When your furnace won’t start, doing your own furnace repair in Des Moines, Iowa, can feel pretty overwhelming.
Figuring out a furnace-related problem might feel like an intimidating chore when your heat won’t start. But it doesn’t have to be like that.
There are several fast, reasonable fixes you can do 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 contacting an HVAC professional.
If you find you need help from a heating and cooling pro and live in Des Moines, Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can assist you. We can repair most makes of heating systems and also provide emergency furnace repair.
If you need a new heating system, we also offer furnace installation.
While you’re in touch with us, think about a regular furnace maintenance plan that may help you avoid breakdowns in the future. We can tell you how frequently your furnace should be checked by one of our certified professionals.
Use our easy guide below to get to work on troubleshooting your furnace. Most of these steps don’t require mechanical skills.
Check the Thermostat
To start, make sure your thermostat is signaling your furnace to ignite.
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 right day and time and is set to “run.” If you’re having problems overriding the program, set the temperature by using the up/down arrows and press the “hold” button. This will force the furnace to start if thermostat programming is causing a problem.
Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees warmer than the room temperature.
If your furnace hasn’t started 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 may not have power.
Smart Thermostat
If you have a smart thermostat—like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get your Wi-Fi thermostat to work, call us at 515-278-2900 for heating and cooling service.
Replace the Air Filter
When it comes to furnace issues, a filthy, clogged air filter is regularly the top culprit.
If your filter is too dirty:
- Your furnace won’t keep heating your home, or it could overheat from reduced airflow.
- Your energy bills could be higher because your furnace is turning on more than it should.
- Your furnace could stop working prematurely because a dirty filter causes it to overwork.
- Your furnace can be cut off from power if an overly dirty filter causes the breaker to trip.
Depending on what make of furnace you have, your air filter is located inside the blower compartment of your furnace, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.
To replace your filter:
- Turn off your furnace.
- Take out the filter and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, use a new one.
- Add the new filter with the arrow pointing toward the furnace to avoid damage.
Flat filters should be replaced monthly, while pleated filters should last about three months. You can also use a washable filter that will last about 10 years. If you have children or pets, you may have to put in a new filter more often.
To make the process smoother in the future, use a permanent marker on your furnace housing or ductwork to indicate the airflow direction and filter size.
We Can Help with HVAC Repair
Followed our troubleshooting guide but your furnace still won’t work?
Call us today at 515-278-2900 or contact us online. We’ll come out and figure out the problem.