4 Things to Try If Your Furnace Doesn’t Produce Heat



As the temperature drops, having a dependable source of heat for your home becomes a priority. If the air from your vents isn't warm enough when you turn on your furnace, you may have a few different furnace problems. Discover four things to try if your furnace doesn’t produce heat.

1. Double Check Your Thermostat Settings

Naturally, the thermostat is the first place to look when you have trouble keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. One common mistake is forgetting to adjust the fan setting on your thermostat. If the fan is set to ON rather than AUTO, your HVAC system will circulate cool air constantly. Many homeowners choose to leave their thermostat in AUTO mode throughout the heating season to avoid wasting energy.

2. Press the Furnace Reset Button

Many furnaces have an internal reset button that can reboot the system. The button is usually inside the furnace housing near the blower motor. You may need to use your furnace reset button after a power failure, gas interruption, or overheating episode. If your furnace doesn’t put out heat, shut the system off for a few minutes and then try pressing the reset button.

3. Inspect the Pilot Light

If your home is part of the 48 percent of homes in the U.S. with gas furnace heating, your furnace has some type of pilot light. Some older furnaces still use a standing pilot flame to ignite the burners and heat your home. Unfortunately, the pilot lights of this type go out relatively easily.

If you have this type of furnace, knowing how to relight the pilot light is a valuable skill. You should be able to locate your furnace's pilot light near the bottom of the blower assembly.

To relight your pilot light, first turn the pilot light knob to the Off position. Allow a few minutes for gas to dissipate around the pilot light and then return the knob to the Pilot position. Finally, hold the pilot reset switch and use a long lighter to relight the pilot flame. After these steps, you should see a steady blue flame in the pilot and your furnace should start producing heat again.

4. Change Your Furnace Filter

Changing your furnace filter regularly is a must when keeping your furnace working properly. The filter protects the inside of your furnace from harmful dust buildup that can cause overheating.

If your filter is clogged, your furnace heating element may have dust and dirt as well, which can prevent it from heating the air effectively. Most furnaces have an easy-access filter panel near the main furnace unit so that homeowners can change the filter regularly with no hassle.

Disposable fiberglass furnace filters are still the most common option in modern central HVAC systems, but they are not the only option. If you have a high-efficiency furnace, it may have a reusable HEPA filter. These filters are simple to rinse until they are clean, and you can reuse them indefinitely.

Be sure your filter is reusable or permanent before you attempt this. Handling and rinsing a disposable filter will damage the fibers and render the filter useless even if it appears clean.

These steps cover many ways that homeowners can troubleshoot their furnace when it doesn’t produce heat. If the air from your furnace still isn't warm enough after attempting these steps, you will need the services of an HVAC contractor.

The friendly, professional team at Comfort Technology Heating & Air Conditioning has years of experience with furnace repairs of all kinds. Call us today if you have problems heating your home so we can restore your furnace to like-new function.