Winter has almost arrived and it has left many homeowners wondering if their home furnaces can keep up with the demand that the cold weather has put on them. Having a furnace that isn’t working as it should can make you a bit nervous on those cold nights and wanting to take action to stop it from stopping completely. Routine furnace maintenance on your home’s furnace can certainly help but sometimes repairs are needed. If you think you need furnace repair in Downriver Michigan be sure to check out these troubleshooting tips first. It may be a simple problem that you can check and deal with before calling a heating technician out.
Need Furnace Repair in Downriver Michigan? Try These Quick Troubleshooting Tips
Having a good working furnace in Michigan is a must. With temperatures that drop well below freezing during the colder winter months, the toll it can take on your furnace is going to be high. Making sure the furnace is up to the task can be done with regular maintenance but even then there can be problems that occur with the furnace. A broken part or electrical part the fails can put the entire furnace at risk of failing or stopping completely. Sometimes however, it’s a simple problem that can be addressed quickly. We’ll take a look at some of the problems that you can deal with as a home owner below and what you should do.
One thing that you will need to consider is that there are literally thousands of different furnace configurations, brands, and sizes. These many different variations may be similar but they aren’t all the same and what will work on one system may not on another. For instance, having a gas furnace is much different than electric heaters. For the most part the below tips deal mostly with gas furnaces but we’ll also talk a bit about other systems as well.
Does The Furnace Have Any Power?
All furnaces being used today will likely have a power source that is connected to the furnace. Whether gas or electric the fan blower motors and sensing components will mostly use electricity for power. If there is no response at all from the furnace you may have a power issue. Some furnaces will have electrical panels located near them with a disconnect and sometimes fuses. Check to make sure the disconnect is not turned off and is in the on position. The furnace may also be connected to your electrical panel. Make sure the circuit breakers for the furnace are not tripped or turned off. Sometimes home owners will turn off furnaces during summer at the electrical panel and forget about them.
Have You Checked the Thermostat?
Another area you should check is the thermostat on your system. Turning the thermostat up should make the system turn on and if it doesn’t there may be an issue with the thermostat. If you have an older thermostat it’s best to turn it all the way up, then down, then back up again. The contacts can sometimes accumulate dust on them and this can sometimes dislodge the dust to make the system come on. You’ll also want to check all the settings on the thermostat and ensure they are switched to heat.
Is the Furnace Making Any Noise?
If you furnace is making any weird noises it may be because the vents are blocked. Check the air filter to ensure it is not blocked with dust and debris. You’ll also want to look at all the vents in your home and make sure they are not blocked. Blocked vents can sometimes cause the furnace to overheat and stop because of the added heat. Clear any blockages and wait for the unit to cool down and try it again.
How Far Should You Go to Repair the System?
Most furnaces today will require a technician in order to properly diagnose and repair the furnace. If you’ve checked the above troubleshooting tips and your furnace still isn’t working at it should you’ll need to call a technician to repair and check the furnace. Be sure to call Superior Comfort Heating & Cooling for all your furnace repair needs in Downriver Michigan. We can repair most furnaces quickly and even offer emergency heating service. Call us today for more details at (734) 818-7141.