Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Inspect the Thermostat
To start, make sure your thermostat is signaling your heat to ignite.
Digital Thermostat
- Change the batteries if the screen is empty. If the digital screen is mixed up, the thermostat could need to be changed.
- Make certain that the switch is set to “heat” as opposed to “off” or “cool.”
- Make sure the program is showing the right day and time and is programmed to “run.” If you’re having trouble turning off the program, regulate the temperature with the up/down arrows and holding the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to turn on if thermostat is causing trouble.
- Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees above what the room temperature currently is.
If your furnace hasn’t started within several minutes, make sure it has power by toggling the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t start, your furnace might not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you have a smart thermostat—like one manufactured by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Take a look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you’re still unable to get your Wi-Fi thermostat to function, call us at 801-305-4777 for heating and cooling service.
2. Check Breakers and Switches
Next, verify your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Find your main electrical panel. If you aren’t sure where it is, search for a metallic metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry in advance of touching the panel or breakers.
- Look for the breaker marked “furnace” or “heat,” and double-check it’s moved to “on.” If the breaker has tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” area.
- Using one hand, quickly flip the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker instantly trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and get in touch with a team member from Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning at 801-305-4777 right away.
Regardless of your furnace’s age or brand, it has at minimum one ordinary wall switch installed on or close to it.
- Make certain the switch is facing up in the “on” placement. If it was shut off, expect your furnace to take up to five minutes to turn on. (If you don’t know where your furnace is located, take a look at your basement, garage or utility closet. It can also be in a crawl space or attic.)
3. Replace the Air Filter
When we think about heater breakdowns, a dirty, full air filter is often to blame.
If your filter is too dusty:
- Your heating system won’t keep heating your home, or it might get too hot from reduced airflow.
- Your energy bills could increase because your heating system is running more often.
- Your heating system may stop working prematurely because a dusty filter forces it to work harder.
- Your heating may be disconnected from power if an overly filthy filter is the cause of a tripped breaker.
Depending on what type of heater you have, your air filter will be within the blower compartment of your heater, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To swap out your filter:
- Switch off your heater.
- Pull out the filter and hold it up to the light. If you can’t view light through it, replace it.
- Insert the new filter with the arrow motioning toward the heater to prevent damage.
Flat filters should be replaced every month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you may have to put in a new filter more frequently.
To make the procedure easier down the line, draw with a permanent pen on your furnace housing or ductwork to list the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Inspect the Condensate Pan
Commonly known as drain pans, condensate pans hold liquid your furnace removes from the air.
If water is seeping from your heating system or its pan has too much water in it, try these guidelines.
- If your pan contains a drain (look for a PVC pipe), check that it isn’t full. If it needs to be drained, get a special pan-cleaning tablet you can purchase at home improvement or hardware shops.
- If your pan has a pump, check the float switch. If the button is stuck “up” with water in the pan, call us at 801-305-4777, because you will possibly have to buy a new pump.
5. Look for Heating Error Codes
If failures continue, look within your heater’s plastic window to check the blower motor’s status. Subject to the type, the light could also be mounted on the exterior of your heater.
If you notice anything else besides an uninterrupted, colored light or twinkling green light, contact us at 801-305-4777 for HVAC service. Your heater might be communicating an error code that is calling for specialized help.
6. Clean the Flame Sensor
If your heater makes an effort to operate but switches off without distributing heat, a filthy flame sensor can be at fault. When this happens, your heater will try to turn on three times before a safety mechanism shuts it down for about an hour.
If you feel confident with removing the panels from your heater, cleaning your flame sensor is a task you have the ability to do on your own. Or, one of our heating service specialists can finish it for you.
If you are fine with cleaning the sensor personally, you require:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Section of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A fresh paper towel
Then:
- Disable the heating system’s power through its wall switch or breaker. If you don’t have an electric gas valve, you will need to switch off the gas as well.
- Remove the heating system’s front panel and follow the wire to the flame sensor.
- Remove the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to gently rub the metal rod.
- Clean the rod with a paper towel.
- Remount the sensor.
- Secure the furnace doors.
- Restore power to the furnace. It could run through a series of examinations before resuming usual heating. If your heater doesn’t start, the sensor could have to be replaced or something else may be causing a problem. If this takes place, contact us at 801-305-4777 for heating and cooling repair assistance.
7. Reignite the Pilot Light
If you have an aging furnace, the pilot light could be out. To relight it, look for the guide on a sticker on your furnace, or use these recommendations.
- Look for the toggle on the bottom of your furnace labeled “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Turn the switch to the “off” position.
- Don’t do anything for at least five minutes to prevent sparking a fire.
- Turn the knob to “pilot.”
- Hold down the “reset” lever as you bring the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Let go of the “reset” button once the pilot light is lit.
If you have used the list twice and the pilot light still won’t ignite or stay burning, get in touch with us at 801-305-4777 for furnace service.
Check Your Fuel Delivery System
Try turning on a second gas appliance. If it doesn’t function, your natural gas source could be switched off, or you could be out of propane.