It is never ideal for a furnace to go out during the winter season. Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton knows the importance of keeping your home heated and your family warm. Unfortunately, furnace mishaps happen, and the only thing you can do is prepare yourself beforehand so you know how to handle the situation should this occur. Haven’t you got a clue where you should start if you encounter your furnace going out? Then this is the blog for you! Ask yourself this list of questions put together by our heating and cooling experts:
Is There a Gas Leak?
Making sure there are no gas leaks is something you want to confirm immediately. You and your family’s safety is a top priority! When a furnace goes out, there is potential that it may be due to a gas leak. While natural gas has no odor, a sulfuric compound called mercaptan is added to alert you and everyone in the house. If you notice an off-putting, funky smell, grab your family and pets, exit the house right away and call your gas company.
How do I Troubleshoot My Furnace?
Once the possibility of a gas leak has been ruled out, you can troubleshoot the potential causes of your malfunctioning furnace:
- Check the pilot light to see if it has gone out. It may simply need to be relit. If you need to know how to do so, the manufacturer usually provides instructions on the side of the furnace.
- Confirm the circuit breaker switch for the furnace hasn’t tripped. The solution may be as easy as flipping the furnace switch back into place.
- Inspect the thermostat to see if it is powering on. If it is not, perhaps it just needs a fresh pair of batteries.
What Heat Sources Can I Use?
Furnaces don’t follow any rules or timeframes when to break down. It always happens at the most inconvenient times. We hope it doesn’t happen, but your furnace could break down in the middle of the night or even during a busy holiday. Being prepared and having a space heater or log supply if you have a wood-burning fireplace is a great idea to keep in mind. You don’t want to have to rush out for those things last minute! Don’t forget to close all windows and blinds and draw any window treatments together. Furthermore, you can place blankets or towels at the bottom of any exterior doors to prevent the cold air from seeping inside.
When Should I Call a Professional?
If you have buzzed through the troubleshooting steps and your furnace is still not working, we highly recommend calling a service professional at this point. Troubleshooting is a great way to fix an issue that you can resolve by yourself. But we do not recommend attempting any of your DIY furnace repairs.
Stay ahead of the game and keep these tips & tricks in your back pocket should your furnace happen to stop working during the remainder of the winter season. Of course, we would hate for you to be put out in the cold. Pun intended! As always, Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton is here for you for all of your furnace maintenance services and emergency furnace repairs. Call today at (937) 708-8278, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here!
