Your furnace keeps your home warm and comfortable, so it is essential to keep it running. There are many reasons why a furnace might stop working. A clogged vent or leaky duct can cause your furnace to stop running smoothly. A malfunctioning thermostat can also cause the system to distribute warm air in an uncontrolled manner. These troubleshooting tips will help you to identify and fix your furnace if it stops working. Continue reading to learn useful furnace repair and maintenance tips:

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How do furnaces work?

Furnaces heat air by burning fuel. This evenly distributes the heat throughout a building. Furnaces can be powered by electricity, gas, oil, coal, or wood, but most commonly, furnaces are gas-powered. These parts make up furnaces:

Thermostat
Gas valve
Ignitor or flame detector
Combustion air intake
Burners
Transformer
Blower fan
Air filter
Supply-air plenum
Return-air plenum
Heat exchanger
Exhaust pipe

The gas supply to the home is located outside. A pipe connects the storage tank, or local gas supply network, to the furnace inside. A burner ignites gas when it enters a furnace. The fuel heats the incoming cold air in a heat exchanger. The furnace’s gas valve regulates incoming gas pressure. The combustion pipe’s exhaust exits through a vent and an exhausted pipe.

What would stop a furnace from turning on?

Although furnaces are reliable heat sources, they can fail for a variety of reasons. You can keep your home warm and comfortable by understanding how furnace repair in Knoxville TN works. These are some of the reasons a furnace may stop working:

Filter blockage
Gas shortage
Extinguished pilot light
Vents that are blocked or closed
Leaking ducts
Faulty power source
Thermostats that are not working properly
Incorrect thermostat readings
Broken or damaged parts

Check the air filter

If your furnace stops working, the air filter should be checked first. Filter buildup can cause problems by clogging furnace filters with dirt and dust. A clogged filter can reduce indoor air quality and hinder airflow. Sometimes, a blocked filter can prevent a furnace’s operation.

Check the pilot light and gas supply

The pilot light or gas supply can cause your furnace to stop working. To ensure that the gas valve is in line with the gas line, check the outside gas valve. You can also check the gas supply by turning on any gas appliances in your house. If they still work, it is likely that your furnace is the problem. If they don’t, make sure your gas supply is connected properly or call your utility company.

Make sure to inspect the vents and ducts

If hot air is coming out of your furnace’s vents, but you still feel cold spots in your home, it could be that your furnace’s air conduits need to be repaired. The dampers that control the system’s airflow are protruding handles found in air ducts. For proper airflow, the dampers must be fully opened. If you notice cold spots in your home, you may need to open them. To ensure maximum airflow, you should move any furniture, drapes, or wall art that might be blocking your vents.

Examine the electrical panel

To ensure that the power is on, check the fuse box or breaker box. Next, check the HVAC breaker. If you have labels on your electrical panel, you can use these to locate your breaker. If you don’t have labels on your panel, you can locate the HVAC breaker by looking in the opposite direction to the rest. To turn it on, flip it in the opposite direction to the rest.

Check your thermostat

If your thermostat is not working properly or malfunctioning, troubleshooting can help you get it back in working order. First, make sure your thermostat is set to “heat” and then adjust the temperature to five degrees higher than the current room temperature.

Contact an HVAC contractor

Professional maintenance is required for some furnace problems. If you don’t know what you are looking for, diagnosing a furnace problem can be difficult. An expert can quickly identify problems and repair them. In case your furnace needs to be maintained, always have a backup heat source. If you need to schedule maintenance or wait for repairs, an alternative heat source and lots of blankets can keep you and your family warm.