Issues with your furnace can get you hot-headed while also leaving your family shivering in the cold. While many furnace issues need to be handled by the professionals, some issues may arise due to small problems that you could solve yourself. If you’re experiencing issues with your furnace, here are some things to try before you call a professional to bring the warmth back to your home.
Check the Thermostat
Always begin your electric furnace troubleshooting by checking the thermostat. First, set the thermostat 3-5 degrees above the room temperature and wait to see if the furnace comes on. If it does come on, check the vents to see if you can actually feel heat. If your thermostat is mechanical, make sure that the fan switch is turned on. Alternatively, if you have a digital thermostat and the electric furnace did not click on, replace the batteries and see if that resolves the issue. If your furnace is still not working after checking the thermostat, it is time to try the next step.
Check the Fuses and Circuit Breakers
If the thermostat is not the issue, the next step is to check the fuse box and circuit breaker. To do this, go to the service panel for your home and check to see if the circuit breaker is on for the furnace. Due to the amount of power they draw, most furnaces will have their own circuit breaker or fuse in the panel.
A power surge can cause the breaker to switch off or blow the fuse which will then cause your furnace to stop working. To check for a blown fuse, turn the main switch off and then remove the fuse. It is imperative you turn the main switch off before removing the fuse to avoid the possibility of electrocution. After removing the fuse, check it for evidence of burns or breaks. If you find such evidence, replace the broken fuse and see if the power to your furnace is restored.
In addition to checking the fuse box, it is also important to check to see if the fuse inside of the furnace has been blown as well. Make sure you follow the owner manual to avoid harming yourself or your furnace. If you do not feel comfortable, do not hesitate to contact our team! It is always safer to contact a professional when you don’t feel comfortable.
Check Furnace for Dirt
Dirty electrical furnaces do not operate very well, because an electric furnace works by pulling air through the air filter before it gets heated, ensuring that the conditioned air is clean. If your air filter is dirty, it is time to clean it. To check your air filter, first turn off your unit. Next, check the air filter and its panel for dirt. The air filter wil typically be located in the bottom panel of your furnace. If it is dirty, use a vacuum to remove excess dust from the filter.
Check the Fan
If none of the above seems to be solving your furnace issues, it is time to check the fan. While your electric furnace may be running perfectly fine and warming air just as it should, if the fan or blower is damaged, then the warm air will not be properly distributed throughout your house.
The first step to checking the fan is to set your thermostat to on or auto. If it is on, but the fan is still not running, then it is likely the fan relay is not operational. If the fan is running but there isn’t any heat, it might be due to the wrong setting on the thermostat. Turning the fan from “on” to “auto” may be a possible solution. When the fan option is set to on, it will continue to run until you manually turn it off.
Next, check to see that the blower motor’s belt is not frayed, worn, or broken. If the motor belt is damaged or loose, the blower can malfunction or fail completely. A trained HVAC technician can replace your damaged blower motor belt.
There Is Still no Heat
If you have tried all of the above steps but there is still no heat from your heater, there may be a bad heating element. Only a trained HVAC technician should ever handle the heating element as replacing it is a complicated process that can lead to injury or harm to your electric furnace if one is not careful. As such, if none of the above steps get your furnace back in working order, it is time to consult a professional.
Need Electric Furnace Repairs?
You can stay in the cold scratching your head until you figure out what’s wrong with your furnace, but even that is not a guarantee that you’ll be able to fix the issue yourself. The surefire way to get your furnace firing up again is to have an experienced professional take a look. Our experienced team at Select AC & Heating is eager to help with all of your AC & heating needs. We’re passionate about making sure you and your family stay comfortable all-year round, so make sure to schedule an appointment or consultation today!
