You survived the holidays, made your resolutions to start the year anew, but for some reason you’re still left feeling cold.  If you can see your breath indoors, it might be a good idea to check the furnace.  Most system failures can be easily diagnosed, and fixes are often simple.

When you call your service company for help, a few key pieces of information can help them get you up and running quickly.  To help them, here are some things to check:

Power issues: Assuming your furnace’s power switch is on, check your circuit breaker. Is one tripped? Are any other appliances affected?

Check the thermostat: Is the temperature in the house not consistent with what your thermostat reads? Make sure it’s on and set to heat. If you have a digital thermostat connected to the internet, make sure both your wi-fi and the app can recognize and communicate with the thermostat.  Last, if the thermostat uses batteries, are they still good?  It’s best to change the batteries every six months.  And be sure it’s set to the correct date and time. 

Listen for Blower Motor and Fan: Check if the fan motor is running. If not, and you hear buzzing or clicking sounds, it could be struggling. Turn off the heater and call a professional—a faulty motor can overheat!

Check the filter: When was the last time your filter was cleaned or replaced? Dust and debris and dust can cause internal components to overwork, shortening the life of your heating unit.

Check the gas valve: Is your furnace gas-powered?  Make sure you don’t smell gas, and look to see—but don’t touch—that the manual valve on the gas line is open. 

Pilot light: Look—but don’t touch—to see if the pilot flame is lit.

Vents and registers: Are interior and exterior vents and registers open and unblocked.

Error codes:  If your thermostat has a digital display, is it displaying any error codes?  Make a note of them.  This can be important information for your service technician.

How old is the unit? Modern furnaces typically last 16–20 years, but if your furnace is older, you may need to consider replacing it. 

Once you’ve completed this basic inspection, call a reputable HVAC company for emergency service.  Or avoid the problem altogether by enrolling in a service plan with  MJ Heating and Air Conditioning. mjheatingac.com