November 10, 2021

What Can You Do When Your Furnace Fails

The winter months can bring harsh weather. You need to have a functioning heating system. Unfortunately, your heating system can fail when you need it to support you the most. Here are some steps you can follow if your home heating goes out and some reasons why your home heating system might fail.

Shut Off the Gas

Shut off the gas to your gas furnace immediately. Doing this prevents carbon monoxide leaks, which can be dangerous for your health.

Almost 50% of homes in the United States use natural gas for their heat. If your home heating system suddenly fails, pay attention to any strange odors.

Natural gas does not produce natural odors. Natural gas distributors add mercaptan to natural gas to give it a sulfuric smell. If there is a gas leak in your home or your furnace is producing gas, but it is not being burned, you will smell rotten eggs.

Natural gas is between 85% and 95% methane. This colorless, odorless gas is flammable. Inhaling methane can cause nausea, headaches, and suffocation.

If your heating system fails, turn off the gas. If you smell sulfur, exit your home. Contact your national gas provider. The failure may have been caused by a leak.

Look at Your Thermostat

Your home’s thermostat functions like the brain of your HVAC system. It lets your system know if the air needs to be heated or cooled based on your set temperature profile. Once the desired level is reached, it will instruct the HVAC system to either activate or deactivate.

Your thermostat plays a crucial role in the functioning of your heating system. Your thermostat is your first go-to when troubleshooting why your heater fails. If your heater fails, the problem can often be traced back to your thermostat.

It could be something as simple as dead batteries. Maybe you accidentally switched the control to cool. Change the batteries, make sure the thermostat is set correctly, and wait a few minutes to see if your heater starts to warm up your home. If not, you may need the assistance of HVAC professionals to help get things up and running again.

If your thermostat is hardwired into your home’s electrical system, instead of checking the batteries, check your circuit breaker. There may have been a power outage, which could have triggered your circuit breaker to flip off. This is a standard safety feature designed to protect your home’s electrical system from overloading.

If an overload did occur, switch the breaker for your HVAC system to on. It should start to warm your home again.

Make Sure Your Filters Are Clean

Your furnace regulates the temperature of incoming air to keep your home as comfortable as possible. When your furnace is functioning as it should, it distributes warm, clean air through the air ducts.

To ensure that the air being distributed is safe to breathe, it is essential to have periodic furnace maintenance performed. This includes having the HVAC air filter changed. The length of time between filter changes will vary. It depends on how heavily you use your furnace and the air quality where you live.

If your air furnace filter is clogged, it will negatively impact the airflow throughout your home. Since there is insufficient fresh air, the heat exchanger can get too hot and deactivate, making it feel like the furnace is not working.

Dirty filters lead to short cycling. A dirty filter makes it difficult for your furnace to warm your home. It can damage the furnace’s internal components.

If your heating system has failed and the furnace cannot turn on, this indicates damage to the pilot light, fan, pressure switches, heat exchanger, gas valves, or other components.

All this damage could be caused by dirty filters. Furnace repair projects are costly. Having your furnace stop in the middle of winter can be dangerous. That’s why it’s recommended that you have Scott-Lee Heating Company professionals perform regular maintenance on your system, ensuring that things like your air filter are constantly cleaned.

Check for a Broken Belt

Some styles of HVAC systems have a belt-driven motor. The motor transfers energy to the fan. This moves the fan, allowing it to distribute the heated air throughout the home. For the belt to work correctly, it needs to have sufficient tension.

With time, the belts of your HVAC system can become loose. Dirt buildup or incorrect tension can make the belt degrade faster. When you least expect it, the belt can snap.

An indication of a broken HVAC belt is the smell of burnt rubber. If you smell this, contact your HVAC repair specialist immediately. The friction that led to the belt snapping may also damage other essential parts in the furnace, including the fan and motor. Don’t try to attempt these repairs on your own.

Stay Warm While You Wait for Your HVAC Technician

A broken furnace is an HVAC emergency. Scott-Lee Heating Company technicians responded to HVAC emergencies promptly. However, take steps to keep yourself and your family warm.

For example, have everyone put on multiple layers of clothing. If you have thick blankets, wrap everyone up in them.

Those who live in a home with a fireplace should turn it on. You may wish to use a space heater to keep the room that you and your family are in warm.

One of the best ways to heat your home is to cook something. Have everyone gather in the kitchen. Put a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven. Not only will you enjoy the smell and the taste of the cookies, but you will also benefit from the warmth of the stove.

Close the blinds and curtains. If you have thick, long drapes, hang them. Use blankets, pillows, or other thick materials to block off the cracks under your doors. The goal is to prevent cold air from getting into your home.

Take Proactive Steps to Prevent Your Furnace From Failures

Professional HVAC preventative maintenance keeps your cooler and your heater functioning efficiently. It extends the life of your HVAC system so that parts will not break down unexpectedly. Additionally, having your HVAC system professionally maintained can save you up to 40% on your energy expenses.

There are simple steps that you can take along the way to minimize the chance of a furnace failure. Keep your HVAC filters clean. Ensure that nothing is blocking the unit. This includes indoor and outdoor units.

Get Your Faulty HVAC Unit Fixed Today

Our continued growth in the HVAC field is due to our ability to provide high-quality heating and cooling services. We are staffed with experienced technicians and a customer service team working behind the scenes to see that all of our clients get the highest level of care possible. Scott-Lee Heating Company is ready to help you with all of your HVAC needs.

Some of the services we offer include AC maintenance and repair, furnace maintenanceand repair, 24/7 emergency services, and residential and commercial care. Don’t let a failed furnace put you, your family, and your house in danger during the cold winter months. Contact Scott-Lee Heating Company today! See for yourself why no one can even come close to the service we offer when it comes to AC and heating services.