locate the circuit for the furnace in your circuit breaker. If the switch is in the “off” position, simply flip it back “on.”

Blown Fuses

• Check your fuse box for either melted metal or a discolored glass window at the top of the fuse that handles the furnace and replace with a new fuse.
• Before replacing, take broken fuses to the hardware store to make sure you’re buying correct one.

Emergency Power Switch

• Many furnaces have an emergency power switch on the wall that looks like a normal light switch. Make sure that it is switched on.
• Keep in mind, it may take a few minutes for the furnace to start running once you switch it on.

Dirty Filters

• Check your filters! Clogged filters can prevent your oil furnace from taking in enough air to run, causing it to run inefficiently, or not at all!

Obstructions

• Make sure that that heating registers in your home are open, and that furnace vents are not blocked by snow, leaves or other objects.

It May Be Time To Replace Your Furnace

• Is your furnace over 16 years old? Does it keep breaking down every year? Consider replacing yours to a newer model to run more smoothly and efficiently. Learn more about the right time to replace your furnace.

Preventive maintenance

• The smartest move you can make is to schedule your annual heating system tune-up or cleaning in the early fall, before you turn your system on for the first time.  

Heating System & Equipment Repair Services

• Meenan offers 24/7 heating system and equipment repair services to help insure your furnace is back up and running with minimal downtime for your household. Heating System & Equipment Repair Services  

For more information, or to schedule maintenance on your furnace, contact us today!