Heaters have a knack for failing on the coldest days of the year, which can be incredibly frustrating. Whether you're waiting for a repair technician or attempting to fix it yourself, it's important to understand your heating system. This knowledge can help you troubleshoot the problem and determine when professional assistance is necessary.

Your heater may be malfunctioning due to several reasons: a cracked pilot light, broken draft motors, faulty ductwork, or clogged air filters are common culprits. Some of these issues can be safely resolved on your own, while others require professional expertise.

Dealing with a broken heater can be daunting if you’re not familiar with its workings. But don't worry—you’re in the right place. This article will cover the most common heater problems, how to identify them, and steps to fix them. Let’s dive in and equip you with the information needed to tackle a malfunctioning furnace!

Troubleshooting A Heater That is Not Working 

Finding out what particular problem plaguing your heater is the best way to learn about the appliance and how to fix it. Identifying these problems can help determine if you can solve them on your own, or if you need to call a professional. If you have this problem, go through the checklist below to get to the root of the problem!

Power Off To The Heater 

When your heater is not working, the first step is to turn it off. This not only prepares you for the investigation but will save you that wasted energy on your next bill! Turning the heater off will let all the systems cool down so you can look into the ducts and heater safely.

This power-off may also give your heater the break it needs to make repairs easier. Maybe the heater is like your router, and simply needs a quick reboot to start working! Either way, turning off the system is certainly your first step to finding the issue.

Clogged filters and ductwork

It is a real possibility that the problem with your heater is not the actual heater itself, but rather the ductwork. If your HVAC system is pretty old, the ducts may be broken or the filters clogged with debris. These occurrences could block the warm air from reaching you, which could appear as the system is not working.

[caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] changing ac filter can help the system work better[/caption]

Poor installation could be another reason for faulty ductwork. So if you had your system recently installed this could be the cause of the issue. Some professionals cut corners when doing ductwork which can lead to improper airflow.

A clogged filter could also lead to improper air flow and even lead to the system overheating. This could lead the heater to break and stop working altogether. So it is always good to keep your air filter clean and duct system checked on to make sure these do not become issues in the future!

Mechanical issues 

There are a good amount of mechanical issues that could be messing with your furnace. Each of these issues has different items to look for and ways to fix the issue. So if you are still having issues with your furnace, take a look at these components.

The first mechanical issue could be a dead blower capacitator. This is a large battery-looking piece that starts your furnace when the thermostat tells it to. If this piece is dead it could keep the blower from starting, which is what pushes the heat around your home.  A dying capacitor leads to a blower malfunction, which can be a costly fix. 

The next issue could be a faulty heat exchanger.  This problem can sometimes be an effect of other issues such as low airflow and dirty components. But it is a very serious problem as this exchanger contains CO2. If it is cracked or damaged, the toxic air could leak into your home and make you sick. So you will always need to replace it if it is cracked for safety. 

Then there is the issue of a bad inducer draft motor. This piece helps clear the heat exchanger of leftover gas from the last heating cycle and then vent all that air outside. If this component begins pulling in high amps or gets dirty it can burn out after a while. HVAC professionals often check to make sure this piece is working properly but needs to be replaced if broken. 

Finally, there is the bad heat pump.  Not all homes utilize a heat pump, but if you do it could be an explanation for your issue. Your refrigerant may be too low which can cause the heat strips to come on more than they should which can get expensive. If you notice these heat steps come on frequently, you will need to increase your refrigerant charge.

Pilot light is out 

The pilot light element of your heater is what keeps the warm flame going from the gas valve at the base of the furnace. If this goes out then the heater will fail completely. So if you have a gas or propane-powered furnace this could cause the heat to go out while the air conditioner still works!

Luckily, this is a pretty easy fix! To start you will need to turn off all the electrical components and breakers related to the furnace. This is an important safety measure when you are working on the furnace. If you open the front access panel of your furnace and the flame is out, then this is your heating problem.

All you need to do is relight the flame. Most of the time you will only need to press the priming button in your furnace. If that does not work then you will need to manually light it with a long lighter, but this is pretty rare. If you smell or hear gas leaking from the furnace, do not light it! This can lead to an explosion, and tell you there is a leak with the valve of your pilot light.

Too Much Gas 

Not all furnaces operate in the same way and they need to be calibrated to work properly. There is usually a specific setting that determines how much gas the furnace burns. If this calibration is off, the furnace could be burning too much gas. And this can lead the heater to malfunction and stop working.

This overuse of gas can lead to your energy bill being higher than it needs to be. But it can also make your furnace overheat. If this is the problem you are having, you will need to call a professional to help recalibrate the system. It is a simple fix, but one that an expert needs to do to avoid messing up the calibration more.

Can I troubleshoot these problems myself? 

You can troubleshoot furnace issues on your own! It is the best way to figure out the exact issue and see if you can solve the issue without needing to call someone in. Here are a set of steps you can take to investigate the issue.

First, you will want to make sure your thermostat is set to heat mode, just to rule out that it may be off accidentally. You can change the batteries in your thermostat to see if there is simply a communication error between the thermostat and the furnace!

Now you will want to ensure that the circuit breaker is ON and the breaker for the furnace has not tripped. Then look for the furnace ON button to be sure that the unit is not switched off. This button is usually inside the furnace cabinet. 

If none of these efforts have worked, keep trying! Now it’s time to see if the motor in your furnace is overloaded. There is usually a simple restart button close to this motor. If you press it and nothing happens, wait 30 minutes and then try again.

Finally, try turning off the power to the furnace at the main electrical panel or sub-panel. You will then take at the fuse on the power switch. If you have seen that it is blown, then you just need to replace that fuse!

You can also go through the checklist in the earlier section to see if one of those common pieces may be damaged or broken. But if you have looked through every possibility and still found no explanation, then it is time to call someone. 

While handling minor HVAC issues can be straightforward, there are times when calling a professional is essential. If you've followed the steps in this article, you might have identified simple fixes, such as replacing thermostat batteries or cleaning a dirty air filter.

However, more complex problems, like a cracked pilot light or a broken draft motor, require professional intervention. It's safer and more effective to let experts handle intricate repairs, ensuring the job is done correctly and preventing recurring issues.

If you're experiencing persistent HVAC issues or need expert assistance, don't hesitate to contact Rich's Heating and Cooling LLC. Call us today at (732) 433-0068 to schedule a service or consultation. Let our experienced professionals ensure your home stays warm and comfortable all year round.