Heater Isn't Working? Try These Tips For Fixing It Yourself

If your furnace has recently abruptly stopped working, you could be dreading the idea of hiring and paying a heating and air conditioning company to fix it. Although there is a good chance that you will need to hire an HVAC professional to help you fix your heater, there are a few things that you can try yourself. Give these tips a try, and you might be able to get your heater running again without having to hire a professional.

Check the Breaker

There's a chance that the breaker for your heater might have tripped, so check your breaker box before making any major moves. The breaker for your heater should be clearly labeled. If the breaker is in the "off" position, simply flipping it "on" should cause your heater to turn back on. If this is a one-time thing, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If you find that the breaker is flipping itself off frequently, however, you may have a wiring issue that needs to be looked at by a professional.

Clean Away Dust and Debris

Dust and debris can have an unpleasant effect on your heating system. Check your outdoor unit, and sweep away any leaves, dirt or other debris away. Also, disconnect your unit's power, and open up the register return cover. Check for excessive dirt, and dust it off thoroughly. Dirt clogs could cause your system to stop working, but getting rid of the dust could cause it to resume its use.

Change the Thermostat

If you find that your heater is turning off and on at odd times or won't turn off on its own, then your thermostat could be to blame. Luckily, if you are fairly handy with basic hand tools, you can switch out your thermostat yourself. You should be able to purchase one from a local home improvement store, and the thermostat should come with clear instructions for installation. Basically, you have to match up the wires by color, attach the wires to the new thermostat and screw the thermostat to the wall. This could be what you need to make your heater start working again.

As you can see, there are a couple of fairly easy DIY options that you can try at home yourself, and you might find that one of them will help you get your heater back working. If not, you may need to call an HVAC professional like one from Moore & Russell Heating Ltd to get to the bottom of the problem.


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