Does it seem like your furnace starts up, yet you don’t feel any heat in your home? If your furnace turns on but no heat seems to come into your Birmingham home, try some simple furnace troubleshooting steps as the problem may be an easy fix. If troubleshooting doesn’t work, call a professional Douglas Cooling & Heating for furnace repair today.
Troubleshoot When a Furnace Turns on But No Heat Comes Out
When a furnace is turning on but no heat is produced, a few different furnace problems could be to blame. Find out how to troubleshoot some of the simple problems that stand in the way of a warm home before you call in a pro.
Thermostat Settings
The wrong thermostat settings can make it seem like your furnace turns on but no heat comes through your vents.
If not hot air is coming from your furnace, you’ll first have to make sure that your thermostat is set to heat, rather than cool. As simple as this can seem, it is a common mistake that we see more often than you might think.
If the fan is turned ON, it runs constantly. It can sound like the furnace itself is running, but it’s just the blower motor. When the motor runs alone, heating is not circulated absent a heating cycle.
- Make sure the fan is set to AUTO, which allows the blower motor to run only when a heating cycle occurs. Leaving it set to ON will push cold air from the blower, rather than hot air, out the vents when the furnace is not on and use more energy.
- If the furnace doesn’t kick on, make sure the thermostat is set a few degrees higher than the current room temperature. This should trigger a heating cycle and cause the furnace to start up and stay lit.
Once you check the thermostat and see that the temperature is set where you want it, but your furnace is still blowing cold air, call a professional.
Airflow Problems
Airflow problems within the furnace or ductwork can prevent heat from effectively moving through the unit and into your living areas. When you turn the furnace on but no heat comes out, there may be an obstruction.
Dirty air filters restrict airflow, which can make it feel like not much heated air is coming out of your vents.
- Check the furnace filter and replace it if its surface is covered with contaminants.
- Change the furnace filter on a regular basis to prevent airflow problems.
- Closed or obstructed vents can also cause it to feel like the furnace isn’t making enough heat, because not all of its hot air makes it through the vents into your living areas.
- Check all vents to make sure louvers are open. If louvers are stuck in the closed position, try removing the vent cover and cleaning it. Replacing the cover may be necessary if louvers are jammed.
- Check to see that all registers and vents in the home are uncovered. Common obstructions include rugs, carpeting, furniture, and other large items in your Birmingham home.
- If you get low airflow coming from a particular vent, take a peek inside to make sure no items have fallen into the vent, causing an obstruction. It may be possible to remove items using your hand or a long wire.
Fuel & Ignition
If your furnace turns on but no heat is produced, there may be a problem with the fuel supply or the ignition system.
If something is stopping your furnace from receiving gas, there is no fuel to combust so the furnace will not create any heat. The furnace turns on but no heat comes out.
- Check the gas valve on your gas supply line and make sure the gas valve is open.
- If you use liquid propane or oil for heating fuel, check your tank and make sure there is enough fuel – you may need to schedule a refill, as the tank might be empty.
- For natural gas, check with your utility provider to make sure there have been no interruptions in service.
If the furnace’s ignition system malfunctions, gas will not combust to create heating.
- If you have an older furnace that uses a pilot light, check to see if the pilot is out. You may need to relight it – follow the instructions listed in the furnace owner’s manual if you do, in fact, need to relight it.
- If your furnace has an electronic ignition system, it is possible that the metal strip of the igniter switch is dirty. Check to see if this is the case. If so, you may gently clean it off, but this component is very fragile – do so with care.
Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for Furnace Repair
If your furnace turns on but no heating is produced, and these troubleshooting steps don’t solve the problem, it’s time to call for professional repairs on your heating system. Your furnace should be blowing hot air, and if it isn’t, request a service call from a professional.
A bad thermostat, faulty ignition components, or other furnace problems may be the cause of the furnace not working properly. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today to schedule furnace repairs for your Birmingham area home.
