A furnace is designed to keep your house warm and cozy when the temperature is freezing outside. The last thing you want is the furnace malfunctioning. Even if your furnace is properly maintained, it can still experience problems for which you will have to consult HVAC companies. Here are some tips that will help troubleshoot the problem.
Dirty Or Worn Motor Bearings
One of the reasons your furnace is clicking but does not turn on is dirty or worn-out motor bearings in the inducer or blower motor. Although bearings do not require frequent replacement and will last several years they do come with a lifespan.
If the fan shafts and inducer blower have layers of dirt and grime on them or have worn over time, they will produce a large clicking sound. Plus, a dirty or rusty shaft in the blower motor can also cause the bearings to click. To fix the issue, you can try cleaning the dirt and grime and lubricating the bearings.
Both cases will help reduce the clicking noise but if the furnace still does not turn on, the parts might need replacement. If the situation is beyond lubricating and the parts have simply worn, there is nothing much you can do but purchase new parts.
Gas Line Issue
Another common reason a furnace clicks but does not turn on is insufficient gas supply. This usually happens if the gas line connected to your furnace is either blocked or is too small to provide sufficient gas to the furnace. That said, if the gas valve or supply is obstructed, the furnace will not be able to receive enough gas to generate heat which will leave you with no warmth.
Once you have determined there is no fault with the furnace but with the gas supply, you will need to call a technician who can perform a thorough inspection of the system.
In addition to that, your furnace might also not turn on if it requires a gas line larger than the one it is using. Then again, you cannot change the gas line on your own and you do not need to. You can simply contact the manufacturer or the gas supply company and purchase an adapter that helps you connect to a larger gas line.
However, you will need to make sure the furnace neither receives too less nor too much gas. In the case of a furnace receiving too much gas, it might damage the internal parts. On the other hand, having too little gas is easily solvable by using an adjustable regulator.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
Even though this is obvious, some homeowners still tend to ignore this common fact. If nothing else, check the thermostat and make sure it is set to heat. The temperature inside your house should be colder than the adjusted temperature. If neither of these issues works, you should try switching the fan switch to “ON” and see if the furnace turns on.
If the doesn’t, it most likely means that your thermostat either needs calibration or has malfunctioned. Keep in mind that a thermostat communicates with the furnace via signals. So, if there is a fault within, it won’t communicate properly and leave the furnace in a confused position.
If you have a modern furnace, the thermostat will display an error if something has gone wrong. To read the error, you will need to consult the user manual.
Replace The Air Filters
People having their first time with a furnace have a slight problem understanding the furnace system. As such, most of the time they are not even aware of the fact that furnaces also consist of air filters. These filters are designed to remove contaminants from the conditioned air supplied to the house.
Similar to the air conditioner, air filters tend to become clogged over time. This means for the furnace to function smoothly. The air filters need to be inspected regularly and cleaned. However, if that is not the case, do not be surprised if your furnace does not turn on.
Modern advanced furnaces are equipped with a bunch of safety features that force the unit to stop working if they sense anything wrong. That said, if the air filters are dirty, the unit will have a hard time distributing air. In some cases, it might also overheat.
As a result, the safety feature kicks in and forcibly shuts down the furnace to prevent expensive repairs and replacements. To avoid such issues, you should consult the user manual and follow the maintenance schedule.
Dirty Gas Burners
Not only do the air filters stop working in case of dirt and dust accumulation but also the gas burners. The gas burners need to ignite at the same time, flow, and height to ensure proper heat production. But if there is a problem with even a single burner, the heat production is not going to be efficient.
Then again, dirt and dust accumulation might be the cause. Gas burners often go ignored just because homeowners are scared to go near them. There is nothing to be nervous about if you have disconnected the furnace from the gas line.
Make sure that you do not use inflammable materials while working on or near the furnace or the gas line. Furthermore, cleaning dirty gas burners requires a lot of time and effort. We suggest hiring furnace repair services Arlington who will ensure your furnace is thoroughly clean from the inside out and repair or replace any faulty components.
Faulty Flame Sensor
If your furnace is clicking but is not turning on, you might have a problem with the thermocouple. The flame sensor detects faulty flame signals. Upon detecting the signal, it shuts down the furnace. If the flame sensor is faulty, it can cause your furnace to run continuously, eventually leading to overheating.
To fix the issue, you will need to call a professional who can take a closer look at the problem. If the flame sensor is broken, it will simply be replaced.
Faulty Ignition Sensor
The ignition sensor or pilot light is the most common reason a furnace clicks but does not turn on. However, determining and replacing a faulty ignition sensor is relatively easy to fix and you might be able to solve the issue on your own.
The first thing you need to do is grab the user manual and use the right tools to gain access to the ignition sensor. In most furnaces, it is located near the burners but depending on the make, model, and variant, the location might vary.
If the ignitor or sensor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned. Remove and clean it using a soft cloth ensuring you do not break it. Once you are done, re-install the sensor and turn on the gas supply to see if the furnace fires up.
Conclusion
Gone are the days when furnace problems were complicated to fix. All you need to do is determine the source of the problem and follow the tips mentioned above to fix it within a few minutes. However, make sure to keep an eye out for unusual signs and perform regular maintenance. Also, hire furnace services Tyson’s Corner when required for maintenance or repairs.