A cold Colorado night is the last time you want furnace trouble. If you’re hopelessly asking, “Why isn’t my furnace turning on?” while trying everything you can think of, it’s likely more complicated than flipping a circuit breaker switch.
Furnace problems range from simple to complex. When you need premium furnace repair services in Centennial, CO, to take a look at your furnace mysteries, call us at Southwest Heating & Cooling. For now, keep reading about why your furnace won’t turn on so you can know what to expect next time.
Thermostat Issues
The first thing to do when asking, “Why isn’t my furnace turning on?” is to check the thermostat. This advice applies to all home heating systems as thermostat problems are common. Analog thermometers may need calibrating, while digital ones need resetting, reprogramming, or replacing if they succumb to electrical issues.
Gas Line Issues
Gas lines present several potential problems. The simplest is that the gas valve is switched off without you realizing it. If your furnace won’t turn on and you had your furnace worked on recently, check the valve to ensure it’s on.
Gas lines may clog and stop your furnace from receiving gas, preventing your furnace from turning on or running efficiently. If a gas line breaks, you’ll have a gas leak. Call for emergency HVAC services, as gas leaks can be fatal.
Electrical Problems
Even a gas furnace power supply comes from electricity. You may have furnace ignition issues, among other problems, if it doesn’t receive any electricity. Some of the electrical problems you may encounter include:
- Tripped circuit breaker: Tripped circuit breakers come from power surges, which happen when circuit boards become overloaded with too much power at one time. This is more likely to happen when the power comes back on after an outage.
- Power switch: The power switch may accidentally be left off after repairs, or you could hit it without realizing it. You’ll need to call an HVAC technician if the power switch turns off on its own.
- Capacitor: The capacitor allows the blower motor to run; without it, your furnace can’t move air through the system.
Blocked Ductwork
If your furnace appears to function normally, but you’re still asking, “Why isn’t my furnace turning on?” you may have clogged air ducts. It’s a serious problem that can become a fire hazard. An HVAC technician can clean them out and inspect the ductwork to find the source of the blockage, repair it, and prevent it from happening again.
Dirty Air Filter
Changing a dirty air filter is the easiest kind of furnace troubleshooting you can do on your own. You should change your HVAC filters quarterly at a minimum, but you should follow the advice of the manufacturer or a trusted technician.
Pilot Light Issues
If you hear your furnace click when you attempt to turn it on but nothing happens, it’s likely due to the pilot light. The pilot light won’t ignite if gas can’t reach it. New furnaces take some time to start up because gas must travel through the gas line to reach the pilot light.
A sensor must detect the pilot light for the furnace to turn on. A broken or dirty sensor may be the reason the furnace won’t turn on. It’s possible to clean the sensor yourself, but hiring a technician to look at it will allow you to know if that’s what’s causing the problems for sure.
Triggered Safety Features
Modern furnaces come equipped with safety features to reduce heating system failure and dangerous situations. If you’re asking, “Why isn’t my furnace turning on?” it could be due to one of these features:
- The pressure switch detected flue gasses.
- The high-limit switch detected excessive heat.
- The safety float switch detected a full drain pan.
- The flame roll-out switch detected flames leaving the combustion chamber.
Broken Components
Your furnace may stop working due to broken parts. If the door hinges break or it won’t stay closed, this will stop the entire unit from working. Blower motor malfunctions will also cause the entire system to shut down. Furnaces have a lot of small pieces inside them, so a number of things could break that you won’t know about unless a technician looks at them. These types of problems highlight the importance of consistent furnace maintenance to keep everything running smoothly.
Call Southwest Heating & Cooling for Furnace Repairs
“Why isn’t my furnace turning on?” is a common question we get at Southwest Heating & Cooling. Let our expert technicians inspect and repair your unit so you can stay warm this winter. Call us when you need reliable heating and AC services in Centennial, CO, and the surrounding area.