If your furnace won’t kick on in the fall, it’s uncomfortable. When your furnace won’t kick on in the dead of winter, it’s an emergency. We can help with emergency repairs, but before we do, here are some of the reasons your furnace might not be starting—and what you can do.
The Most Common Reasons Your Furnace Won’t Kick On
Check Your Thermostat
This might seem obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many service calls could be saved if everyone checked their thermostats. Yours might be set to “Off”; simply switch that switch to “On” and your furnace might kick on. You can also try toggling the switch back and forth. For smart thermostats, you may get information on the status of your thermostat from the app on your phone; it’s always worth checking!
It’s also possible that your thermostat is broken; if you call us for repairs, we’ll check that as a part of the overall repair process.
Clogged Air Filters
You should change your furnace’s filters regularly; if you don’t, you can lower the air quality in your home. Worse yet, air can’t flow properly through a dirty air filter. With poor airflow, your furnace may overheat, and that will cause it to automatically turn off. When your furnace keeps kicking on and turning off, clogged filters are a likely culprit; replace your filter (turn off your furnace first), try again, then call us.
Dirty Ignition Sensors
Gas furnaces—the most common kind here in Manitoba—use ignition sensors to ensure that gas is always being burned while your furnace is running. These sensors use temperature to identify when a flame is present; if they get dirty, the sensor can no longer detect heat, and will automatically turn your furnace off to prevent gas from flowing into your home.
The same problem can occur with a flame sensor; if continuous burning is not detected because the sensor is malfunctioning, it will turn off your furnace to prevent gas leaks.
Pilot Light Went Out
Pilot lights are another fixture of natural gas furnaces, though they were much more common in older models. When the furnace pilot light goes out, your burner cannot light the gas in your furnace—and that means your furnace will automatically shut off. You can safely relight your pilot light yourself, but if that makes you uncomfortable, call us and let us know—we’ll happily light your pilot light for you.
Gas Is Off
This is another pretty straightforward fix. Check your gas valve; if it’s in the “Off” or “Closed” position, turn off your furnace, turn the gas valve to the “On” or “Open” position, and then turn your furnace back on. Simple, but effective!
A Tripped Circuit Breaker
Both gas and electric furnaces operate using electricity; if the circuit breaker for your furnace gets tripped, it will stop working. Check your panel; if the breaker for your furnace got flipped, turn off your furnace, flip the breaker back on, and then turn your furnace on again. If it trips again, you’ve got a more serious problem—give us a call.
The furnace power switch may also be off; check it, and turn it on!
Mechanical Malfunctions
There are all kinds of other potential problems with your furnace; the heat exchanger, the furnace blower motor, belts, more serious gas supply issues, and a whole host of other problems that can cause your furnace to malfunction. There are a ton of safety triggers on all modern furnaces, so your furnace will often automatically shut off to protect you and your furnace from damage.
Why Does My Furnace Struggle When It Gets Really Cold?
Like any heating system—or any HVAC system, for that matter—your furnace will struggle more the harder it has to work (and the older it is). When the indoor temperature drops well below your desired temperature, your furnace will have to work harder; that can lead to wear and tear, and to parts that were already struggling failing completely.
Stay Warm All Winter With SWK
Don’t let a dirty flame sensor or a broken blower motor get you down. For furnace repair Winnipeg homeowners can rely on all winter long, call SWK.