Gas furnaces are a powerful piece of technology that provides a lot of value to society. In fact, the market for gas furnaces was worth more than $115 billion in 2018!
Of course, part of the value of gas furnaces is that you can repair them rather than replace them. But to make the most of this feature, you have to know a little something about gas furnace repair.
So how can you make sure that your gas furnace lasts as long as possible and you get the most use out of it? Read on to learn all about the most important thing that you should know about gas furnace repair!
Make Sure That Your Thermostat Is On
When it comes to fixing a computer, one of the most common fixes that people neglect to try is simply turning the computer on and off. A similar thing happens when it comes to gas furnace repairs. One of the most basic gas furnace repair tips that you should always start with is making sure that your thermostat is on.
This can go beyond just making sure that the switch on the thermostat is on. You might also need to make sure that it is set to heat your home. On top of that, you might need to set it several degrees above the current temperature of your room.
If your room is 71° and your thermostat is set to 72°, in theory, the furnace should turn on. In practice, however, you might need to raise your thermostat setting to as many as 5° above the current room temperature. Before you move on to other kinds of repairs, you should at least check if this solves the problem.
There are other ways that your thermostat might not be functioning properly. Make sure that it has batteries that are providing sufficient electrical power.
Alternatively, you can blow out your thermostat. Open it up and blow around inside to clear up any dust that might be interfering with normal functioning
The last thing that some people forget to check is the date and time on your thermostat. If they are inaccurate, it may be messing up some of the programmings of the thermostat.
If any of these solutions work, then congratulations! You probably won’t need to do anything more expensive or difficult to actually fix your gas furnace.
On the other hand, once you have confirmed that your thermostat is not a problem, you will have to move on to the gas furnace repair guide.
Check Your Circuit Breaker
The next thing to check is your circuit breaker. It is possible that the fuse was tripped and is no longer functioning. This is another quick fix that can save you a lot of time and worry.
Find the breaker panel in your home and check the various circuits. If one of the circuits is labeled as the one that controls your furnace, check if it has somehow ended up in the off position. If it has, then simply switch it on.
If your circuits are not well-labeled, then you should simply check if any circuits are in the off position when they shouldn’t be. You can try switching them on, too.
You should also make sure that the breakers stay the way that you set them. If they shortly turn themselves off again, then you may need to call for professional help.
Check if Your Filter Is Clogged
The next possibility is that the filter for your gas furnace has become clogged. This is inevitable, so there is a good chance that you will have to deal with it at some point.
You can generally find your filter behind a grate on the furnace or nearby.
Pull out the filter and check how much light can shine through it. The dirtier it is, the more likely it is that you need to replace it.
Confirm the Position of the Safety Switch
Your furnace door will generally have a safety switch on it. Make sure that your door is closed properly. If the safety switch is broken, then you may need to install a new one.
If you do have to install a new safety switch, then you should shut off the power to the furnace before you start the process. You’ll probably have to find an expert to help you. Switching out the safety switch requires you to rewire it.
Provide Adequate Ventilation
If your furnace is on, but not functioning as well as it used to, then the problem may be a lack of ventilation. Make sure not to stack things all around your furnace. Your furnace needs a lot of access to air in order to function properly.
Clean up Your Burner Flames
One of the simplest aspects of gas furnace repair services is burner flame maintenance. Your burner flame is supposed to be blue. If it is yellow and erratic, then the burner is dirty.
You will want to vacuum out your burner and possibly give it a good wipe.
Enjoy All of the Benefits of Quality Gas Furnace Repair
We hope that you were able to take away something helpful from this brief post on a few of the most important things that you need to know about gas furnace repair. Although it can take a little bit of time to learn about this, once you do, you will be able to take better care of your furnace for the rest of your life!
To learn more about how to repair a gas furnace or where to find expert help with doing so, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!
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