Heater Won’t Turn On?

When your heater won’t turn on, your entire home is affected, along with everyone inside. You’re probably feeling very frustrated, but actually, a furnace that won’t turn on is a common problem.

When your heat won’t come on, you can call a professional to take a look. In the meantime, there are some things you can try at home first. 

What to Do If Your Heater Won’t Turn On

If your heating system won’t turn on, you’re probably feeling some panic. Not only will your home be uncomfortably cold, but your pipes could freeze, and your home could incur lots of damage in the process. 

It’s important to get your heater working again, but you don’t always need to call a professional when your furnace won’t turn on. Instead, try some of these tips first:

Check the Thermostat

This should be your very first step when your heat won’t come on. No matter what kind of heating system you have, you need to make sure your thermostat is working properly to get heat in your home. 

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your thermostat is set to the “Heat” or “On Auto” setting. If that doesn’t solve your problem, try raising your thermostat to the highest possible setting, as this could kick your heater into gear. 

Sometimes it takes a few minutes to get heat flowing if you haven’t turned your system on in a while, so give it a little time before you panic. If your thermostat still won’t turn on your heat after this test, you may need to call professionals.  

Inspect Your Circuit Breakers

Even if you have a gas heater, it still relies on some electricity. Just like an electric heater, all heating systems require electricity in one way or another, so an issue with your circuit breaker could be the source of your problems. 

If your heater won’t turn on, take a look at your electrical panel. Make sure all of the switches connected to your HVAC system are switched to “On.” Once you’ve flipped any “Off” switches, your heat will resume. If this isn’t your issue, try some other tricks, or reach out to a professional. 

Clean or Replace Your Air Filters

If your heater won’t turn on, but your AC still works, your problem is directly linked to your heater, and air filters could be the source of the problem. If your heater won’t turn on, but the fan works, same story.

Very dirty air filters are a danger to HVAC units. They can block warm air from flowing throughout your home. Sometimes the simplest solution is the correct one, so if you haven’t changed your air filters in a while, replacing them could restore the flow of warm air. In the future, remember to invest in annual HVAC maintenance appointments to keep your heater clean and working correctly. 

Inspect Your Pilot Light

This may not always be possible if you live in an apartment or other multi-family housing. However, if you live in a house, you can check out your furnace’s pilot light on your own. 

A faulty pilot light is a common cause of heating failure. Relighting your pilot light is a job best left up to professionals, but if you have mechanical training and feel confident in your ability to stay safe, you can attempt it on your own. 

Begin by turning off the power and the natural gas line feed to your furnace. Then, open the front panel and locate your pilot light. Default to your user manual to determine the best way to remove the pilot light and do so. Then thoroughly clean your pilot light, Make sure you’re gentle, and only use medium-grain sandpaper. Anything more abrasive could damage the equipment and make your problem worse.

Once the parts are all clean, place your pilot light back in the unit and restore power and gas flow. If that still doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll need to call for professional heating repair. 

Call for Professional Heating Repair

If you’ve tried all of the above tips and your heater still won’t turn on, don’t panic. Call our team at Premier HVAC Services LLC. We offer expert heating and cooling services in Forney, TX, and the surrounding areas. 

No matter what kind of heating system you have, we can easily complete your repairs or replacement. Don’t stress over a heater that won’t turn on, and don’t attempt any complex repairs on your own. Call us today to schedule your appointment and get back to enjoying time in your house with your family.