Furnaces are suitable until they stop working. It’s usually a problem to identify the problem with the AC until you go deeper into the details, which is impossible if you don’t know what can cause a furnace to stop working.
Sometimes it can work for a limited time before breaking down. All these are troubles associated with a faulty furnace, and before it’s fixed, there can be no hope of having a working AC again.
That is why we must know what can cause a furnace to stop working and how we can fix it. If not, what problems should call for an AC technician? So let’s get to it.
Common AC Problems and How to Fix Them
Apart from just knowing what can cause the AC not to work, we also have to know the common problems associated with the AC functionality. It could be something to do with the power system, the igniters, the system burners, the control panels, the fans, the thermostat, and anything else that involves the furnace’s functionality.
So knowing the parts of your furnace is also essential. They are very many depending on the type of furnace you have. So what are these problems that we might cause the furnace to stop working?
A faulty thermostat
The thermostat is the primary component of the furnace. It detects and controls the generation and dispatch of heat according to the surrounding environment within the house. The thermostat can stop working when there is a build-up of heat in the furnace to avoid blowing.
So it would automatically stop the furnace off to avoid blowing up. The thermostat can also be the culprit when you forget to set it correctly. It might be off because you switched it off, and that might be simply why your furnace is not working.
On the furthest end, when the thermostat is faulty, it simply can’t work at all. That is why you should check it when the furnace is not staying.
Finally, you should always set it to HEAT mode on the thermostat and make sure the circuit breaker is not flipped before you can get satisfied that the problem is not with the thermostat. If it uses batteries, always get new batteries in case the old ones are worn out.
A clogged air filtration system
When the filters clog, it means that the air transfer between the inside and the outside will be restricted. It might cause a natural build-up of heat inside the furnace, necessitating automatic shutdown for safety purposes.
The best thing you can do with this is to make sure that we have cleaned off the air filtration system all along and make sure that we allow the furnace some time to cool down before we can get back to using it again. Sometimes when it is severely dirty, you might want to change the filters.
A tripped circuit breaker
When the circuit breaker trips, the whole system will lack the power to run on. The circuit breaker might have tripped because of excessive build-up of heat or some other problem that needs emergency cut off of electricity. Unless you reset the circuit breakers, you cannot be able to start the furnace.
The biggest problem with this is that it only occurs when you switch on the furnace. So what do you need to do? You can terminate all power supply to your home before resetting the circuit breaker. Remember that after turning it back on, allow enough time for the system to cool down before using it again.
The limit switch is not working
A limit switch is a primary control behind the temperatures within the furnace. When temperatures go too high in the furnace, the limit switch will automatically shut off the system for safety. However, if the limit switch goes wrong, the furnace cannot start.
You will need to check if it’s okay. However, sometimes, we cannot determine this on our own. We will need to have a technician look into the possible problem with the limit switch.
Dirty burners
With long work periods, the furnace burners can accumulate dust and other debris, cutting short the efficiency. Sometimes the gas passages could be blocked by the debris, and this could be a real problem.
You can disconnect the gas systems from the burners and the igniters and thoroughly clean them off. If you do that and there is a problem still, you might want to change them for good or call in a technician to help you fix the problem.
Faulty igniters
When the igniters become worn out, they might end up not working. If the effect is severe, you might need to replace them entirely. They ignite the gas from the gas pipe to create the heat used to warm up the room.
Sometimes, there might be an automatic cut-off when there is a crack or fault with the gas system. Therefore, if the gas stops circulating, it might not start.
A dirty flame sensor
A flame sensor is a device that helps detect a flame. If it does not detect a flame, it automatically shuts off the system to stop the gas from flowing. If the detectors are dirty, they might not sense any fire, and as a result, they might end up causing the furnace not to start. What you need to do is replace it or carefully clean it.
What Can Cause a Furnace to Stop Working – Conclusion
After understanding all the furnace parts, you can quickly know how to handle any of the components if it does not start. Some problems are severe, and they might need special attention or even replacement.
That is is why you need to know what can cause a furnace not to work. Some problems like a tripped circuit breaker are so simple, and you need to reset it for the system to start working again.
However, if it still won’t start and you can’t still see the problem, it is best to cut off the power or gas directed to the furnace and call in the expert to look into the issue.
