Get Familiar with These Heater Troubleshooting Tips

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It’s still warm in Yuma, so there’s no real need to turn on the heat for a while. However, chilly temperatures will eventually arrive, and we will have to use our furnaces or other heating equipment. Our long cooling season makes some homeowners rather lackadaisical about their heating equipment, but you really should be vigilant so that when it gets cold inside your home, you’re ready to turn on the heat. 

Keep reading for some heater troubleshooting tips to live by.

  1. Check the power supply. When the heater won’t come on, it’s advisable to check the power supply as the first step of heater troubleshooting. Depending on the kind of heating equipment you have, you may want to check that it’s plugged in. You might also look to see if the breaker has flipped or if the power is off for some other reason in the home. For a gas furnace, check to see if the gas valve has been turned off. It could also be that you have debris in the flue. If you’re able, check the exhaust flue for birds’ nests or other debris that may have become lodged in the duct. 
  2. Make sure the thermostat is set to “heat.” Sometimes homeowners forget to turn the thermostat back to “heat” when they’ve had to turn the thermostat off so they can change the filter or perform other maintenance. As part of heater troubleshooting, always check to ensure that the thermostat is set to “heat.” If the heater doesn’t turn on, it could be that the thermostat is set too low for the heat to come on. Set the heat higher than the ambient temperature in the home. Also, make sure the thermostat is getting power, either by changing batteries or checking to see if wires are connected. 
  3. Change the air filter. When the air filter becomes dirty, it can interrupt the airflow and cause the HVAC to stop heating or cooling properly. Always change the air filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have shedding pets or excessively dusty conditions in your home, change the filter more often.

Need more tips for heater troubleshooting? Contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.