Heating System Not Turning On?

A finicky heating system that won’t turn on when you need it can be extremely dangerous, especially in the middle of winter in Maryland. So how do you get a heater to turn on when it’s acting up? Should you just toss it out and get a new one, or is there a simpler, less expensive solution?

The heating service professionals at Heidler Inc. know all about the various issues that may be causing your heating system to break down, and we’ve written a few of them down for you here. Read on to learn more about why your system may not be working, and what you can do about it.

You May be in Need of a Checkup

The first thing any heating technician will ask when your heater isn’t turning on is “when was the last time your system had a check-up?”

Regular inspection and maintenance on your heating and AC systems can prevent significant issues that could cause it to break down.

There are many advantages to having regular maintenance and check-ups performed on your system, including:

It allows your technician an opportunity to spot potential problems before they start.
Regularly changed filters mean better air quality in your home.
If your system does need repairs down the road, they will likely be minor jobs that don’t cost as much.
Keeping your system well-maintained means it will probably have a longer lifespan!

Check Your Thermostat

Often, when your central heating system is giving you trouble, the problem isn’t in the heater itself, but in the thermostat. Here are a few ways you can check your thermostat to see if it is the real cause of your heating problems:

Check to make sure that the thermostat is set to “heat” and that the fan is set to “auto.”
Next, if you have a digital thermostat, try replacing the batteries.
Take the thermostat cover off, and check that all the wires are properly connected to their respective mounting screw.
Test the wires. This can be dangerous, as it involves electricity, and should only be attempted by someone who knows what they’re doing. If you are not comfortable testing the wires yourself, consider calling a professional heating technician.

Make Sure Your Pilot Light is On

If your home is heated by a gas-powered furnace, one of the first things you should check to make sure that the pilot light is on.

If you find that your furnace’s pilot light has gone out, there may be a few different reasons why.

One is that the flame began to burn inefficiently, which can be noted by the flame burning yellow instead of blue, so the thermocouple cut the gas, thus putting the pilot light out.

A malfunctioning thermocouple would also cause the pilot light to go out for seemingly no reason. Sometimes, the pilot light can burn out over simple things like the intake valve being dirty, or a strong draft blowing through the furnace.