Home Furnace on the Fritz? Try these 3 Tips!

Feel that chill in the Omaha air? Around here, that means it’s time for two things— Husker football and furnace tuneups!

And while the Huskers never disappoint, sometimes our home furnace can let us down when we need them most….

If your furnace just won’t fire up this fall, we’ve got three quick tips any home handyperson can try to get it back up and running. (Or you can save yourself the hassle and just call the furnace repair team at Burton!) If you try your hand at these tips, with a bit of luck and a little elbow grease, you’ll be enjoying a warm, cozy home in no time.

1. Adjust your thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is on heat, and that it’s set to a temperature higher than your current household temperature. This may seem like a no-brainer (like asking “did you plug it in?”) but this is one of the most common causes of a furnace that won’t turn on! Give your thermostat a quick check, and if your furnace still won’t turn on, move on to the next tip.

2. Check your circuit breakers

It’s possible you’ve simply tripped a breaker over the past season. Check your breaker box for a tripped circuit, reset the switch, and try to fire up your home furnace again. If you don’t see a tripped breaker, try resetting the circuit anyway. Sometimes a breaker will partially flip, disconnecting the power, without appearing to be tripped. Still can get the ol’ unit running? Try tip #3 for your gas furnace!

3. Got a gas home furnace? Check the pilot light

Your pilot light is a small flame that burns continuously, powered by your furnace’s gas line. If it’s out, your furnace won’t release gas into the burner, and your unit won’t turn on.

Typically, your pilot light is located behind a cover on the front of your furnace. Look for a small door that’s easy to see and open. If you see a blue flame, that part of your furnace is working! Otherwise, relight your pilot light using these steps:

Grab a lighter
On your furnace, look for a knob or switch that says “Pilot” and a reset button. This may be labeled, or you may need to push in the knob to reset.
Turn the knob to Pilot, then hold the reset button while lighting the pilot light. You should see the flame ignite right away.
Continue holding the reset button for about a minute, ensuring the pilot stays lit
Finally, turn the knob to On and reinstall the panel

Your furnace should roar to life once the pilot is lit. If it’s still not operating, you may have a more serious malfunction on your hands. That’s why it’s important to test your furnace early in the season, before you really need it.