Possible Reasons Your Heat Won’t Come On

When temperatures drop you need your furnace working. But sometimes your heat won’t turn on. What is stopping the equipment from working? How serious is the problem? Should I call for furnace repair in San Jose, CA? We get a lot of calls for “no heat” in the colder months of the year. Here are a few of the most common reasons heat isn’t working:

Lack of Maintenance

This is probably the number one reason we get service calls and is the most likely reason your heat won’t turn on. More often than not the heat won’t work because the furnace is dirty. A dirty blower motor doesn’t pass enough air over the heat exchanger. Dirty filters restrict airflow. A dirty flame sensor won’t light the burners. And dirty burners make it difficult for the furnace to operate. The solution is getting a technician out to clean the system every year.

Too Much Gas

Manufacturers have specs for how much gas the equipment should burn. During installation it is important to properly calibrate the equipment, otherwise, it can burn too much gas, overheat, and stop working. One really cold days this is the number two reason we get called for furnace repair. An improperly calibrated furnace cycles on a limit switch and simply can’t keep up.

Dead Blower Capacitor

The blower capacitor looks like a large battery and is what starts the furnace. It receives the signal from the thermostat telling it to come on. Capacitors have tolerance levels and if it is below a certain level the blower won’t start or may not reach the right RPM. During routine maintenance, we always check the capacitor’s tolerance. That way we can see if they are on their way out and give you plenty of time to get it replaced.

Low Refrigerant Levels

If your home is warmed with a heat pump it is possible the refrigerant level is too low. When this occurs the heat strips come on more frequently and can lead to exorbitant energy bills. And if heat strips come on with too much frequency for too long it can cause the compressor to overheat and fail. Paying for a refrigerant recharge is more affordable than replacing a compressor.

Bad Inducer Draft Motor

This is a small motor that clears leftover gas from the heat exchanger and vents gases during the combustion process. But if the draft inducer gets dirty or pulls high amps a safety switch will cut the furnace off. When we come out for maintenance we check the draft inducer to make sure the fan motor is running as it should and replacing it when it goes bad.

If your heat doesn’t come on and you need furnace repair in San Jose, CA call Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning. We are happy to come out, diagnose the problem, and get your system working at a fair price. To schedule a tune-up call (408) 800-2791 or visit us at 1045 N 10th St., San Jose, CA 95112.