Furnace Not Working: Try These Tips First

Waking up to a cold house that refuses to heat is incredibly frustrating, especially in Michigan. If you’re uncomfortably cold and suspect your furnace is not working, here are some troubleshooting tips to try before calling a repair service.

Check the power supply

One of the simplest things to check if your furnace is not working is the power supply. If your furnace isn’t turning on, head to your fuse box to check to see if any circuit breakers have been tripped. Then check your furnace and make sure that its power setting has been switched “on.” Because furnaces are usually packed into tight corners and storage rooms, it’s easy to switch them off accidentally.

Check the air intake and filter

Next up, you’ll want to make sure that nothing is blocking the furnace air intake. Without a fresh supply of air, your furnace cannot provide warm air throughout your house. 

Also, make sure you have a clean filter in the furnace. Dust, dirt, and other particles in the air will clog up your filter and prevent your furnace from functioning. Ideally, replace your filter a few times a year. 

Check your thermostat

You’ll probably feel silly if this is the case, but this happens more often than you might think. Make sure that your thermostat is set to “heat.” While this is a super simple solution, you’d be surprised how often furnace issues are caused by little things like not having the thermostat turned to heat. 

Check the pilot light

If you have an older furnace, check the pilot light. This is a common issue with older furnaces. If the pilot light is out, this could be the reason your furnace is not working. IT could be a minor issue that can easily be fixed. If relighting the pilot light doesn’t solve the problem, you may need a professional to look.

If your furnace isn’t working, try not to panic. There are a few simple things that could cause the problem. You may not identify them yourself, but a trained technician will spot the problem. If you are having issues with your furnace, give Sunrise Heating and Plumbing a call at (616) 293-9326. Our team can answer questions or schedule a service call.