The cold winds are blowing in Georgia, and you’re hoping you can depend on your furnace this winter. However, it’s always prudent to be prepared for trouble. That’s why it’s so important to know what to look for if the heating system stops dead in its tracks, or just doesn’t seem to be heating your home sufficiently. Following are some troubleshooting tips for furnaces:

What if It Won’t Turn on?

Check the simplest issues first. Is the heating turned on? Is it getting power at the breaker box? Check the thermostat, too. If it’s not set to “heat,” it’s not going to kick on the furnace. The temperature setting must be lower than the temperature in the home, too. If the thermostat is battery operated, check the batteries. And don’t forget when you change the filter to make sure you install the furnace door or filter rack cover back on properly. The door has a safety switch to ensure it it closed properly before operating.

If you have an older combustion system, it may use a pilot light for ignition. Check the pilot and relight if it has gone out. If this keeps happening, you’ll need a professional to look at it, just as you will if the electronic ignition in a modern furnace isn’t working properly.

If your issues with the furnace are preceded by banging in the blower compartment, this could be a loose part, slipped belt, or some other mechanical issue. A service call will be in order.

Burners can get clogged, which can either inhibit the heating process or stop operation altogether. If you hear small popping or explosions, this could mean the fuel is igniting in accumulated bunches rather than in a smooth flow.

Is the House Not Getting Warm Enough?

If the furnace is struggling to maintain the thermostat setting, there could be several culprits, including a clogged air filter, leaky or dirty ducts, or a failing blower motor or fuel distribution system. You can address the air filter and ducts, to some extent, though a professional likely will need to address more serious issues. You may just need to get a new heating system altogether.

For a comprehensive heating system safety inspection and tuneup, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We have been providing quality HVAC services to the Peachtree City, Sharpsburg and all of Fayette and Coweta counties since 1979.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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