Troubleshooting an Electric Furnace

As the days get shorter and colder, you will inevitably turn to your heater for warmth and comfort once again. Everyone needs to be able to beat the cold in the winter months, and your electric furnace has proven more than able to complete the task.

Unfortunately, furnaces can run into trouble. Parts break. Systems get old. If your heater isn’t keeping you as toasty warm as it used to, it’s probably time for some troubleshooting. These troubleshooting steps will show you how to tackle a heating problem. You’ll see that some are very easy to do yourself. Others are more complicated and better suited for professionals.

DIY Troubleshooting

Furnaces are major pieces of equipment, and they should not be taken lightly. Electric furnaces operate by drawing large amounts of power. They also get dangerously hot when handled incorrectly. All of that said, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take with your furnace that are perfectly safe and very informative.

Check the Power

Your furnace needs power to function. There are a few points you can check through to see if power is the issue. First, the furnace has a power button or switch. Make sure the furnace is effectively turned on before trying any other troubleshooting.

Assuming the switch isn’t the problem, double-check your breakers. They can be tripped without giving any clear indications, and flipping them back might be enough to fix the furnace.

Depending on the model, you can also check the fuses. They are typically accessible, and you can look for broken fuses to explain why the furnace might not have electricity.

Check the Air Flo 

There are a few ways that air flow can be interrupted. The most common is via the air filter. If you’re not getting enough hot air, always start with the filter. Simply replacing it might be enough to resolve your issue. 

You can also check for air leaks along the system. These leaks can come out of the furnace itself, or they can come from your ductwork. If you notice any unexplained drafts, you might have located your problem.

Try the Thermostat

Especially with modern smart thermostats, things can get wonky. First, ensure that the thermostat is on and operating. Assuming that is the case, you want to scroll through your settings to adjust them. Power outages can reset a thermostat to its defaults. Other issues can cause settings to misfire and prevent your furnace from heating the way you would like.

Adjust the settings as needed, or perform a complete reset to start from scratch. Many heating issues can be resolved at the controller. If settings can’t solve the problem, it might be time to call Metro Express Service.

What We Check

When you need professional service to get your furnace working again, we’ll come to take care of it. Our certified technician will systematically look over the components of your furnace and HVAC in order to identify and resolve the problem. That process can be consolidated into these three checks.

Controllers

Just like you checked your thermostat, so will we. But we’ll be doing a lot more than sifting through settings. We will ensure that any and all controllers have adequate power, are communicating successfully with the furnace, and are set up correctly to operate in a manner of your choosing.

Heating Mechanisms

We will also look at the moving parts and primary components of the furnace to assess what is and isn’t working. Heating elements, fan belts, bearings, and so many other pieces can all contribute to a heating failure. We know how to go through those components in an organized fashion to figure out exactly what is failing.

Air Flow

The third major component of heating is air flow. We will analyze and address air flow issues as part of the repair service. This can range from simple fixes like replacing a clogged air filter to more advanced efforts that might require us to examine the entire duct system of the building.

When we go through all three checks, we cover everything that can go wrong with a furnace. Control, heating, and airflow are the only elements that are necessary to heat a home or a building, and we can work through these steps with remarkable speed and accuracy.

 

If your furnace lets you down, help is always available. Call Metro Express Service right away. We can schedule a tech, or we can send an emergency crew as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait through cold weather to get help with your heater. Get in touch with us online or give us a call at your convenience.

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Randy Murphy

Randy Murphy has been building his knowledge of the air conditioning and heating business for several years now. He first started applying his knowledge while working for his father’s HVAC company. Later, in 1987, Randy started his own business: Metro Express Service. He has been a top 10 Trane & Amana dealer for over eight years. When it comes to heating and cooling, Randy knows the business better than anyone.
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