Written by Christopher on April 21, 2017

How to Troubleshoot Home Heating Problems

Home Improvement

If the heat isn’t working properly in your home, there could be a number of possible reasons why you can’t keep warm. Before you call in a professional, try a few troubleshooting procedures that are easy to diagnose and even fix on your own. Sometimes there’s a very simple solution to what seems like a big problem. So if you’re having home heating problems, take a look at these common problems areas first.

Thermostat

Your thermostat is the main control of your heating system and if you can’t get the heat to work in the house, it’s possible this could be your culprit. When you turn up your thermostat, you probably hear some sort of audible indicator that the heating system is switched on. Maybe a click or a whoosh sound. So try this first, turn your thermostat up and wait for that sound. If there is none, then your thermostat may need to be diagnosed. Check the batteries, they could be low. Try replacing them and if that doesn’t fix the issue, check your fuses and circuit breakers. These can prevent a heating system from operating properly.

Furnace and Burner Doors

If the thermostat doesn’t appear to be the problem, it may be something as simple as a furnace door ajar. Give that a look and make sure the door is firmly shut. Take a look at the burner as well. That also has a door that needs to be properly closed if the heating system is going to work correctly. So give both of those a look and see if they’re shut. This can also stop your unit from operating and oil heat delivery by Quarles will check that these doors are always closed.

Ignition and Pilot Light

Central heating systems that work on gas and propane employ electronic ignition or a pilot light to operate. Sometimes one of these can be the reason for a malfunction and they should be among the primary places to check when the heat isn’t turning on. Make sure the thermostat is working properly first then head over to your furnace and shut off the gas valve. Give it about it five minutes before turning it back on again. This is meant to reset the gas valve in your unit and when you turn it back on, the ignition should kick in and restart the furnace. If it doesn’t happen, you may have a bad electronic ignition and it needs to be replaced. Systems with a standing pilot should be checked for soot and dirt in the thermocouple to diagnose any malfunctions.

Air Filters

Furnaces are designed to shut down when the burner or the heat exchanger become excessively hot. This usually occurs as a result of a dirty air filter, so be sure to change out your filters every few months and check them regularly to ensure you’re not overtaxing your system. It will help reduce your home heating bills because clean filters don’t force the system to consume as much energy to operate. Its also a good idea to make sure your registers are open and allowing proper air flow through the system. If your registers are closed or obstructed in any way, that can prevent your system from providing heated air effectively throughout the home.