Brrr! The cold winter weather has definitely arrived! This is when you’ll need to depend heavily on your home heating system to keep your family safe and warm.
What happens if your heating system suddenly stops working? This can be a scary event—understandably scary—but we’re here to help you. We have great technicians who’ll quickly solve your home heating troubles and see that your house is warm once again.
However, before you call us for heating repair in Yakima, WA, there are some steps you can take that might restore your comfort. We don’t recommend you ever attempt to repair your heater on your own, but you can go through some troubleshooting steps.
When Should You Call for HVAC Repair if Your Heating System Stops Working?
If your heating system stops working, check a few basic issues before scheduling HVAC repair. Start by:
- Confirming your home still has power
- Checking the thermostat settings
- Resetting a tripped circuit breaker once
- Replacing a dirty air filter
- Making sure vents and registers are open and unobstructed
If the system still will not run, or the breaker trips again, contact a professional HVAC repair service to diagnose the problem safely.
Make sure your home has power
If your heater suddenly fails during the day, you may not at first notice if the problem is due to a power outage. Check lights and other appliances to make sure that the house still has electricity. (Yes, this applies to gas-powered heating systems. They rely on numerous electrical components to operate.)
Check the thermostat settings
It’s possible a simple mistake with the thermostat has caused the heating system to fail to turn on. Someone else in the house may have adjusted the temperature or an error with the programming caused an override to kick in.
See if the heating system has tripped a circuit breaker
This is one of the most common causes of a heater shutting down abruptly. The heater can put too much demand on the electrical circuit and trip the breaker. This is often due to the blower fan, but the compressor for a heat pump can cause it as well. If the breaker has tripped, reset it and try the heater again. If the heating system continues to trip the circuit breaker, there’s probably an electrical fault. You’ll need to have expert technicians handle this problem.
Change the air filter
If you have a forced-air heater, such as a furnace or heat pump, then one potential source of the shutdown is a dirty air filter. The air filter prevents debris from entering the HVAC system through the return air ducts, and over time it will collect enough dust, lint, and dander that it will become clogged. A clogged filter can lead to a furnace overheating and triggering the limit switch that will shut it down, or it can overload the blower fan and trip the circuit breaker. Put in a clean filter to see if this solves the problem and keep up with regular filter changes every one to three months to avoid this problem in the future. If the issue continues, learn more about why a gas furnace won’t stay on.
Check all vents and registers to see they’re open and unblocked
Go to all the vents in the house and make sure they are open and no objects such as furniture or rugs have been moved to block them. Blocked vents can cause the blower fan to overload and shut the heater off.
Once you’ve taken these steps, it’s time to call our team. You can trust us to get your home heated once again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What should I check first if my heating system stops working?
Answer: Start by confirming that your home still has power and that the thermostat is set correctly for heating. A power outage, incorrect temperature setting, or thermostat programming issue can sometimes prevent the system from turning on even when nothing is mechanically wrong.
Question: Can a tripped circuit breaker cause my heater to stop working?
Answer: Yes, a heating system can shut down if it places too much demand on the electrical circuit and trips the breaker. You can reset the breaker once, but if it trips repeatedly, the system may have an electrical problem that should be inspected by a qualified technician.
Question: Can a dirty air filter cause a furnace or heat pump to shut down?
Answer: A clogged air filter can restrict airflow enough to make a furnace overheat or place excessive strain on the blower motor. Replacing the filter may restore normal operation, and changing filters every one to three months can help prevent similar airflow problems.
Question: Can blocked vents cause my heating system to stop working?
Answer: Closed or blocked vents can restrict airflow and force the blower fan to work harder than it should. Check that all registers are open and that furniture, rugs, or other objects are not preventing heated air from circulating properly.
Question: When should I call a professional if my heater will not turn on?
Answer: If checking the power, thermostat, circuit breaker, air filter, and vents does not restore heat, it is time to schedule professional service. You should also call a technician if the breaker keeps tripping or the system repeatedly shuts down, since these problems can indicate a more serious fault.
Call ThermAll Heating & Cooling, Inc for heating repair service: We are “Your Home Comfort Hero!”