Furnace Repair Checklist
1. Look at the Thermostat
To start, make sure your thermostat is instructing your heater to turn on.
Digital Thermostat
- Change the batteries if the monitor is not displaying anything. If the digital screen is messed up, the thermostat might need to be changed.
- Ensure the switch is on “heat” rather than “off” or “cool.”
- Ensure the program is displaying the correct day and time and is programmed to “run.” If you’re having a hard time getting out of the schedule, regulate the temperature by using the up/down arrows and pressing the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to start if thermostat is causing a problem.
- Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees hotter than the temperature of the room.
If your heater hasn’t started within a couple minutes, make certain that it has juice by switching the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t start, your heater might not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you use a smart thermostat—such as one designed by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Take a look at the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get your Wi-Fi thermostat to function, call us at 631-737-5566 for heating and cooling service.
2. Check Breakers and Switches
Next, confirm your breaker and furnace switch are on.
- Find your main electrical panel. If you aren’t sure where it is, look for a gray metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
- Ensure your hands and feet are dry in advance of opening the panel or breakers.
- Find the breaker marked “furnace” or “heat,” and make sure it’s turned “on.” If you discover a tripped breaker, it will be in the middle or “off” area.
- With one hand, firmly turn the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker instantly trips and pops back to “off,” don't try to reset it and call a team member from Airmax Long Island Inc at 631-737-5566 quickly.
Regardless of your furnace’s age or brand, it has at least one standard wall switch situated on or close to it.
- Ensure the control is facing up in the “on” position. If it was turned off, expect your furnace to take up to five minutes to turn on. (If you’re unaware of where to find your furnace, take a look at your basement, garage or utility closet. It could also be in a crawl space or attic.)
3. Get a New Air Filter
When it comes to heating breakdowns, a grungy, full air filter is often the top culprit.
If your filter is too grungy:
- Your heater won’t be able to stay on, or it may overheat from limited airflow.
- Your energy expenses might go up because your heater is running too often.
- Your furnace could fail sooner than it should since a dusty filter triggers it to work overtime.
- Your heating system may be disconnected from power if an excessively dirty filter causes the breaker to trip.
Depending on what model of furnace you have, your air filter can be found within the blower compartment of your furnace, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To replace your filter:
- Switch off your furnace.
- Pull out the filter and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, replace it.
- Insert the new filter with the arrow facing toward the heating system to avoid damage.
Flat filters need to be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. If you have children or pets, you could have to replace your filter sooner.
To make the procedure smoother down the line, use a permanent writing tool on your heater outside or ductwork to show the airflow direction and filter size.
4. Look at the Condensate Pan
Otherwise known as drain pans, condensate pans hold water your furnace draws from the air.
If moisture is dripping from your heater or its pan has standing water in it, use these guidelines.
- If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), check that it isn’t clogged. If it should be drained, get a special pan-cleaning tablet you can buy at home improvement or hardware retailers.
- If your pan contains a pump, inspect the float switch. If the button is jammed “up” with standing water in the pan, call us at 631-737-5566, because you will possibly have to buy a new pump.
5. Check for Furnace Error Codes
If malfunctions keep on happening, look at your heating system’s plastic window to verify the blower motor’s status. Subject to the brand, the light may also be fixed on the surface of your furnace.
If you see anything except an uninterrupted, colored light or flickering green light, reach us at 631-737-5566 for HVAC service. Your heater could be communicating an error code that is calling for pro assistance.
6. Clean the Flame Sensor
If your furnace tries to operate but shuts off without putting out heat, a dirty flame sensor might be at fault. When this happens, your furnace will attempt to turn on three times before a safety mechanism turns it off for about an hour.
If you feel confident with removing the panels from your furnace, brushing off your flame sensor is a task you have the ability to do on your own. Or, one of our heating service experts can finish it for you.
If you are confident cleaning the sensor on your own, you should have:
- A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
- Piece of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
- A fresh paper towel
Then:
- Shut off the heating system’s power through its wall switch or breaker. If you don’t have an electric gas valve, you will need to shut off the gas in addition.
- Lift off the heater’s front panel and trace the wire to the flame sensor.
- Take off the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to carefully rub the metal rod.
- Clean the rod with a paper towel.
- Screw the sensor back in.
- Put the furnace doors back on.
- Restore power to the furnace. It may run through a set of inspections before continuing usual operation. If your furnace doesn’t ignite, the sensor may require replacement or something else could be wrong. If this takes place, contact us at 631-737-5566 for heating and cooling repair support.
7. Reignite the Pilot Light
If you own an aging heater, the pilot light could be turned off. To relight it, find the guide on a sticker on your furnace, or try these steps.
- Look for the lever below your heater that says “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
- Turn the switch to the “off” position.
- Wait at least five minutes to limit the possibility for creating a fire.
- Move the knob to “pilot.”
- Hold down the “reset” button as you push the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
- Release the “reset” switch once the pilot light is burning.
If you have used the instructions twice and the pilot light still won’t burn or keep burning, contact us at 631-737-5566 for furnace service.
Examine Your Fuel Supply
Try turning on another gas appliance. If it doesn’t work, your natural gas source could be switched off, or you could be out of propane.