Although Florida stays generally warm all year round, there are times that you may find that you need to run your furnace to keep your home warm. If you have an electric furnace in your home, knowing how to troubleshoot some basic problems may save you time and money.
Check the Thermostat
If your furnace isn’t running at all and you aren’t sure why, the best thing to do is to start at the thermostat. Here, you should make sure that the temperature is set for at least five degrees warmer than the temperature in the room, that the furnace itself is set to ‘heat’, and that your fan is set to ‘on’. If any of these things are out of place, simply set things correctly and wait to see if it kicks on.
If the Fan Doesn’t Start
If, at this point, the fan still isn’t running, the next step involves checking the breaker or fuse for the furnace. If it is tripped or blown, then it can be reset or replaced rather easily. Of course, it is important to be sure to check the wiring to make sure that nothing is damaged or crossed. If you are unsure of what to look for, please do not hesitate to call a professional. If the fan still will not start, though, it could be any number of things that will likely require the assistance of a professional which may include problems with the circuit board, the blower motor and more.
If the Fan Starts but there is No Warm Air
If the fan on your furnace starts but it does not blow warmed air, there could be any number of issues. Again, you should make sure that the thermostat control is set to ‘heat’ rather than ‘fan’. When this is not the issue, any number of things could be wrong which may include issues with the limit control, heat sequencer, a faulty connection and more. Please call a professional for issues of this sort.
Trouble with Heat Output
In order for your furnace to operate as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to make sure that the temperature of the air coming from the vents is optimal. If it is too cool, it could be that one of the elements in your furnace has gone out and needs to be replaced. If it is too hot, this could indicate that the blower motor is either not operating at full capacity or that the speed may need to be increased. These are typically not do-it-yourself fixes and they will usually require the attention of a professional.
If you have a newer furnace, then it is likely that there is a reset button somewhere on the unit itself. The best thing to do after checking the basics above is to press the reset button and allow the furnace to complete an entire cycle. In some cases, simply resetting the unit resolves issues that have occurred and saves you money at the same time.
