Cold Morning, No Heat? 6 Quick Furnace Checks

Nothing can be more frustrating than coming in from a long weekend, expecting to be greeted by a building that’s toasty warm, only to find you can see your breath on the inside almost as easily as you can outside. No heat; not a pleasant surprise.

And of course as the manager of the property, you know the phone calls will begin shortly.

“Where’s the heat?”

“I have important clients today, I can’t be without heat!”

There are a number of minor issues that could be impacting your building’s furnace. Give these few things a try to see if you can fix the problem quickly on your own.

Power Switch

One of the most obvious things that almost sounds too “obvious” to mention is trying the power switch. Depending on where your furnace is located, it may be housed in tight quarters, and with people moving around, the power switch may have accidentally been turned off. Look for the switch on the side of the furnace and verify its in the on position.

Thermostat Setting

Again, it may seem obvious, but make sure your thermostat is working properly. Today’s programmable thermostats can help you save energy, but like any technology, it may not always work properly. The batteries may have died, causing the temperature to remain low. Or it could be an improperly set time.

Vents

Furnaces use vents for bringing in fresh air from the outside, and exhausting toxic gases outside of the building. This air flow system is essential for the operation of the furnace and for the safety of people inside the building. If any of these vents are not in proper working condition, it can shut off the furnace. Check any vent that runs to the outside to make sure it isn't blocked or clogged with debris, or even nests from birds or rodents.

Fuses

A fuse controls the electricity to your furnace. Fuses can be mounted in a variety of places, depending on the size and make of your furnace. Look inside the metal housing around the power switch. If you find a fuse that looks black and burned, you've

probably found the culprit. A quick call to your HVAC contractor will have them out to your location and have your HVAC system up and running in no time.

Still can’t find the cause? Its time to call in the professionals. If you have a newer furnace, they are much more complicated than they used to be, having many technological aspects to the functionality. There are many minor problems that may be causing a problem; most of which can be fixed in a short period of time.

If you don’t have an HVAC preventative maintenance plan in place, now may be the time to talk it over with your HVAC professional. A simple preventative maintenance program can assist you to help keep your furnace and your air conditioning systems functional year around, and have quick access to a contractor when you need it most. Talk with us today.