There aren’t many appliance repair needs that are more concerning than a broken down furnace right in the middle of winter. When you live in our climate, it’s vital that you have a fully operational and efficient heater in your home. To accomplish this, you want to make sure you schedule annual maintenance as needed. Or, if you’re using a heat pump, this should be twice a year.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that you fixed any small Park Ridge, IL furnace repair needs you were made aware of during maintenance. If you skipped this step, however, then you may run into one of the two repair issues we tend to get the most calls for this time of year—either a furnace that won’t start up, or one that won’t stop running. Read on to learn about what’s happening in either scenario.
A Furnace That Won’t Start
There are a few reasons this might be occurring with your heater. Some problems are more serious than others. For instance, a relatively minor cause may be a malfunctioning thermostat, or a thermostat that was set incorrectly.
The first step you should take when your furnace won’t turn on is to check that thermostat and make sure it’s in heating mode. If it is, but there is still a problem, turn off the circuit breaker to the system, and then check to make sure that there isn’t a problem with the wires that connect the furnace to the thermostat.
Another potential cause of a furnace that won’t start is a lack of electrical power. Perhaps the circuit breaker tripped, or there is a power outage in the neighborhood. Or if you have a gas-powered furnace, you may be dealing with a pilot light that has gone out.
Let’s say none of the above scenarios apply to you, though. It’s possible you have a more serious problem on your hands. Ideally, as we mentioned above, you had maintenance done and took care of any pending repair needs. In this case, you probably don’t need to be too worried, but you do need to call a pro when your furnace won’t start and you can’t troubleshoot it on your own.
What if the Furnace Won’t Stop?
Let’s say you are experiencing the opposite problem: your heating system won’t stop running. While this may seem like a minor issue on a cold day, you’ll quickly grow tired of it. What’s more, the efficiency of your furnace will suffer, and the heating system will accumulate damage.
Again, this might be a problem with your thermostat. If it’s malfunctioning, then it might not be able to accurately signal to the furnace that your desired temperature is being met, and therefore it’s time to shut off.
Another possible cause of a furnace that won’t stop is the temperature is set too high, or the air filter is too dirty and clogged. Either of these issues can prevent your furnace from shutting off, since it’s working to meet your desired temperature when it is unable to. If resolving either of these problems doesn’t work, then it’s time to give our team a call!
For reliable and efficient heating services throughout the Chicagoland area, contact Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today.