Experiencing heating problems when it’s cold outside is never ideal, especially during a frigid Michigan winter. However, before you make that call to your local HVAC company to fix your furnace, it’s possible that checking something simple may fix the problem entirely. So to save you time and money, we have created a list of 5 items homeowners should check before having an HVAC technician come out to your home for a repair.
1. Start with the thermostat
First of all, make sure your thermostat is turned on. Secondly, make sure that it’s set to “heat” and not “cool,” as this can lead to an uncomfortable situation in a chilly home. This may seem obvious, but homeowners have overlooked this problem before!
2. Check the breaker box
Another common issue that homeowners face is a furnace that doesn’t seem to be kicking on. If your furnace isn’t turning on, check the breaker box to make sure that the furnace switch hasn’t been turned off. If it has, turn it back on and wait a few minutes for the furnace to start up.
3. Check the pilot light
If you have a gas furnace that is older and still isn’t coming on at all, check whether or not there is a spark at the furnace’s ignitor. To do this, locate the furnace’s pilot light and see if it’s lit. If not, see if you can find a button to light the furnace’s pilot light and hold down that button until the furnace’s pilot lights up. Once this happens, wait about five minutes for your furnace to warm up before turning on any of your home’s other appliances or using the furnace fan setting.
4. Check your air filter
Inspect your air filter by taking it out of its frame so you can examine both sides of the filter. If either side is dirty with dust particles or debris from pet hair, simply replace the air filter with a new one and restart your furnace again after waiting ten minutes for your heat to start. If you haven’t changed your filter hasn’t been changed in 30-60 days, it can prevent airflow from being distributed through your vents, causing your furnace to not function efficiently.
5. Close Access Panels
Furnaces and air handlers have access doors into the system’s interior. In some cases, if these doors aren’t shut completely, your HVAC system won’t run. So if nothing else has worked thus far, make sure the access panels are closed and secure or have not come loose or fallen off.
6. Check for Poor Insulation
The final thing you can check before calling an HVAC technician is whether or not your home has been properly insulated. A lack of insulation can cause your furnace to work harder than necessary, leading to overheating issues and premature wear and tear on your furnace.
Additionally, if your windows are more than 15 years old, they may be worn and leaking air, contributing to your furnace’s inability to heat your home properly. It may be a good time to look into a window replacement if you walk by and feel drafts. We provide custom, locally-made windows that are highly energy-efficient, and built for even the toughest winters in Southwest Michigan. Learn more about them here: https://thebossservices.com/more-services/windows/
Heat Still Not Working?
If you have checked all of these things and are still experiencing problems with your heating system, don’t hesitate to call an HVAC technician! We serve all of Southwest Michigan plus the Greater Grand Rapids area, including St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Stevensville, South Haven, Kalamazoo, Portage, and more! Just call 269-468-6682, and we have real people answering our phones 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. We are happy to help get a technician out to your home to repair the problem in no time!
