If your heater system simply won’t power on, this is a common problem you’re experiencing. These systems work tirelessly to keep our homes warm, they can run into problems at some point.
Possible Reasons Your Heater Is Not Working
- Thermostat Issues
- Lack of Maintenance
- Clogged Air Filter
Issues with the Thermostat
Another common complaint among homeowners is the thermostat not turning on heat. Usually, the root cause of the problem is that the thermostat is malfunctioning or improperly set.
The function of your HVAC’s thermostat is to regulate the amount of heat that’s generated by your furnace as well as when that heat is generated. Most thermostats in the market today are quite reliable and will typically give you years of hassle-free service. However, every thermostat will eventually develop problems and require repair or replacement.
Once you discover that your current thermostat has a problem, consider replacing it with a programmable option. A programmable thermostat lets you choose different temperatures for various times of the day, night, and week. These thermostats are thus much more energy efficient compared to their non-programmable options.
Lack of Maintenance
If your heater doesn’t start, chances are the problem stems from having a dirty furnace. Having dirt on your blower motor or flamer sensor could render your furnace unable to perform.
When the blower motor is too dirty, it won’t pass enough cool air to the heat exchanger, leading to equipment failure.
An unclean flame sensor won’t be able to “sense” the flame through all the soot and corrosion. If the sensor cannot recognize the fire through the dirt, it will automatically shut off the furnace to prevent a gas leak.
Change the filter.
Dirty and clogged filters are one of the primary causes of furnace problems and can cause high operating costs. The heat exchanger can overheat and shut off quickly when filters are clogged with dust and dirt. This also causes soot buildup on the heat exchanger, which makes your furnace run less efficiently.
The next step is to replace the filter if the blower is running but no heat is coming out. Use your owner’s manual to locate where the filter is and how to remove it.
You should change flat filters at least once a month and inspect pleated filters once a month. If you can’t see the light clearly through the filters, it’s time to replace them. Pleated filters are generally good for three months, but you may need to change them more frequently if you have pets or kids that aid in generating dust.
