Furnace Troubleshooting, Before You Call The Repairman...With our furnace troubleshooting guide, you can do it yourself and save a lot of money. The average service call will cost you over $100. We help you keep that money! Just look at a sample of what our visitors tell us: I was so happy to happen on to your site! I was having problems heating my home, and the weather has been about 0 for the last few days and my electric furnace just wasn't keeping up. I had a problem with a heat sequencer and although I suspected it was the problem, I was able to make a definite determination that it was indeed my problem after using your troubleshooter! I replaced both sequencers and voila, $55 dollars later (for two new sequencers), and my house is warming up very quickly. I just repaired it about 45 mins ago and already I have had an 7 degree rise and counting!!! Thanks again! -Frank from Park Hills, Mo. U.S.A. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I woke up this morning to a 59 degree house. The outside temperature was hovering around zero. By following your troubleshooting guide I was able to repair my furnace before the service technician arrived. Ernest from Rossford, Oh. U.S.A.
If you would prefer, you can Ask The Expert for help. For $50 (less than one service call), you can ask a pro up to five questions and receive answers to help you solve your furnace problems. Click on the BUY NOW button and you can pay for this service through your PAYPAL account or by credit card. **NOTE** ONLY YOU CAN ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THIS TASK. THIS IS A GUIDE AND CANNOT PROVIDE ALL OF THE DETAILS FOR EVERY SITUATION.
Proper maintenance will help you avoid many common furnace problems. Before you start your furnace troubleshooting, make sure that you have performed the suggested maintenance.
Begin your diagnosis at the thermostat.. Ensure that the thermostat is on heat and the setpoint is above room temperature. If the furnace fan is not running, place the fan in the on mode. Now, go to the furnace to continue your diagnosis. If the fan is not running, check the breaker, fuse, and/or the switch for the furnace. If the breaker was tripped, leave it off and check the furnace wiring for loose connections. Also, you should look for burn spots on the control board and replace the board if spots are found. After any necessary repairs, the breaker can be reset.
If the breaker or fuse was not tripped, the problem could be the transformer, thermostat, furnace control board, the blower motor, or it's run capacitor.
If the furnace uses a standing pilot, ensure that it is lit and the flame is touching the tip of the thermocouple. If it is not, you can use our thermocouple replacement guide for further troubleshooting. If the pilot is lit but the main burners do not come on, you should feel the side of the furnace. If the side of the furnace is cool, the problem could be the thermostat, furnace control board, limit control, or the gas valve. If the side of the furnace is warm, allow the unit to cool, then continue your furnace troubleshooting. If the furnace has an inducer motor, check to see that it is running. If it is not, the inducer motor or the furnace control board could be the problem. If the inducer motor is running, does the pilot try to ignite? If it does not, the flue could be blocked, the furnace control board could be bad, or the limit control could be the problem. If the pilot tries to light but goes out, the pilot assembly or flame sensor could be dirty.
Once the pilot or ignitor is on, do the main burners light? If not ensure that you have gas supplied to the furnace. If you have gas, the problem could be the gas valve or furnace control board. If the burners come on but do not stay on for more than about 3 seconds, the flame sensor could be dirty or the furnace control board could be bad. On condensing furnaces, if the burners come on for longer than 5 seconds but turn off before the thermostat is satisfied, the condensate drain could be plugged. Most of these units have a built in trap and sediment can build up in it. This can cause the furnace to operate abnormally. Once the burners stay lit, the blower motor should start after a delay of from one to three minutes. If the blower does not start, the problem could be it's run capacitor or the motor. You should complete your furnace troubleshooting by observing the unit's operation through a complete heating cycle. At the end of the cycle, the fan should run for about 2-3 minutes after the burner shuts off. If the fan does not shut off after the time delay, then the fan/limit control (on older units) may be sticking and require replacement.
If you require further assistance with your furnace troubleshooting, you can use our
consulting services.
For a small fee, we will help you to figure out the more complicated problems with your home's heating system.
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