Furnace won't turn on

It's the first cold night, you turn the thermostat up, and nothing happens. No click, no blower, no heat. Before you call anyone, a few things are worth checking. They fix it more often than you'd think.

Check these first

• Thermostat. Set to Heat, not Cool or Off. Set it a few degrees above the room temperature. If the screen is blank, change the batteries.
• Furnace switch. Most furnaces have a switch that looks like a light switch, on the furnace or on a wall or stair stringer nearby. People flip it off by accident all the time.
• Breaker. Look for a tripped breaker labeled furnace or air handler. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
• Furnace door. The front panel presses a safety switch. If it's loose or crooked, the furnace won't run.
• Filter. A filter packed with dust can make the furnace overheat and lock itself out.
• Gas. Make sure the gas valve is on, and if you have propane, that the tank isn't empty. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company first.

What a tech usually finds

If the simple stuff checks out, the common causes are a cracked or worn-out hot surface igniter, a dirty flame sensor, a pressure switch or inducer motor problem, a bad control board, or thermostat wiring. Many furnaces flash a blinking light code through a little window in the panel. Writing down the pattern before you call helps.

Get it looked at

Call (681) 405-6130 or use the form below. We're an HVAC dispatch and coordination service for Clarksburg and towns within about 60 miles. We only refer licensed, certified HVAC techs.

The diagnostic is $89. If you approve the repair the same day, the $89 is credited toward it. Calls after 5 PM on weekdays, and all day on weekends, are emergency calls: a $100 emergency call-out, in addition to the $89 diagnostic.

Towns: Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Fairmont, Shinnston, Weston, Buckhannon, Morgantown.