Is your heating unit failing to keep your family warm? Heaters make those frigid winter months more bearable by creating comfortable temperatures throughout the house. So, when your furnace doesn’t function, there’s a lot at stake.
Multiple issues cause central heat systems to crash, with more complicated reasons requiring the help of professionals like JC Mechanical. With a wide variety of HVAC services, including heat pump installation in Denver, the team shares more below about the various factors behind your central heating not working.
Read on to learn how to identify common heating problems and when to call a professional.
How Central Heating Works
Also known as forced air systems, furnaces deliver hot air to all spaces in your home through a complicated series of air ducts. These ducts draw cold air into the unit, blowing it over a heat exchanger to become warm. A blower within the furnace then pushes this warm air back into the ductwork to distribute it throughout the house.
Your furnace may generate warmth by burning fuel, whether that’s natural gas, propane, or oil. A lack of fuel can cause these units to stop running efficiently.
Other furnace models use electricity to run. When an electric furnace stops performing correctly, it’s either a mechanical issue or an electrical concern are at play.
6 Things That Could Cause Your Central Heating to Malfunction
Why is your central heating not working? If you aren’t an HVAC expert, you’re probably wondering why your heater isn’t doing its job. Troubleshooting furnace issues gets easier if you know more about the common heater issues and what to look for.
For example, there are several factors that cause a furnace to stop running well, including pilot light issues and bad blower motors. You can also watch out for the following frequent causes of poor central heating performance:
#1 The Thermostat Is Set Incorrectly
Sometimes, your heat not working stems from something so obvious you can’t believe the problem is right under your nose. In this case, a common culprit behind malfunctioning heaters is the thermostat.
Check your thermostat to make sure it’s turned on. Then, take a look at the temperature and set it to something to make the heater turn on. If a change in the settings doesn’t work, try changing the batteries in your thermostat.
#2 There’s a Tripped Circuit Breaker
If resetting the thermostat doesn’t work, you’ll want to check your circuit breaker. Tripped circuit breakers will cut off power to the unit, leaving you in the cold. Check this by going to your breaker box.
Look at the switch labeled “Heating” or “Furnace.” If you find your central heating not working, make sure to flip on the breaker switch, and your unit should restart.
#3 Something Is Wrong With the Pilot Light
When your heater isn’t operating, take a look at the pilot light. Is the pilot light lit, and is there gas flowing to it? If not, check the gas valve to ensure it’s turned on.
If your check hasn’t revealed anything amiss, but your heating still won’t work, call for help.
#4 The Air Filters Are Dirty
Many furnace issues require skilled technical solutions, but dirty air filters are something you can take care of on your own. When the filters in your heating unit are dirty or clogged, they prevent proper airflow. How can your family feel warm and cozy when the hot air can’t get through?
- To check your furnace’s filters, locate the filter compartment in front of the return duct (typically at the front of your furnace).
- Remove the used filter and discard it.
- Place a new filter into the compartment following the indicator arrows on the side of the filter.
Most filters have wire netting on one side. Always make sure this side is facing the furnace and the blower fan. You should replace your heating filters every one to two months to keep your unit running smoothly.
#5 The Blower Motor or Blower Wheel Has Gone Bad
Your furnace uses a piece called a blower motor to transport warm air to the various rooms throughout the house. When the blower motor goes bad, you’ll notice weak or insufficient airflow.
Can you check for a bad blower motor on your own, or does this require a call to the HVAC team? Yes and no. A bad blower motor is easy to spot for most homeowners, but it requires professional repair.
Check your blower motor for signs of distress by following these steps:
- Locate the blower motor at the bottom of the furnace.
- See if the motor is hot to the touch (be careful to avoid burns).
- Sniff the area surrounding the motor, checking for a burning smell.
- Locate the blower wheel on the opposite side of the furnace.
- Note whether the wheel turns with ease or struggles to move.
If your blower motor is hot to the touch or emits a burning smell, contact an HVAC contractor right away. This means your unit needs a new motor. If the blower wheel isn’t turning with ease, a technician must replace it with a new one.
#6 You Have a Faulty Inducer Motor
In some cases, central heating not working is the result of a failed inducer. The inducer motor keeps the heating area of the furnace clean by removing debris and heating byproducts.
Check the inducer motor by lightly touching the cylindrical fixture at the top of the furnace. If it feels very hot, the inducer motor isn’t working at peak performance. Several things cause a faulty inducer motor, including old age and blockages, and you’ll need a skilled HVAC professional to issue repairs or replace the inducer motor.
Signs Your Central Heating Isn’t Working Properly
Now that you know what can cause your central heating to stop working, you can better understand when to call for help from professionals like JC Mechanical. Your furnace will give you subtle and obvious signs that it needs some attention, including the following:
- Cool air coming from the unit: This one may seem a little on the nose, but if your furnace is blowing cool air instead of warm air, something is wrong.
- High utility bills: Are your energy costs going up and up, but you’re not sure why? It could be that your central heating isn’t working as well as it should.
- Constant cycling: Furnaces should only run about three times an hour for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If your heater cycles more often than this or for shorter periods, you need an expert to examine it.
- Inconsistent heating: A heater that works properly is able to keep all of your rooms at the same temperature. If you notice that some rooms are cool while others are warm, your furnace isn’t operating correctly.
Before contacting your nearest HVAC team, it’s important to remember that some issues are beyond repair. This is especially true if you have an older heating unit (more than 15 years old). If your furnace is significantly damaged or outdated, you may need a replacement, not a repair.
Contacting Your Local HVAC Experts in Denver
Is your central heating not working? Contact the specialists at JC Mechanical! Our heating and cooling mechanics can assess your furnace and get it back on track in no time. We’ll check how clean your filters are, the function of your furnace’s blower motor, and the efficiency of heat pumps in your unit.
Give JC Mechanical a ring at 720-594-5588 today or make a booking online to chat with our heating and cooling professionals.