During the warm months, home furnaces are often turned off.Prepare your furnace for startup by restoring the power supply and removing the front access panel during the cold months.If you need to adjust the furnace pilot light, you can use a screwdriver or light the pilot with gas.To turn your furnace on, replace panels and cover your thermostat.Fix issues like dirty filters and blown fuses.
Step 1: The instructions for the furnace.
Basic furnace operation and pilot lighting instructions can be found on a sticker on the front access panel.Accidents, fires, explosions, property damage, personal injury, and death can be caused by improper usage or maintenance of your furnace.Some furnaces may no longer have attached instructions or they may be hard to read.All instructions should be included in your furnace user manual.If you misplace your manual, use the internet to find the furnace make and model number.A diagram can be used to locate various parts of a furnace.The user manual contains furnace diagrams.
Step 2: It's a good idea to check the area around your furnace for gas and water.
Low to the floor is where you should smell the area around your furnace.Some gas may be heavier than air and sink to the floor.There shouldn't be any leaks or water around the furnace.Water can cause electrical shorts in your furnace.Do not turn on any appliances, light switches, or phones if you detect gas.If you need further instruction, contact your gas company from outside or next door.Turn off the electricity to the furnace if there are leaks.Before returning power to the furnace, you should repair leaking pipes and dry the area.Don't turn the furnace on if the electrical components are submerged in water.If your furnace is ruined, you should call a furnace technician.
Step 3: If needed, supply power to the furnace.
If your furnace is out for the warm months, you may need to restore power to the electrical panel at your house.These are usually located in the basement, utility room, or garage.The breaker should be in the On position.
Step 4: The front furnace access panel needs to be removed.
The front access panel can be held in place with screws.If necessary, use a screwdriver or a suitable tool to unfasten them.The panel should be left to the side.The screws will be lost if they are in a plastic baggie.Taking off the access panel will give you a better view of the light.The gas supply may be located behind this panel.
Step 5: The pilot's flame should be looked at if it is lit.
It's a good idea to include a description of the ideal flame in your manual.The flame should not be excessively yellow, it shouldn't be split into two or more flames, and it should stay the same.
Step 6: The pilot light should be adjusted if necessary.
The pilot valve's body can be adjusted by turning a screw.Put a screwdriver into the slot of the pilot screw.To intensify the flame, turn it counterclockwise.The pilot adjustment screw should be checked in the furnace manual.The performance of your pilot could be in danger if you turn the wrong screw.The ideal pilot light depends on your furnace.A full and steady flame that is between 112 and 2 in is what most home models have.If the pilot light is questionable, you can turn off the power and gas to the furnace and relight it.
Step 7: Unlit pilots need gas in the furnace.
The gas supply can be found along the bottom of the furnace, on the control panel, or inside the access panel.Wait at least five minutes for the gas supply to be turned off.Failure to wait at least five minutes could cause the gas to not fully dissipating and cause fires when relighting the pilot.Find theReset button for your furnace while you wait for gas to go away.Near the gas supply controls is where this is usually found.
Step 8: Light non- auto igniter pilots with a long stem lighter.
The lighter is in your hand.Set your gas supply to pilot and light the lighter.To reset the button, press in and hold it.Bring the flame of the lighter to the pilot light.Remove the lighter and let go of theReset button.Go to the gas supply and turn it on.Roll paper into a thin tube and light it on fire.As a match, use this to your advantage.You may have to repeat the pilot lighting procedure more than once.The flame should be thick and steady with a height of roughly 112 to 2 in.If your pilot doesn't stay lit after 3 tries, turn off power and gas to the furnace and call a furnace technician.
Step 9: To start pilots with an auto igniter, wait for the furnace to be activated.
Do not attempt to light the pilot by hand if your furnace instructions state that it has an auto igniter.Different models of auto ignition furnace have different procedures for lighting.Follow the instructions in the manual to use this feature.The auto igniters on the furnaces must be turned off.Before a special thermostat setting or button is used to start the pilot, access panels are replaced and power restored to the furnace.
Step 10: Relocate the access panel.
The panel needs to be reinstalled on the furnace.Refasten the panel with a screwdriver or a suitable tool.If access panels and door covers are not properly attached, your furnace may not start.
Step 11: You can switch on the furnace.
Most of the time the switch is placed at eye level or higher.The switch may be found in the furnace room, which is located at the bottom of the basement stairs.The switch should be set to the On position.
Step 12: The thermostat should be set.
Now that the thermostat has power, you should be able to use it.Set the temperature to your preference by selecting the "Heat" setting on the thermostat.The furnace will turn on when the temperature drops below the thermostat.If you have a furnace with an auto ignition feature, this is the point at which the igniter would be triggered, usually with a special thermostat setting or button labeled "Call for Heat."Set your furnace to heat.
Step 13: The dirty furnace filters should be replaced.
Dirty filters can prevent your furnace from starting.You can buy a new filter at the hardware store.The furnace needs to be turned off to remove the filter service panel.Remove the used filter from its slot and replace it with a new one.The furnace should be turned on.There is a procedure for replacing filters in some furnaces.Follow your furnace instructions for the best results.Most basic filters should be changed every couple of months.The filters need to be changed every two to four months.If you have pets, you may need to replace your filter more frequently.
Step 14: You can check the thermostat settings.
The thermostat should be adjusted by 5 until the furnace turns on.Double check that the heat setting is selected on the thermostat.Refer to your manual for options if your thermostat is malfunctioning.
Step 15: Look at doors, covers, and registers.
If access doors or covers are not properly reassembled, many furnaces won't start.Problems can be created by too many closed heat registers.Only 20% of your register should be closed.In a home with 10 heat registers, you should only close 2 of them.It's possible to close the register in unused rooms to cut down on heating costs.
Step 16: Check the condition of the circuit breakers.
If your furnace doesn't turn on even when the power is on, you may have a blown fuse.Check the main electrical panel of your home.It is possible to reset or replace a blown fuses.Depending on your make and model, the layout of your furnace will be different.Refer to the manual instructions to locate the fuses for your furnace.There is an electrical panel close to the main access panel.The unit may have these on it.It's a rare occurrence for a blown furnace fuse.Your local hardware store can sell replacement furnace fuses.