Your furnace is an integral part of your home. Without one, you wouldn’t be able to stay warm during cold weather. Yet furnaces can have some issues that are more common than others.

Let’s review these issues and discuss what they might cost to fix so you know before you contact an HVAC technician. Some of the most common furnace repair issues include:

  • Furnace won’t turn on
  • Furnace doesn’t stay lit
  • Furnace won’t blow hot air
  • Furnace won’t turn off

1. My Furnace Won’t Turn On

There are a couple of reasons why your furnace won’t turn on, so make sure to go through all of them.

  • Is your thermostat set correctly? Make sure it’s on “heat,” “auto” and that your preferred temperature is higher than the room’s current temperature. If you use a programmable thermostat, make sure it has fresh batteries.
  • Is the circuit breaker tripped? Your furnace can’t run if it doesn’t have power. Reset the switch if it’s facing the outside of the electrical panel.
  • Is the furnace switch off? Your furnace has a power switch located on or close to it. Since this switch resembles a light switch, it’s easy to accidentally turn it off. If it was off, it may take your furnace a few minutes to turn on.
  • Is the air filter clean? A dusty air filter can create a lot of problems for your furnace. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it.

Estimated Repair Cost

This issue can be complicated, so the estimated cost to repair it varies according to what’s wrong.

2. The Furnace Won’t Stay Lit

Your furnace follows a specific sequence when it starts heating your home.

  1. Your thermostat detects the temperature has dropped and tells your furnace to turn on.
  2. The draft inducer fan activates to bring in fresh air for combustion.
  3. The gas valve unlocks for the burners, which are lit electronically.
  4. The flame sensor signals to your furnace the burners have been lit.

If something is off during the sequence, your furnace will shut down as a safety precaution.

A couple of potential causes for this problem include:

  • Dirty or malfunctioning flame sensor. If the sensor doesn’t sense a flame, it will shut off your furnace to prevent natural gas from spilling into your home. The ignition process corrodes flame sensors as time passes. While cleaning during annual furnace maintenance can help, yours may eventually need to be replaced.
  • Bad limit switch. This safety feature will turn off your furnace if it senses backdrafting. Backdrafting is dangerous, because carbon monoxide and natural gas can seep into your home. These switches can fail due to age, damage or dust buildup.
  • Old thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t working correctly, your furnace won’t be able to operate.
  • Dirty air filter. A dirty air filter can reduce airflow and cause your furnace to shut down to prevent overheating. Make sure to replace yours every 30 to 90 days, or anytime you can’t see light through it.

Estimated Repair Cost

These costs are estimates, so it’s necessary to note yours may vary based on your furnace’s brand and model.

  • Flame sensor: $350–$500
  • Limit switch: $150–$300
  • Thermostat: $150–$350
  • Furnace filter: $10-$30

3. The Furnace Won’t Blow Hot Air

In many cases, this problem is tied to a wrong thermostat setting or a dirty air filter that’s restricting airflow. Use the steps above to fix the problem.

4. My Furnace Won’t Turn Off

If it’s extremely cold outside or you like your home to be warm, your furnace may be working for a long time.

If this isn’t what’s happening, make sure your thermostat is set correctly and running properly. If your fan setting is at “on,” the blower motor will be going even when the furnace isn’t, so it’ll seem like your furnace is on all the time.

Otherwise, there might be an issue with the blower motor or your ductwork may be losing air, forcing your furnace to run constantly to make up for the air loss.

Estimated Repair Cost

These costs are approximations, so it’s necessary to note yours may vary based on your furnace’s brand and model.

  • New blower motor: $250–$800
  • Seal ductwork: varies based on square footage

Air Temperature Control Will Work Hard to Resolve Your Furnace Problems as Soon as Possible

Furnace problems can be a costly headache, but not when you work with Air Temperature Control. We’ve been delivering the quality, affordable furnace repair Macon homeowners have relied on since year. Call us at 478-202-3170 to receive your free estimate today.