Furnace Repair Problems: A Furnace That Won’t Light
- Restore Power If your heater isn’t receiving electrical power, it won’t light. ...
- Reset the Thermostat A storm or any other reason for a power failure can interrupt your programmable thermostat’s settings. ...
- Check the Pilot Light ...
- Replace Your Air Filter ...
- The Condensate Pan Is Full ...
Full Answer
What should I do if my furnace does not start up?
If you have a heating system that will not startup, you should check the furnace power switch. The furnace switch is the power source and is typically located next to the furnace or on its side. It closely resembles a light switch. First, confirm the switch is in the "on" position and see if your furnace starts up then.
How do I know if my furnace switch is working?
The furnace switch is the power source and is typically located next to the furnace or on its side. It closely resembles a light switch. First, confirm the switch is in the "on" position and see if your furnace starts up then. If the switch is flipped down in the "Off" position, then your furnace will not turn on.
How to fix an RV furnace that won't run?
Check the RV exhaust vent too. If dust or soot has built up in the area, there is a chance your furnace is functioning ineffectively. After you have cleaned the area, switch the thermostat or furnace off and reset the entire system. Give it a minute or two and switch the system back on.
How do you fix a gas heater that won't start?
If your RV heater or duo therm furnace won’t ignite, try switching the thermostat on and off. Switch the thermostat off and switch it back on after 10 minutes. This can reset the gas flow. In some camper trailers, the 12-volt batteries aren’t connected to the thermostat.
What to do if your furnace doesn't turn on?
It may sound silly even to recommend this, but if your furnace doesn’t turn on, then you should check that your thermostat is in the “ON” position. Since most thermostats use batteries, you may need to change your batteries. It would be best if you changed your batteries at least once a year or as needed.
How to fix a furnace that won't turn on?
Check your circuit breakers: A tripped circuit breaker can be an easy fix if your furnace won’t turn on. Check your thermostat settings: Your thermostat may have reset when the power went out, or your thermostat could be on a schedule to keep your home cool. Ensure your furnace filters are clean: Your furnace won’t start up if it does not get ...
What is the purpose of furnace filters?
Furnace filters are one of the most important parts of your home’s heating system. The filters allow clean airflow to the HVAC system, and you should choose the right furnace filters for your system.
How to tell if a furnace breaker is on?
Check the circuit breaker on your furnace. You can quickly see if your furnace circuit breaker is on by looking for a small light near the furnace unit’s back. Safety tip- never tape a circuit breaker to “ON” if you find that the circuits are tripped to the “OFF” position.
How to know if your furnace is lukewarm?
You will need to take a look at your HVAC system if your furnace blows lukewarm air: Check your thermostat’s settings. Check that your air filter is clean and you don’t have a clogged air filter. Check that your circuit breaker is not off. Ensure that you have not experienced a power outage.
What happens if the blower motor is not working?
Check your blower motor: If the blower motor is not working then your furnace won’t pump out warm air.
Why does my thermostat reset?
Some thermostats will reset their settings if your furnace or home loses power. If your furnace is not running even when turned on, then your system may need to be programmed again to the desired temperature and schedule.
Question
Hi, we have a 2016 Forest River Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite fifth wheel, and I cannot for the life of me get the pilot light to relight. It’s a Suburban gas furnace. We live in South Carolina and the nearest dealer is 55 miles away. Help!
Answer
Hi there, thanks for the question. This model does not actually have a “pilot light,” but rather a direct spark ignition (DSI) that ignites the flame. When the temperature get down to the specified low, the gas valve opens and LP or liquid propane flows through an orifice to the burner assembly.
What to do if furnace ignitor is damaged?
However, if you confirm that the ignitor is damaged, you need to replace it.
Why won't my furnace ignite?
A furnace that refuses to ignite could be a result of many reasons. However, a few specific indicators may point to a faulty ignitor.
How to tell if furnace ignitor is good?
Check resistance reading to verify your findings. Turn the meter to the ohms setting (resistance is measured in ohms). With the ignitor still disconnected from the furnace wiring, take the reading. Any reading from 40 to around 200 ohms is good and indicates you have a good ignitor. However, readings below 40 ohms mean you have a dead or very weak ignitor. Readings beyond 200 ohms are also bad as they often indicate an ignitor that’s wearing out.
Why does my furnace make a clicking sound?
The “clicking” sound from the furnace right before the air starts blowing is usually the ignitor generating a spark that ignites the gas connected to your furnace.
How to know if furnace ignitor is getting power?
Check to see if it’s getting power. You’ll know that an electrical furnace ignitor gets power if the inducer motor starts when you turn on the power switch.
What does a rollout do to a furnace?
The first thing the rollout does to shut off the furnace in case of overheating or flame rollout is to turn the ignitor OFF. Unfortunately, clogged filters can also cause the limit switch to turn off the ignitor prematurely.
Where is the ignitor on a furnace?
Remove the top panel to locate the ignitor. It’s a small decide connected between the electrical wires and the furnace near the gas input. A typical electrical ignitor has a white ceramic base with a black “stick” extending into the furnace port.
What to do if furnace won't kick on?
The first thing you want to do if your furnace won’t kick on is to check and see if the thermostat is set to heat and not the air conditioning function. In addition to this, make sure that the thermostat is set to a temperature higher than the temperature of the room. Typically, you should set your thermostat’s temperature to about 5 degrees ...
What to do if your furnace breaker is tripped?
For those that are inexperienced with this, you’ll want to: Make sure your furnace is turned off. Check the switch on your unit. Head to the circuit breaker panel and open it up. Look to see if you see a tripped breaker.
How to tell if a furnace is an automatic or standing pilot?
Once the door is removed, pinpoint the control valve and inspect it to see if the furnace only has the ON and OFF settings. If this is the case, then you have an automatic ignition furnace in your home. However, if you inspect your system and you see an ON, OFF and a PILOT option, then you know that your furnace is a standing pilot. To relight it your pilot, you’ll want to:
How to relight a pilot?
To relight it your pilot, you’ll want to: With the furnace door removed and the power turned off, look to see if you see a flame. If there is no flame present, locate the furnace control valve and flip the switch to OFF. You’ll now want to wait a few minutes. Equip yourself with a match or even a barbeque lighter.
What happens if your furnace is not working properly?
When one of these parts is not working properly, it can prevent your furnace from starting up and producing heat for your home. In this situation, it’s best to have a certified technician look at your system and make any necessary repairs.
Why won't my furnace kick on?
When your furnace won’t kick on, check to see if the pilot light may have went out. If your furnace is located by a door leading to the outside or you had a fan running near your furnace, the breeze could have extinguished the pilot light.
What does it mean when your blower is not working?
If it’s not your blower that’s broken, it could also be your transformer, your run capacitor or your control board.
Where are the LED lights on a furnace?
The codes are listed in a chart in the owner's manual and usually on a door or access panel on the furnace. Control boards are usually located inside the blower compartment of the furnace. If the board has blinking lights, refer to the chart to decipher the code and help identify the problem area with the furnace.
Where is the control board on a furnace?
Control boards are usually located inside the blower compartment of the furnace. If the board has blinking lights, refer to the chart to decipher the code and help identify the problem area with the furnace.
How does a furnace HSI work?
When the thermostat calls for heat, 24 volts are sent to the electronic ignition control module, which energizes the furnace blower and other systems and sends 120 volts to the HSI. The HSI heats up to around 1,800 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and glows red-hot. Then the gas valve opens, and the burner gas is ignited by the HSI. Once a proper flame is sensed by the flame sensor, the HSI turns off and stays off until the next heating cycle. In some furnaces, the HSI also serves as a flame sensor (called local sensing) instead of having a separate sensing rod in the burner flame (remote sensing).
How many volts does a furnace blower use?
When the thermostat calls for heat, 24 volts are sent to the electronic ignition control module, which energizes the furnace blower and other systems and sends 120 volts to the HSI. The HSI heats up to around 1,800 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and glows red-hot.
How does an induced draft furnace work?
Induced draft furnaces use a small fan to draw the combustion gases from the combustion chamber and out of the house through the flue (chimney). This system is more reliable and safer than old conventional furnaces, which relied on a natural draft coming in from an opening at the front of the furnace. Induced draft furnaces use either an intermittent pilot (IP) or hot surface ignition (HSI) instead of a standing pilot light. The combination of electronic ignition, electronic controls, and artificially created draft improves the efficiency of induced draft furnaces over older conventional models.
How many heat exchangers does a condensing furnace use?
Condensing furnaces use two heat exchangers, where conventional furnaces use only one. After the gas is burned to heat the primary heat exchanger, the secondary heat exchanger draws heat out of the hot exhaust gases, cooling them to the point that the water vapor in the exhaust condenses into water.
What is the purpose of understanding the basic components of a furnace?
Understanding some of the basic components of a modern furnace will help you identify the type of furnace you have and narrow down the list of potential problems .
How to check if RV furnace is working?
While checking the sail switch, ensure that there isn’t an accumulation of dirt or grime. If there is, clean the area with a dry cloth. Now, move to the vents and ensure that there isn’t a build-up of soot or dust. Check the RV exhaust vent too. If dust or soot has built up in the area, there is a chance your furnace is functioning ineffectively.
Why does my propane furnace fan stop working?
If your battery isn’t delivering adequate power to the propane furnace or thermostat, the system won’t ignite which can cause the fan inside to function slowly or stop working entirely.
Why does the pilot light go out when the thermocouple wears out?
If a thermocouple wears or burns out, the pilot light goes out because the furnace doesn’t release any gas.
How many volts does a propane igniter need?
An igniter requires a minimum of 10.5 volts to work effectively on a propane furnace. If the onboard batteries are worn out or are damaged, there won’t be an adequate source of energy to ignite the system.
Why is my RV heater not working?
If your thermostat is blinking continuously and displaying highly inaccurate readings, then you probably have a loose wire. Loose wires are one of the lead causes of your RV heaters like the Forest River furnace not working.
Why is my thermostat blinking?
If you have a problem with the batteries, then you might see the screen on the thermostat blinking continuously, not responding even after pressing a button or going entirely blank. If that’s the case, then you might need to change your batteries.
How to fix cold draft in RV?
If there’s a cold draft coming in from behind an appliance in your RV, simply stick the tape over that area. You can remove the tape once your furnace is fixed.
