Why Won’t My Furnace Turn On?

With colder temperatures settling into Cincinnati, the last thing you want is to wake up in the morning to find you don’t have any heat in your home. It’s always a good idea to test your furnace before you need it for the first time in the winter. If you find that your furnace won’t turn on, there’s no need to panic. Your friendly heating and cooling experts at Nelson Comfort are here to help you get your furnace back up and running again. These tips are great for anytime you find yourself without heat. 

Go through this handy list of tips first before you call for service. But if you’ve tried everything and still can’t get your furnace to work, call Nelson Comfort right away. Being without heat on the coldest day of the year is an emergency. Our team is standing by 24/7, 365 days a year to help turn your heat back on. 

Common Reasons Why Your Furnace Won’t Turn On

Unfortunately, there is not one sure reason why your furnace suddenly won’t turn on. Furnaces are very complicated appliances and should only be tampered with by a licensed and experienced heating and cooling technician. However, these are some easy things you can check first before calling Nelson Comfort for help. 

Check Your Thermostat

It might sound silly, but make sure that your thermostat is set to “heat” and that the temperature is set to above the current temperature of your house. Feel free to set it to a high temperature to see if that kicks the furnace on. 

Issues with your thermostat can also cause your furnace not to start. Look at your thermostat’s display for any error messages or flashing lights. Many thermostats rely on batteries for power, so sometimes switching the battery is all you need. 

Check Your Gas Line

Just like how your thermostat can be accidentally switched off, your gas line might also be closed as well. Check your gas line to make sure the lever is parallel to the pipe to make sure gas is flowing to your furnace. The furnace’s gas valve should be located within six feet of the unit. If it is in the correct position, check other gas appliances like your stove to see if that is receiving gas as well. If both of these appliances seem to be having issues, call your gas company and ask if there is a local outage or issue.

Restart Your Furnace

How many times have you solved an issue with your phone or computer by turning it off and turning it back on again? This is a very common and easy fix that can also work on your furnace. Turn off your furnace at the breaker box, and leave it off for a few seconds, then flip it back on again. 

It’s always a good idea to check your breaker box anyway when you don’t have any heat coming from your furnace. It’s not uncommon for the breaker to be tripped when your furnace is on. 

Change Your Air Filter

Your furnace filter is what protects your furnace from the debris and allergens that are floating around in your vents. Over time, the air filter gets filled and restricts the airflow to your furnace. If this happens, your furnace might not work. Make a habit of changing your furnace filter every 90 days. You can buy furnace filters at most major hardware stores. Try replacing your furnace filter and see if that kicks your furnace back on. 

Still No Heat? Call Nelson Comfort for Help 

If you’ve tried all of these tricks and you still don’t have any heat coming from your furnace, call Nelson Comfort right away. We’ll figure out why your furnace won’t turn on and get your home to a comfortable temperature again. It’s always a good idea to schedule seasonal furnace maintenance every year as a preventative measure to avoid losing heat in the middle of winter. Give us a call today, and ask us how we can help keep your furnace healthy all year long. 

About The Author

Dan Detmer

Dan Detmer is the owner of Nelson Comfort. Dan was born into the heating and cooling industry, coming from a family of well respected HVAC contractors in Dayton, Ohio. After working in the family business, Dan decided to work for a local HVAC wholesale business helping local contractors grow their business. When he felt his heart moving him back into the residential and light commercial business, Dan joined the Mortimer Heating & Cooling team in Cincinnati, where he had called home and become part of the community for several years. After a short period of time Dan purchased the company and created what is today, Nelson Comfort. Today he operates a company based on integrity, honesty, and stellar customer service. If you have any questions feel free to tweet (at sign) NelsonComfort and we will get right back with you!