Why Is My Furnace Not Igniting?

If you haven’t turned the heat on yet in your Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, or Greenwood, IN home, chances are you will be shortly. Unfortunately, our experience at Masters Heating & Cooling is that some of you will be dismayed when you turn the switch to ‘heat’ and the furnace doesn’t ignite.

Common Causes

There can be a number of reasons that this happens. Let’s look at some of the most common and what the homeowner can do before calling in the professionals:

• Thermostat—Yes, I know it may seem obvious but please be sure your thermostat is set to heat, and the set temperature is lower than the temperature in the house. You can also test the thermostat by turning the fan switch to ‘on’. If the fan starts running it’s an indication that the thermostat is communicating with the furnace.
• Gas supply—The first step is to make sure gas is coming into the house. If you know where it is, check the shutoff valve outside the house. If other gas appliances are working (stove or fireplace) you can assume gas is entering the house. Now check the gas line going to the furnace and make sure the shutoff valve wasn’t closed by mistake.
• Furnace—It may be a gas furnace, but it still needs electricity. Just about every furnace has an on/off switch and it can be bumped or turned to the off position accidentally. You should also check the circuit breaker in the electrical panel. Just remember, if the breaker continues to trip you need to call in a professional.
• Safety systems—Modern furnaces have failsafe systems. If, for example, your filter is clogged, some furnaces will sense that and shut down automatically to prevent damage to the system.
• Pilot light or igniter—When push comes to shove this is likely the most common reason for a furnace not igniting when it’s turned on. Older furnaces tend to have pilot lights while many newer systems use electronic igniters. Most homeowners are very capable of relighting a pilot light that has gone out, but if it won’t stay lit you should call for help. Most igniters should be serviced or replaced by an HVAC technician.

Maintenance Prevents Many Problems

If after going through these steps your Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, or Greenwood, IN furnace still isn’t igniting, Masters Heating & Cooling is always here to help. Remember, the best way to assure a warm house when the weather turns cold is to have regular seasonal maintenance. To learn more about the services we offer be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.