EMERGENCY No Heat or Hot Water?   Call us!   Not urgent?   Click here.
Residential
Service
Commercial
Service
Mechanical
Contracting

How to Troubleshoot a Malfunctioning Gas Furnace

How to Troubleshoot a Malfunctioning Gas FurnaceOccasionally, something will go wrong with your gas furnace, and you will want to determine what the problem is before calling in a professional repair technician. This guide will give you some tips on how to troubleshoot a gas furnace when there is a problem. Here are some common issues that can occur with conventional gas furnaces and how to address them. 

No Heat

There are several reasons your furnace may not be producing heat. It could be that the thermostat is set too low. A fuel valve could be closed. The pilot light could be out or it’s possible there is an ignition problem. Check to be sure the thermostat is set to heat at the correct temperature. The non-digital type may require the contacts to be cleaned. Check your circuit breakers or fuses; they may need to be reset or replaced. Perhaps your standing pilot needs to be lit. An ignition problem is a bit trickier and may require expert help.  

Not Enough Heat

Perhaps your gas furnace is producing some heat, but not enough to make your home’s temperature feel comfortable. The air filter could be dirty or the gas burners may need cleaning or adjusting. Maybe air flow to the combustion air chamber is being obstructed. This could be as simple a fix as replacing your air filter. However, you may need to call a professional to adjust the burners or to ensure that there is adequate combustion air flow. 

Blower Does Not Turn Off

If the blower runs constantly, it could simply be that your thermostat is set for the fan to run continuously. You’ll just need to change the setting. However, it could also be a fan limit control switch if your furnace does not have a fan control setting. In this case, the fan limit control switch will need to be repaired or replaced. 

These are a few reasons your furnace may not be working. It can be confusing to troubleshoot a gas furnace, and you may need a new oneContact Arpi’s Industries Ltd. for help with your furnace issues in the Calgary area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about gas furnace troubleshooting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “palto/Shutterstock”