A Simple Furnace Repair Checklist You Can Do Yourself

PAUSE BEFORE PANIC; WHY YOUR HEATER ISN’T WORKING.

It seems to be a universal constant.

You never discover there’s an issue with your heating system or furnace until temperatures drop and you really need it to work. Then, you’re troubleshooting the problem wearing six layers of clothing, crawling around with a flashlight, and hoping any children in the house can’t hear what you’re saying under your breath.

Here is a helpful guide to know immediately if you are suffering a common (and very fixable) problem with your furnace and how to repair it.

First things first, check to see that your thermostat is working and giving accurate readings. Chances are that if your thermostat is working fine, you are experiencing a fairly common system speed bump.

Two questions we get most often:

Q What’s the difference between a furnace and a heater?

A: For the purposes of this article, we use the terms interchangeably. However, “heater” is mainly a generic term for the device that heats up an environment, be it your home, or an apartment, or a business, etc. A central “heating” system uses some form of energy combustion or release, such as provided by a furnace or furnace-boiler combination, to generate the heat that the heater distributes. A central heating system without a furnace and/or boiler would blow air, but not truly provide heat. (For most customers, it’s all merely metal boxes, pipes and wires that live in an attic, crawlspace, special closet, basement, etc.)

Q: My furnace is making a clicking sound when I turn it on, is that normal?

A: In most cases, yes! A slight clicking sound when you turn your heater is the spark igniter on the furnace. If the sound gets louder or happens more frequently, it could be cause for concern. Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte's 24/7 hotline at (704) 703-4220 to schedule a comprehensive safety inspection.

Here is the number one thing you can do to quickly troubleshoot the cause of a non-working central air system. Check the power source!

Central air systems are usually powered by gas, electricity, or water. Our technicians have arrived at a customer’s home many times only to discover the gas turned off for an unrelated reason or a tripped power breaker. We are always happy to help, but it can save you time and unnecessary chilly nights if you know how to check your system’s gas, electric or water supply.

When it comes to gas-powered heaters, also check the gas valve to ensure it isn’t stuck or the control board is unable to communicate. These conditions keep your heater from firing because it can’t ignite the flame. If your gas is ON and other gas-powered appliances in the home are working, a professional electrician should investigate further.

Additional reasons your heating system may not be working at all.

Unless your system pre-dates the 1990’s, it has a safety switch or “shut out”. This prevents the system from operating and causing a hazard until the problem is found and fixed.

These can include:

Dirty evaporator coils
Clogged pipes
Full air filters
Broken wires
Burnt control board
Dead blower motors

Due to the complex nature of your system’s components, it’s best to let a trained and certified technician assess and repair the problem. Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte at (704) 703-4220 and ask about our monthly system inspection specials!

If your heating system starts up, but stops mid-cycle:

This can be extremely frustrating because it makes sense that if your system starts up, it should keep on going, right? The good news is that today’s central air systems are sophisticated enough to recognize a potential hazard and shut down automatically. In many cases, simple and affordable preventive HVAC maintenance will minimize or eliminate these unwanted pauses in operation.

In just one safety inspection and system tune-up, the following items can be addressed long before they cause an issue. Plus, your home will experience better energy efficiency and heating quality.

Motors spin without resistance
Burners hold fires without using excess gas
The furnace experiences less stress
There is less damage to parts such as motors and wires
The central air system lasts longer and works better

Carbon Monoxide Detection:

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte, your family’s safety is our highest priority. Whenever we talk heating systems, we encourage all of our customers to purchase quality carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors monitor the air for deadly carbon monoxide buildup and emit an alarm if any is detected. Place the carbon monoxide detectors, very similar in size to a smoke detector, in each living area of the home and on every floor.

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte offers a free carbon monoxide detector consultation with any service call. Our highly skilled technicians are standing by for all your central air system needs and if we come out for a repair, we’ll waive the trip fee!