Florida is generally a warm state and temperatures of 70 degrees in winter are not uncommon. However, it does get cold here and many people have installed gas furnaces to keep them warm as the temperature plummets. If you have a gas furnace, then the following troubleshooting tips may help you stay warm in the event of a problem.
Figure Out the Problem
The first thing to do if your gas furnace starts acting up is to pinpoint the problem. Will the unit not turn on at all? Is the unit trying to run, but the burners won’t fire? Is the air coming from your ducts cool instead of warm? All of these things definitely indicate that there is some sort of problem, but the solution may be simpler than you think. A lot of troubleshooting starts at the thermostat and making sure that the unit is set to ‘heat’, that the temperature is set at least five degrees above room temperature, and that the fan is set to run automatically.
Trouble with the Thermostat Itself
Most newer thermostats are battery powered so if the battery is dead, the thermostat will stop working and the furnace will shut off. In a few cases, it could be that the thermostat itself has gone bad and needs to be replaced. Thermostats, depending upon the features you select, can be quite inexpensive and are not at all difficult to replace. Of course, you can always call us here at A Superior Air Conditioning to help you out.
Check for Power to the Furnace
If the unit isn’t coming on at all, you will need to check to make sure that there is power getting to the gas furnace. To do this, simply move the switch under the ‘Fan’ label on your thermostat, whether it is physical or digital, to the ‘on’ position and see if the fan comes on. If it does not, it could be that there is a blown fuse or breaker, that the wiring is bad, or even that there is an issue with the furnace’s internal circuit board.
Burners Not Igniting
If the fan runs but the burners themselves will not ignite, there could be any number of problems. Starting with the simplest, you should check to make sure that the pilot light for your furnace is lit. If you have an electric ignition system, you can carefully clean the igniters themselves (these are what generate the spark that lights the gas) with a lint-free cloth being careful not to get any oil from the skin on them as this may cause them to malfunction. If this doesn’t do the trick, it could be anything from the draft inducer motor to a problem with the burners themselves.
If these simple tricks do not help you get your gas furnace running again, you may be able to find a reset button on your unit or simply flip the breaker powering the unit off for two minutes before turning it back on. A Superior Air Conditioning is available 24 hours a day to help you get warm again, as well, so do not hesitate to call us if troubleshooting indicates a serious problem.
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