Heater Not Working? Here’s How To Troubleshoot At Home

Preventing heater breakdowns is as simple as maintaining your system before the cold weather arrives. If your heater is leaving you chilly despite your best efforts, you can check a few things before calling a heater technician for heating repair in Grand Prairie, TX. That might save you some money and get your heater running faster.

Top 5 Ways to Troubleshoot the Heater Issues at Home

Here are a few easy ways in which you can solve your heater problems at home:

1. Monitor Thermostat

It is important to pay attention to your thermostat as the weather changes from hot to cold, regardless of whether you have a smart, programmable, or standard model. If your thermostat is set to cool instead of heat, make sure to choose either heat or automatic.

To activate the heater, increase the temperature setting. It should take several minutes for your heating unit to begin working after setting the thermostat to the heat setting at a high temperature. Proceed to the next troubleshooting step of the heating service in Grand Prairie.

2. Check the Power Source

You need to make sure that your unit is powered on. The power switch must be on for an electric or gas heating system to function properly. Ensure the power source (electric or gas) is properly delivered to your heating unit.

If your heating unit is electric, make sure that electricity is sent to it through the circuit breaker. If your unit is gas, make sure the pilot light is lit. Additionally, ensure enough fuel is delivered to your gas heating unit. Check your gas control valve and make sure it is also turned on.

3. Clean Filters

A dirty air filter is one of the most common causes of a heating system not working. It is possible to block airflow when an air filter is extremely dirty.

It is important to check the air filters, vents, and registers to ensure they are clean. Check to make sure rugs or furniture are not blocking any vents or registers.

4. Check the Condensation Pan

Make sure your system’s condensation pan is clean. The reservoir pan should be drained if it is full. The next step is to check the condensation drainage line to see if it has been blocked.

A full condensation pan will automatically shut off many systems. A system reset should restore your heating system by clearing the condensation line and emptying the reservoir pan.

5. Reset the Overloaded Motor

If your heating unit’s motor overheats (often due to dirt and debris), the entire system will shut down. Check the blower compartment of furnace systems for potential issues with the blower motor, control board, and run capacitor.

The blower compartment’s inspection window should display a flashing green light to indicate everything is working properly. Further, inspection is required if the light is red or not flashing at all. 

Bottom Line

You should call a heating contractor in Grand Prairie if your heating system is still not working after following these troubleshooting steps. At Anthony’s AC and Heating, we have a team of experienced professional HVAC technicians, ready to analyze and repair your heater. Enroll in a service plan to schedule maintenance of your heating and cooling system.