TL;DR: If your furnace isn't heating, try the DIY troubleshooting steps below first. If it's still down, Franklin runs furnace service calls across NWA for $29 — you'll get a flat-rate quote before any repair begins.
Try these five DIY troubleshooting steps
Furnace not working? Hold the phone — you may be able to fix the issue yourself for free.
1. Check your thermostat batteries
If your thermostat screen is blank or showing a battery symbol, there’s a good chance bad batteries are your issue. Changing them out is simple: just take the thermostat unit off the wall and toss a couple fresh batteries in it. Note: Even if your thermostat screen is lit, you can still have bad batteries. They may have just enough power to turn the screen on, but not enough to flip the relays that actually do the work of telling your furnace to come on.
2. Check that your furnace hasn’t been accidentally switched off
Sometimes things happen and furnaces get switched off accidentally. To check yours, go to your furnace (oftentimes in the attic) and look for a switch connected to it (it usually looks like a light switch). It should be easy to find. Make sure it’s switched on, and if not, flip it. Not sure what your furnace looks like? Here’s one:
3. Check that your furnace circuit breaker isn’t tripped or off
There’s a chance your furnace issues can be traced back to the breaker box. To check, go to your breaker box and look for a switch labeled furnace. If the switch is on the opposite side of all the other switches, flip it. Voilà — your issue should be fixed. If the switch is in the middle position, your circuit breaker tripped because of an electrical issue. Flipping it may fix the issue, but we always recommend getting someone out there to figure out what tripped it.
4. Make sure your furnace is receiving fuel
To work, your furnace needs something to burn. If your propane tank is empty or your natural gas is turned off, your furnace is going to turn on then turn right back off. So check and make sure you’ve got fuel going to your furnace.
5. Check your filter
Sometimes filters get so dirty that they cause the entire HVAC system to shut off. To rule that out, replace your old filter with a clean one. If you’ve never changed yours before, first you need to locate it. Most are behind the big metal vent you see in your ceiling (usually a hallway). Here’s a typical one:
Once you find your return air vent, remove the grate and take out the filter. There should be some numbers on the side that tell you what size you need to buy. After buying a new one, place it in the grate with the arrow on the side facing up. Now just flip your furnace circuit breaker off and then back on and cross your fingers!
If you’ve tried the above and still no luck, you can be confident you have a real issue with your heating system. Our service calls are $29 plus tax, so you can get a friendly, trained Franklin technician out to diagnose your issue for around the same cost as a couple large pizzas.
