My Heat Isn’t Working – What Now?

A broken furnace is never a welcome discovery. Here in Vancouver WA and the Portland OR Metro Area, we have our share of cold days, and it’s important to be ready for them. If you’ve noticed that your heater isn’t working on a cold day, you need professional help – and quick. For heater repair, you should always call the pros at Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers Inc. for help – but in the meantime, we’re here to help you with a few troubleshooting steps you can perform yourself. You might even find that you can solve your problem on your own!

Furnace Won’t Turn On

If your furnace won’t turn on, there are a few potential causes you can check for. These fixes may still require professional help, but you may be able to save a bit of time by finding the cause yourself.

Is The Power On?

Maybe it sounds like a given, but you’d be surprised how often it turns out that the furnace wasn’t broken – just turned off. It’s possible that the furnace’s power switch was flipped by accident, but it’s more likely for a breaker to trip and turn off your heat. So, check the furnace power switch and breaker to make sure your furnace has power before trying other solutions. This goes for both electrical and gas heaters.

Check Pilot Light

If you have a gas or oil furnace, a small flame will stay burning at all times. If the pilot light is out, the furnace isn’t creating heat. This should be the first component you look at if your gas furnace won’t heat. It is usually found at the base of your heater, behind an access door.

Check Air Filter

Clogged air filters won’t pull enough air into the system for it to run properly. Your furnace’s air filters may need to be replaced anywhere from every 3 months to once a year.

Check Belt

If you hear your furnace working but hot air isn’t coming out of your vents, you could be dealing with a faulty belt. Your furnace has a belt inside that connects the motor and the blower. Turn off the power to your furnace and shut off the gas valve. Remove the door on the furnace cabinet to inspect the belt. If you notice that the belt is cracked, frayed, or stretched, it needs to be replaced. You may also notice excessive noise from your furnace – grinding, squealing, or clanking – if its belt needs to be replaced.

Furnace Won’t Turn Off

A furnace that won’t turn off isn’t just inconvenient – it can also drive up your energy bill. If your furnace won’t stop running, there are a few things you can check for. If none of these solve your problem, turn off the furnace and call Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers Inc..

Check Thermostat Settings

This should be the first thing you check. It may sound easy, but a thermostat setting is often the issue. Make sure your thermostat is set to “auto” and not “on,” to ensure that your furnace only runs when the temperature is below a certain level. Also, check the temperature setting, and make sure it is set to heat and not cool. If none of these solve the problem, move on to the next step.

Check Air Filter

A clogged filter can also cause your furnace to run too long. Change your air filter, if you’re furnace is still running after an hour or so, contact Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers Inc.. Our HVAC technicians will inspect your system and figure out what is really going on.

Check Fan Relay Switch

This small component tells your furnace when to turn on and off. Turn your thermostat off. If your furnace blower doesn’t turn off, there may be a malfunction with the fan relay switch or the thermostat. An inspection by an HVAC technician will be able to repair whichever component is the issue.

Call Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers Inc. for Help With Heat Repair

If you have a broken furnace, don’t hesitate to call Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers Inc.. Our technicians are highly skilled in residential HVAC systems, and we’ll locate and solve your problem before you know it. We’ve been helping home and business owners in and around the Vancouver WA and the Portland OR Metro Area area since ; whether you have a decades-old heating system or a brand-new one, we can help.

Give us a call for a free quote! We also offer 24-hour emergency service, so any time you need help with your heater, call us.

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