You come home from work on a winter day and are shocked to find that it’s just as cold inside your house as it is outside. Having no heat on a cold day is an emergency. Without heat, your pipes could freeze and burst causing expensive damage. If your heat is out there are a few troubleshooting steps you can perform to try and fix the issue. By using these troubleshooting tips you can help pinpoint the cause of the problem. If these do not fix it, or you are uncomfortable doing these steps yourself, call Douglas Cooling & Heating right away for heating emergency services.
Troubleshooting Why Your HVAC System is Not Heating Your Home
When your furnace or heat pump isn’t supplying your home with heat, there are a few possible causes for this. In order to narrow down the source of the problem, and possibly fix it yourself, follow our guide to see why you have no heat in your home.
Your Thermostat Is On, But is it On The Right Setting?
While your thermostat may be working properly, make sure it is set to “heat.” While it may seem silly, thermostats can be accidentally tampered with all the time. Checking the thermostat to make sure it is on the right setting is always a great first step to take when your home isn’t comfortable. If you find that your thermostat isn’t working, see if you can replace the batteries if applicable, or make sure the unit is receiving power.
Does Your System Have Power?
Another thing you should check when you don’t have heat is your circuit breaker. Check to see that you haven’t suffered a tripped circuit breaker, or that the fuse for the thermostat or heating system hasn’t burned out. A blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker can cause your system to not receive any power and therefore no heat.
When Was The Last Time You Changed Your Air Filter?
If your system is receiving power, now it’s time to check the unit itself. Regardless if your heating system is a furnace or a heat pump, it will have an air filter. Air filters should be changed on a regular basis, usually every 90 days, or three months. You can buy air filter replacements at your local hardware store. A clogged filter can prevent air from flowing into your heating system and cause it to stop working. Oftentimes, switching out your dirty air filter with a clean one can restore heat to your home.
Is Your Outdoor Unit Blocked Or Frozen?
If your home has a heat pump, another reason it’s not heating your home is that the outdoor unit is blocked. Lawn debris, leaves, and other things can restrict the airflow to your outside unit. Make sure to keep the unit clear of debris and do not store any items against it. Check also to see if your heat pump is frozen. Frost and ice can build up inside the outdoor unit, try running your system on defrost mode to see if that helps.
It’s also a good idea to walk around your home and see if there are other things restricting airflow to your heating system. Make sure your exhaust vents are clear outside your home, and that your indoor registers are unrestricted.
Still No Heat? Time to Call Douglas Cooling & Heating
If you’ve tried all of our solutions and still experiencing a heating problem, now is the time to call Douglas Cooling & Heating for help. We provide 24/7 emergency heating repairs to our neighbors in the Birmingham community. Being without heat is an emergency. Don’t hesitate to call Douglas Cooling & Heating right away to restore heat to your home quickly.
