Here is a short list of things the average homeowner can check when the furnace is not heating. Following the suggestions on this page could save you the cost of a service call, and that will fill you with an intoxicating sense of invincibility.

Keep in mind, though, that without regular maintenance, sooner or later some parts will inevitably fail.  The best way to get a grip on the normal wear-and-tear issues of a furnace is to have routine maintenance professionally done on the furnace ANNUALLY. Ask our customers - they're the ones in the warm houses!

Fall Startup
Thermostat Settings
Filters
Gas Valve
Pilot Light
Blower Safety Switch

Fall Startup
	Follow this link to our Fall Furnace Checklist for things you should check at the beginning of each heating season.  Back to Top
Thermostat Settings
	Check thermostat for proper setting.   Turn the temperature UP to the temperature you’d like your room.  If your room temperature is warmer than the temperature you're setting your thermostat, the furnace won't run until the room temperature drops below your setting.
	Set the thermostat “auto/on” switch to “auto” to cycle the furnace blower on and off only when the furnace is supplying heat.   Turning the “auto/on” switch to “on” will keep the furnace blower on between cycles.  The furnace blower in this "on" setting will run all the time.  This promotes a more even heat distribution and improves the air circulation throughout the home.   Back to Top
Filters
	Are your furnace filters clean?   Dirty filters can reduce air flow through the furnace, and causing your blower to overwork, and possibly making the heat delivery inadequate to heat your house. And dirty filters are unsanitary. Change conventional cardboard-frame fiberglass filters once a month.  Media filters should be changed once at the beginning of the heating season, and once at the beginning of the air conditioning season.  Electronic air cleaner cells should be rinsed once a month. Back to Top
Gas Valve
	Gas valve should be turned “on”.  If you don’t know which part the gas valve is, chances are you should have a professional check this one for you.  We don't want to see our do-it-yourselvers on the 10 o'clock news. Back to Top
Pilot Light
	Your pilot light, if you don’t have an electric ignition system, should be lit. Electric ignitions systems include spark systems, glow-plug systems, and other specialized systems such as the Lennox Sure-Light ignition.  You won't see a pilot flame if you have an electric ignition system.   Once again, don’t check this if you don’t have experience at it.  We can’t explain this one over the phone, for safety reasons. Back to Top
Blower Safety Switch
	The door to the blower compartment of most furnaces operates a safety switch.  Similar to the light switch operated by your refrigerator door, this switch is pushed in only when the door is properly in place. If the switch is not pushed completely in, as when the panel is not properly installed, the furnace (or air conditioner for that matter) will not operate. Back to Top
If you’ve followed all the above suggestions, and are still experiencing problems, call us.  We can go over the procedures with you, and arrange for a technician to look at your system, if needed. Back to Top

service department
call 778-4190 today!

You can leave us e-mail, or write to us at

To arrange a FREE in-home estimate for new equipment, or for further information about us or any of the many home comfort services we offer, please leave us an e-mail message, leave your mailing address and/or phone number, and our representative will be calling you within the next business day.

Return to our Home (Comfort) Page