Winters in Toronto are freezing, with average temperatures in January dipping to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold season can continue till April, with Toronto and its suburbs often experiencing ice storms in the region. Your furnace is your life-savior around this time of the year, and you cannot afford a breakdown. It is the reason why you should call in a repair expert to check your furnace before the onset of winter. Click here to learn more.
However, what if your furnace does break down? Calling an expert is costly, and sometimes the problem is not that big. You can check a few things yourself before you call in experts for furnace repair, as it just might end up saving you a lot of time and money.
Checking the Thermostat
Yes, this might seem very trivial, but sometimes, something as simple as the wrong thermostat settings can prevent your furnace from working. You can quickly fix this yourself. The thermostat should be set to HEAT. You could have accidentally switched off your furnace while moving it around or cleaning it, wondering why your room is not heating up.
It can take about two or three minutes for the fan to turn on and the heat to seep through. If that does not happen, maybe your thermostat is indeed broken, and you can call an expert to replace it.
Cleaning the Filters
The filters on your furnace have the single purpose of purifying the air as it goes in and out. The dust issue is a prevalent problem with furnaces as it can prevent the air from heating up quickly. Clogged filters will restrict smooth airflow and will not heat the air evenly.
However, you can clean up the filters yourself, without calling an expert. They are usually detachable, so you can unhook them to clean the dirt. However, if you find that the room is not heating up despite installing clean filters or some noise coming out of it, you should call the furnace repair St. Catharines experts.
Check for Batteries or Power Issues
Whether your furnace is running on electricity or batteries, what powers your furnace is essential. If there is an issue with either of them, then your furnace will stop working. Some old models of furnaces might not have low-battery indicators on the outside, making it difficult to understand if the battery is empty. Just replacing the batteries is all you have to do.
On the other hand, if your furnace runs on electricity, check the fan switch on the thermostat. If the furnace does not run when the control is ON or on AUTO, it could be an internal electrical issue, and you have to call an expert.
Check the Circuit Breaker
You can check the furnace breaker panel if other switches are correctly positioned. This circuit controls your furnace, and you have to switch it on if it is switched off. You might also see a red light beside it. In older models, you might even find a pilot light that has to be lit.
However, if you are not comfortable with that, call an expert. If you have done a lot of cleaning and shifting around the house, especially around your furnace, you should check the circuit breakers.
Checking the Gas Valve
The gas valve that connects your furnace could have been turned off accidentally. If you have a gas furnace, there is usually a gas switch within six feet. It is rare for this line to develop any issues but check the button and the line anyway. The gas connector could have become loose, leaking gas without taking it to the furnace. You can check if everything is alright and if you cannot replace it yourself, call an expert to do it for you.
Routine Maintenance of Your Furnace To Keep It in Top Shape
Routine check-ups and regular maintenance are essential for the proper running of the furnace. You should have it twice a year at least, once before and once after the winters in Canada. While living and maintenance costs in Toronto are relatively reasonable, it is also true that every penny saved is a penny earned.
You can check for these markers yourself before calling an expert, and most likely, you will be able to fix the issue yourself without spending any money. If it is indeed more complicated, you can always call in experts to repair your furnace or perform puff back damage cleanup in Long Island for you.
