Furnace Repair In La Puente, Glendora, Covina, CA And The Surrounding Areas

    Troubleshooting your furnace might feel like an overwhelming chore when your heat won’t turn on. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There are a couple of fast, inexpensive fixes you can do by yourself to avoid a furnace repair call. If your furnace won’t turn on, won’t stay on, or won’t ignite, try the troubleshooting list below before getting in touch with an HVAC professional.

    If you find you need help from someone who is experienced and lives in La Puente, Temp Air System Inc can help you. We work on most brands of heating systems. If you’re ready for a new heating system, we also do furnace replacements in La Puente. While you’re talking with us, think over a regular furnace maintenance plan from Temp Air System Inc that might help you avoid breakdowns in the future. We can tell you how often your furnace should be checked by one of our NATE-certified experts.

    Furnace Troubleshooting

    Check the Thermostat

    To begin, make sure your thermostat is signaling your furnace to start.

    If you have a digital thermostat:
    • Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the digital screen is jumbled, the thermostat may need to be replaced.
    • Make sure the switch is set to “heat” instead of “off” or “cool.”
    • Ensure the program is displaying the appropriate day and time and is set to “run.” If you’re having trouble overriding the program, set the temperature by using the up/down arrows and press the “hold” button. This will make the furnace to turn on if thermostat programming is causing trouble.
    • Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees warmer than the room temperature.
    If your furnace hasn’t kicked on within several minutes, make sure it has power by toggling the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t start, your furnace could be without power.

    If you have a smart thermostat—like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Check the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get your Wi-Fi thermostat to work, contact us for assistance.

    nest_thermostat_close_up

    Examine Furnace Breakers and Furnace Switches

    Next, you will need to check if your breaker and furnace switch are on.
    • Find your house’s main electrical panel. If you don’t know where it is, search for a gray metal box in your basement, garage or closet.
    • Make sure your hands and feet are dry before touching the panel or breakers.
    • Look for the breaker labeled “furnace” or “heat,” and make sure it’s switched “on.” If the breaker has tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” position.
    • Using one hand, firmly switch the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker immediately trips and pops back to “off,” leave it alone and get in touch with a professional from Temp Air System Inc at 833-292-6888 right away.
    Make sure the switch is flipped up in the “on” position. If it was turned off, it could take your furnace up to five minutes to start. (If you don’t know where to find your furnace, take a look at your basement, garage or utility closet. It could also be in a crawl space or attic.)
    man_working_on_breaker

    Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter

    When it comes to furnace issues, a filthy, clogged air filter is frequently to blame.

    If your filter is too dirty:
    • Your furnace won’t be able to stay on, or it could overheat from restricted airflow.
    • Your energy bills could be higher because your furnace is turning on more than it should.
    • Your furnace could fail too soon because a dirty filter causes it to work overtime.
    • Your furnace can lose power if an excessively dirty filter causes the breaker to trip.
    Depending on what model of furnace you own, your air filter will be inside the blower compartment of your furnace, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
    three_air_filters

    To replace your filter:

    • Turn off your furnace.
    • Take out the filter and angle it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, replace it.
    • Install the new filter with the arrow pointing toward the furnace to avoid damage.
    man_pulling_out_furnace_filter_from_furnace

    Flat filters should be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. You can also get a washable filter that will last about 10 years. If you have children or pets, you may have to put in a new filter sooner.

    To make the process easier in the future, use a permanent marker on your furnace housing or ductwork to indicate the airflow direction and filter size.

    Examine the Condensate Pan

    Otherwise known as drain pans, condensate pans capture water your furnace removes from the air.

    If water is seeping out of your furnace or its pan has standing water in it, follow these steps.
    • If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), check that it isn’t full. If it needs to be drained, use a special pan-cleaning tablet you can buy at home improvement or hardware stores.
    • If your pan uses a pump, inspect the float switch. If the switch is stuck “up” with liquid in the pan, contact Temp Air System Inc at 833-292-6888, because you will possibly need a new pump.
    • Peek Inside Your Furnace: If malfunctions keep on happening, look inside your furnace’s plastic window to check the status of the blower motor. Depending on the model, the light could also be mounted on the outside of your furnace.
    • If you see anything other than a steady, colored light or blinking green light, call Temp Air System Inc at 833-292-6888. Your furnace may be communicating an error code that needs professional help.

    Clean the Flame Sensor

    If your furnace tries to start but turns off without distributing heat, a dirty flame sensor could be at fault. When this occurs, your furnace will try to turn on three times before a safety feature powers it down for about an hour.

    If you feel comfortable with opening up your furnace, cleaning your flame sensor is something you can do by yourself. Or, one of our HVAC experts at Temp Air System Inc can do it for you.

    trane_furnace_inside_view
    If you want to clean the sensor yourself, you’ll need:
    • A 1/4” hex screwdriver or wrench
    • Piece of light grit sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth
    • A dry, clean paper towel
    Next:
    • Turn off the furnace’s power by using its wall switch or breaker. If your gas valve is not electric, you will need to shut off the gas as well.
    • Take off the furnace’s front panel and follow the wire to the flame sensor.
    • Unscrew the rod and use your sandpaper, steel wool or emery cloth to lightly rub the metal rod.
    • Wipe off the rod with a paper towel.
    • Remount the sensor.
    • Replace the furnace doors.
    • Turn the furnace’s power back on. It may proceed through a series of checks before resuming regular operation. If your furnace doesn’t start, the sensor may need to be replaced or something else could be wrong. If this happens, call Temp Air System Inc at 833-292-6888 for assistance.
    • Relight the Pilot Light
    If you own an older furnace, the pilot light could be out. To relight it, find the instructions on a label on your furnace, or follow these steps.
      1. Locate the switch on the bottom of your furnace labeled “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
      2. Turn the switch to the “off” position.
      3. Wait at least five minutes to avoid possibly creating a fire.
      4. Turn the knob to “pilot.”
      5. Push the “reset” button as you bring the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
      6. Release the “reset” button once the pilot light is lit.
      7. If you have followed the instructions twice and the pilot light still won’t light or stay lit, contact Temp Air System Inc at 833-292-6888.

    Check Your Fuel Source

    Try using another gas appliance. If it doesn’t work, your natural gas service could be turned off, or you could be out of propane.

    Temp Air System Inc Can Help with Furnace Problems
    Followed our troubleshooting guide “but your furnace still won’t work?”