Picture this: You wake up in the middle of a chilly winter night feeling colder than usual. You stumble out of bed and head for the thermostat to turn the heat up, only to discover that it’s not working or cool air is blowing through the vents, not warm air. Unfortunately, furnaces can develop issues as they age, especially if not properly maintained, causing system shutdowns and inefficient heating.
Whether your furnace is older, it’s having issues maintaining a warm temperature, the heat isn’t kicking on, or you’d just like to know what to do in an emergency furnace situation, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for a homeowner’s guide to furnace troubleshooting so you can be prepared if you ever face furnace issues.
Common Furnace Issues
Our furnaces keep our homes warm during frigid winters, creating a cozy oasis to escape the winter chill. Furnaces keep everyone warmer and healthier during wintertime, especially the elderly and young children. However, like any other home component, they can experience issues that need repairing. Below are some common furnace issues:
Not Producing Heat
One of the most common furnace issues is producing no heat. Furnaces were invented to generate heat for our homes, but they can malfunction and produce little to zero heat. Some likely causes for a furnace not producing heat are power supply problems, an issue with the blower motor, or a leaky duct. If you set your thermostat to a warm temperature and it’s not producing warm air, it’s time to get it troubleshooted by a professional HVAC company in Kansas City.
Thermostat Not Working
Our thermostats are the gateway to controlling the heat and air conditioner inside our homes. Whether you have a modern touchscreen thermostat or an older manual one, they should work to adjust the heat in your home accordingly. Unfortunately, thermostats have a hard time working if they have dead or weak batteries, electrical issues, are in an odd location, or have a blown fuse.
Pilot Light Issues
Older gas furnaces have a pilot light to ignite the burner; if your gas furnace was installed in the early 2000s, you most likely have a pilot. Newer, more modern gas furnaces have an electronic ignition system, but if yours has a pilot light, it could have issues that are causing your furnace to malfunction. A pilot light that won’t ignite or keep a flame must be repaired. If the pilot light is an odd color, it requires immediate troubleshooting and repair; turn off your furnace and contact an HVAC company.
Weak/No Airflow
Sometimes, furnaces produce little to no airflow, making for a colder-than-usual home in the winter. Weak or zero airflow can cause the furnace to work in overdrive, increasing energy bills and putting unnecessary strain on the system, potentially damaging components. Little to no airflow could be caused by a dirty air filter, blower motor issues, or an overheated system.
How to DIY Troubleshoot Your Furnace
Cates Heating and Cooling would love to diagnose and repair your furnace, but before you contact us for a furnace repair service, you might be able to troubleshoot and fix yourself if it’s an easy fix. Here’s how to DIY troubleshoot your furnace:
- Check your thermostat
- It might need batteries replaced or maybe it’s not set to “heat.”
- Check/replace your furnace filter
- Check the circuit breaker
- For a gas or oil furnace, check the flame to ensure it’s blue with yellow
- Blue means a safe and efficient furnace, while any other color, like red or purple, needs immediate repair
If your gas furnace’s pilot light glows red, purple, or other color, immediately shut off your furnace and contact Cates. Turning off the power will prevent issues associated with natural gas, keeping your home and loved ones safer until it can be repaired. With our 24/7 emergency service, we’ll take a look right away.
Contact Cates to Ensure Your Furnace is Working Properly This Winter
If your furnace still isn’t working well after troubleshooting, contact Cates Heating and Cooling to schedule a furnace troubleshooting and repair service. We’ll look at your furnace to determine the issue. Once we troubleshoot, we’ll recommend repairs and can get started right away to make your home warm and cozy in no time.
At Cates Heating and Cooling, we’ve been installing and repairing residential and commercial HVAC systems, including furnaces, for over 50 years, making us one of the most dependable and trustworthy home HVAC companies in Kansas City! Our team will troubleshoot your furnace and repair it quickly so you can stay warm in your cozy home. Need emergency service? We offer 24/7 emergency service, making getting your furnace repaired quickly easy.
We’re family-owned and operated with expertly trained technicians who have provided exceptional service to all our customers for over 50 years. We service Kansas City and surrounding cities, including the following:
& more!
Contact Cates with any questions or concerns about your heating and cooling and how we can help!