When it gets cold, you turn to your heater to make your home cozy and warm. But what happens when you push down the ignite button of your heater, and all you hear is a squealing noise that indicates your worst fear?
What happens when your heater doesn’t turn on as it used to? What’s keeping your equipment from working properly, and how severe is the issue?
A faulty heater could be a result of several issues. If you are confused why your heater, which functioned a few hours ago, failed to turn on, here are some reasons to consider.
- Dead blower capacitor
The components of a quality heater are designed to stand the test of time. However, certain components become inactive over time, causing your heater to stop working. A blower capacitor is one of such components.
A blower capacitor is like a big battery. It stores the energy required by the blower—a device that blows hot air into your home—to function properly. A bad capacitor means your blower cannot perform its job of heating your home.
Common signs of a bad blower capacitor are:
- Humming sound
- No power
- Erratic motor operation
If your blower is dead, your heater won’t turn on. To prevent this from happening, ensure you check the tolerance of your capacitor (s) regularly to determine when to replace them.
- System leakage
A heater works by moving air around to change the temperature in your home. If the air generated by your heater isn’t getting to its intended destination, it’s a sign that your heating system’s ductwork is leaking somewhere.
Leaking ductwork causes air to escape through seams and tears before getting to the vents in different rooms. This might be why heated air isn’t reaching some rooms. A quick fix? Close up the holes with duct tape. However, we advise you to contact a professional that offers heating repair services for a permanent solution. Doing so will save you the stress of carrying out the task yourself. It’ll also save you from extra maintenance costs down the road.
- Issue with thermostat
If your heater stopped working abruptly or isn’t heating your home as it should, you may want to check your thermostat.
A thermostat is common with heating or cooling appliances like irons, broilers, refrigerators, coffee makers, hotplates. Etc. In the case of a heater, this device helps control the amount of heat generated by your furnace.
No doubt, a quality thermostat will give you years of problem-free service. But, this device isn’t everlasting. When it develops a fault, your heater won’t turn on, putting your comfort at risk. If your thermostat is faulty, consider replacing it with a programmable alternative. A programmable thermostat:
- Raises your home efficiency
- Provides reliable precision
- Provides system alerts
- Save you money
- Keeps a consistent temperature
Ensure you check your thermostat settings before contacting your local HVAC technician. A wrongly programmed thermostat may be the reason why your heater isn’t working properly.
- Lack of maintenance
Your heater wouldn’t maintain itself. If it were, its manual wouldn’t contain a “Maintenance guide” or something of that sort. It is your job to carry out regular maintenance on your heater. If you fail to, your appliance may fail when you need it the most.
Remember, dust is the number one enemy of common home appliances. Accumulated dust—due to lack of maintenance—could cause your heater to stop working. Ensure you carry out regular maintenance on your heater to prevent equipment failure.
You can do that by following these steps:
- Cleaning or replacing your filter
- Checking the blower to ensure that it’s fully operational
- Cleaning your heating system vent and ductwork
- Lubricating oil ports
- Checking the thermostat
In Closing
A faulty heater will make you and your family uncomfortable and contribute to an increase in your energy bill. Ensure you prioritize maintenance to increase the lifespan of your heater. Also, contact HVAC professionals for help in severe cases.