It’s getting about that time when we’re turning on our heaters for the first time this season and some of us are finding out that ours aren’t working. Before you panic and call an HVAC contractor, there are a few things you can check for.

First, is the display showing anything at your thermostat? If not, it may just be the batteries! Pull it off the wall gently, remove old batteries and replace with new ones. The display should be showing up now. If not, your thermostat may need to be replaced. If the display is working, is it set on “heat”? Is it set at least 3 degrees above room temperature?

Next, make sure that the power is set to “on” at the furnace. Some people accidentally turn this off because it looks exactly like a light switch. Have you changed your air filter recently? The service panel may not be on properly which would cause the emergency shut off switch to cut the system off. Is there water in the pan under the unit? If so, you’ll need an HVAC technician out to clear your drain line. Once water reaches a certain point in the drain pan, an emergency switch cuts the system off.

Have the breakers tripped? Although you can flip the breaker back, you may still want to call a certified HVAC contractor to inspect the system. It didn’t trip for no reason and chances are, it will do it again.

What fuels your furnace? If your answer is propane, is the tank empty? If it’s gas, it’s possible that the gas isn’t getting to the system. It’s best to let a certified HVAC technician handle that.

If you’ve moved through our troubleshooting guide and still find that your system isn’t operable, give us a call at 770-672-6963. We’ll be happy to come out and get your system working again, quickly.