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Serving the South Puget Sound and Southwest Washington Areas Since 1976

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Sunset Air Blog

Check These Things Before Calling for Furnace Repair

gas-burnerIt can be especially maddening to turn on your furnace during a cold day and have it not work for some reason. Furnaces can break down in all sorts of different ways, most of which require professional repairs to remedy. Before you call for professional repairs, though, you should know that there are certain problems that can fix on your own with the furnace. The following are a few simple steps you can take to confirm that the problem isn’t something that can be easily fixed before you call for furnace repairs.

Check Your Thermostat

Yes, we know that it seems silly to suggest this when it was probably the first thing you did. You’d be pretty flabbergasted to know how many times we get called out for a climate control problem that turns out to be just a thermostat issue. Make sure that the thermostat is set the way you want it, properly displaying all the usual information. It’s possible that someone else in the house simply changed the setting on the system and didn’t tell you about it. If everything seems to be set properly for the thermostat, and the furnace still isn’t working, then you probably have a bigger issue to deal with.

Change Out the Air Filter

Your furnace air filter is designed to protect the system from dust and other contaminants commonly found inside a home’s ductwork. While it does this job well, it does need to be changed every few months in order to prevent it from becoming clogged. A clogged air filter will prevent most of the air in the ducts from making it into the furnace, reducing the system’s heating output. If you know how to replace your air filter, this is an easy problem to solve on your own. If not, you should have a professional show you how to do it.

Make Sure the Circuit Breaker Isn’t Tripped

It’s possible that the circuit the furnace is on tripped for some reason, preventing it from starting up. If your furnace isn’t starting, it’s a good idea to check the circuit breaker to make sure that isn’t the source of the problem. If the circuit breaker is tripped and won’t reset, or it keeps tripping, then you might have a more serious problem that needs to be addressed by a professional.

Make Sure Your Pilot Light Is Lit

If your furnace uses a standing pilot light, you should check and make sure that it’s still burning. No pilot light means no way for the furnace to start its burner assembly and generate heat. If the pilot light refuses to light, or won’t stay lit after being re-lit, then you may have found the problem. You’ll need a professional to handle it for you.

Sunset Air provides comprehensive furnace repair services in Puyallup, WA. If your furnace is in need of any kind of repair, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert heating technicians. We’ll make sure that your furnace is restored to proper health.  

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