After a long winter, furnaces across West Michigan have been through a lot. And it’s common for performance to suffer as a result, or for heating systems to quit working altogether.
So, if your home temperatures suddenly drop and you aren’t sure why, what should you do? Roll up your sleeves and tinker, or call in an expert?
Troubleshooting Steps you can Safely Perform Yourself
- Check your Thermostat
- Even if your furnace is working normally, home heating problems can occur due to thermostat problems. Take a few minutes and confirm your thermostat settings, check for dead batteries, and make sure that the furnace is responding to your commands.
- Replace Your Air Filter:
- Air filters are consistently neglected and are one of the most common causes for premature system failure. Blocked filters obstruct air flow and reduce efficiency, and can even shut down modern energy efficient units if they detect the increased resistance. Filters should be replaced at least every three months and more often if a home is hosting a large family, pets, or allergy sufferers.
- If you use a cool mist room humidifier, stop!The cool mist humidifier has a by-product of a fine white powder that completely plugs up air filters.The system can not pull air through the filter and causes a host of problems.
- Check Your Breakers
- It’s also possible your furnace is fine but isn’t receiving power due to a fuse problem. Check your home’s breaker panel and make sure the furnace circuit is in the ON positon. If not, throw the switch to the fully OFF position and before returning it to the ON position.
When to Shut Down your Furnace and Call a Pro
- When you’ve tried all the above troubleshooting steps with no luck
- If the outside temperatures are dangerously low, risking frozen pipes or health issues if you wait
- If you smell gas**
- If your CO detector goes off**
- If you spot water dripping or puddling around your furnace
- If your system is short cycling, switching on and off repeatedly
- Your furnace is making loud or unusual noises
Important Note: Both gas leaks and carbon monoxide emissions can be extremely hazardous and should be resolved by a professional as quickly as possible while minimizing any exposure to you or your family. Emergency lines are available to provide necessary assistance on-demand.
Expert Service and Quality Equipment
Baumann & Degroot employs NATE Certified Service Technicians ready to diagnose and restore a wide variety of heating and cooling equipment including furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and boilers.
We also offer a comprehensive line of heating & cooling products to improve the comfort of your home in the event that your furnace or air conditioner has reached the end of its lifespan. To request an appointment, please call (616) 439-9718 today!
Baumann & Degroot was founded in 1994 in West Michigan.
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