Furnace not activating/turning on
Thermostat – Could be an issue with the thermostat, old batteries or faulty circuity. Try replacing batteries if you cannot remember the last time they were changed
Tripped Circuit breaker – Check your main panel if the circuit breaker for your furnace has tripped. If it has tripped then leave off and call a professional
Ignition issues inside of the furnace
There are several safeties inside of the furnace that will prevent it from firing or stop firing shortly after ignition:
Dirty flame sensor
This is a metal rod that sends a millivolt current to the furnace when heated. Eventually this gets covered in carbon and needs to be cleaned to work correctly. This is a standard step in our annual maintenance programs
Clogged filters/High-limit trip
Dirty filters that have not been changed recently can interrupt airflow to the furnace and can cause overheating/icing issues during operation in heating or cooling modes. This will trip the high-limit switch and cause the unit to lock out if it occurs enough times. Additionally it puts extra wear and tear on your main blower motor and can cause poor airflow
Inducer motor failure
Your inducer motor is the exhaust fan that pushes all of the combustion gases from your furnace out your exhaust vent. There are multiple possibilities if this error is occurring; firstly if the inducer motor itself is faulty then the sensors that are attached to it will stop the furnace from firing. Secondly sometimes the sensors themselves will malfunction and cause the furnace to stop working. And thirdly the exhaust vent itself can sometimes become blocked and cause this error
Flame rollout switch
This sensor detects if flames are blowing back inside the burners. This is a serious issue and can be caused by a cracked heat exchanger, blocked exhaust vents or a dead or failing inducer motor. If this safety is tripped it is best to call a professional and not reset the unit.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is a stamped or tubular steel combustion chamber where the furnace fires into. The combustion exhaust inside the heat exchanger is safely sucked out by the inducer motor while the steel exchanger radiates heat into the air being blown by the furnace. Wear and tear will cause this heat exchanger to eventually crack, causing possible Carbon Monoxide leaking and improper combustion with the furnace burners. This is a very serious issue and should be diagnosed by a professional.
Detect Natural Gas Leaks and Take Immediate Action
Natural gas itself is odorless, and a chemical called mercaptan (that sulfur rotten eggs smell) is added to alert of a leak. If you smell any gas near your furnace, gas meter or any gas appliances immediately shut them off, open windows and call Enbridge (phone number)
Air Conditioning line iced up
This is indicative of a serious issue with your AC. Causes may be low refrigerant, malfunctioning metering device (TVX valve may have failed or piston may be clogged) or kinked refrigerant lines. Clogged furnace filters will also cause this
Water pooling below the furnace – Furnaces create water as a by-product of combustion. This water is drained out using specific drain lines and traps that may become clogged over time. Yearly annual maintenance is key in preventing these issues. ACs also drain water that condenses on the cooling coils and humidifiers also require drain lines that can clog and cause water issues.
If your furnace or air-conditioner is making a new noise or is becoming increasingly loud, call us here at 647 354 7201. These units are designed to operate fairly quietly and a loud or new noise indicates a possible issue that will only worsen with time.
Quick tips:
- Check furnace filter
- Check furnace ON/OFF switch
- Check drain line for blockages
- Check thermostat batteries and settings
- Check fuse/breaker (if off leave off and call)
- Check fault code on lower door of furnace
- If AC is frozen or furnace is leaking water, turn off immediately and call for service
- Schedule annual maintenance appointment
- Call 647-354-7201 for any issues