Nothing is worse than waking up in the middle of the night with the cold.

If you only need to raise the covers, that’s one thing. If your furnace is malfunctioning or not operating at all, the situation is entirely different.

You can diagnose and fix your furnace yourself if you have some experience doing so. However, the easiest way to prevent the issue is to maintain a maintenance check list for your heating system.

I have something for you today that will give you the confidence to handle some furnace repairs:

Problem 1:

Verify that your thermostat is turned on.

It might sound stupid, but make sure the thermostat is set at least five degrees above room temperature and on “heat.” How frequently service calls are made without checking this might surprise you!

Here are a few thermostat inspections you can perform on your own:

Step 1: Inspect the thermostat’s battery. Your thermostat’s batteries might need to be changed. If the thermostat in your home is powered by batteries, make sure you replace them at least once a year or as needed.

While some thermostats use batteries, others are linked into the home’s electrical system. How is yours energized? When a battery has to be replaced, some devices that use batteries will occasionally show a low-battery indicator.

Step 2: Remove any dust or debris that may have clogged the thermostat by opening it and gently blowing it out.

Step 3: Check the date and time on electronic or programmable models to make sure they are accurate; the system might be set to a timer.

Step 4: Check the breaker. If on, shut off the breaker and look at the furnace’s fuse.

Problem 2:

Try to reset the home circuit breaker if the furnace isn’t producing any heat.

This could happen for a variety of unimportant reasons. Make sure the thermostat is on “Heat” first. To see if there is a discernible difference, try adjusting the dial a few degrees up or down.

If the test yields no results, examine if a fuse or circuit breaker may have tripped or blown.

How to test home breakers:

Find the circuit that manages the furnace by going to the breaker panel in your house. You’re checking to see if it’s in the middle or flung to the “Off” position.

1. Check the breaker manually. It is turned back and forth.

2. Verify that it remains in the “On” position.

Thus, the breaker will be reset. If this does not solve the issue, the circuit wiring or the circuit breaker itself may be defective.

Problem 3:

Furnace Not Putting Out Enough Heat? Replace That Clogged Filter

A furnace that has trouble producing heat is not the same as one that has mysteriously stopped functioning.

Check the air filter to see if it’s clean and in good shape, if not brand new, in the event that the furnace isn’t heating the house effectively.

Examine and replace any clogged filters

This is a straightforward yet crucial step in furnace maintenance. A clogged filter is one of the most frequent causes of a broken furnace. Additionally, it’s the simplest maintenance task.

Regular furnace filter replacement is a quick and easy activity that significantly enhances indoor air quality and protects HVAC components.

Cleaning the dirt that accumulates on your filters will improve airflow. Your air handler has to work harder to make up for the blocked air flow when your air filter is clogged. The decreased air flow through your heating and cooling system might increase your energy costs, overheat your heat exchanger, and cause it to shut down too soon.