Have you ever walked into your home on a cold day, hoping to be greeted by the warm air from your furnace, only to realize that it’s almost as cold inside as it is outside? During the winter months, there’s nothing as frustrating as a furnace that won’t turn on! We don’t want to leave you out in the cold if this happens to you, so today we’re going to help you figure out what to do by answering the question, “Why is my furnace not kicking on?”

Why is my furnace not kicking on?

There are many reasons why your furnace might not be kicking on. Some of the most common explanations include:

  • Troubles with your thermostat. Your thermostat is responsible for telling your furnace when to turn on and off. So if your thermostat is not set or working properly, it might never tell your furnace to kick on. The first thing you’ll want to check is your thermostat’s settings. Make sure that it’s in “heat” mode and that your temperature setting is lower than the actual temperature in your home. You might also want to open up your thermostat’s cover and check for any dirt buildup, which can mess with your thermostat’s sensors. Try dusting your thermostat with a soft brush to remove any dust that you find.
  • Blown fuse. Your furnace uses gas to produce heat, but it also uses electricity to blow air throughout your home. If the fuse to your furnace is blown, your system will not turn on. Check your circuit breaker and make sure that the switch for your furnace is in the “on” position.
  • Pilot light went out. If you have an older furnace that uses a gas-lit pilot light, check to ensure that the flame is burning. If the pilot light was blown out, your furnace will not ignite properly. Check your manufacturer’s instructions to learn how to relight your pilot light and contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning if it continues to blow out.
  • Gas valve is turned off. The gas valve to your furnace might have been turned off as a safety precaution during summer. Check to make sure that it is in the “on” position so that your furnace will receive a supply of gas.
  • Dirty air filter. As we discussed earlier this week, a dirty air filter can cause all kinds of problems with your furnace. Sometimes those problems can cause your furnace to shut down and prevent it from starting up again. Make sure that your filter is clean and contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning if your system still won’t turn on after replacing it.
  • Overheating or malfunctioning part. Your furnace has many different components that all must work together to heat your home properly. If any of those components malfunction or overheat, they can cause a domino effect in your system that prevents it from turning on. Any problems with your furnace’s parts should be taken care of by a professional furnace repair contractor like Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning.

Are you in the St. Louis metro area?

If you have any questions about why your furnace isn’t kicking on, or if you’d like a heating system repaired, serviced, or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles, MO, furnace installation and repair company. We provide service all over the St. Louis area, including towns like St. Peters, Town and Country, and Weldon Spring, MO.

photo credit: Foomandoonian via photopin cc

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