Furnace Light Troubleshooting: Why Won’t It Light?

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Furnace Light Troubleshooting: Why Won’t It Light?

Furnace Light Troubleshooting: Why Won’t It Light?

On a frigidly cold day during a Pittsburgh winter, you’d probably be heartbroken to find out that your furnace won’t light to keep your home warm. Before you start panicking, take a minute to try and figure out why your furnace won’t light — you may be able to easily fix it!

Your Thermostat

Sometimes, your thermostat simply isn’t set to a temperature that will cause your furnace to light. Take a look at your thermostat and make sure it’s set to the right temperature. If it is and your furnace still won’t light, it may not be getting an accurate temperature reading, or the issue may be caused by something else.

Your HVAC Filter

We tell you time and time again that you need to replace your HVAC filter regularly. If you don’t and your system is trying to operate with a dirty filter, your furnace may not be getting enough airflow, and it won’t kick on as a result.

Try swapping out the dirty filter for a new, clean one, and see if your furnace ignites and works properly.

Your Pilot Light

Just how your filter needs to be clean, your ignition sensor needs to be kept clean too. Over time, soot can build up on the sensor and prevent it from lighting. Cleaning the sensor may help the furnace light —- just make sure to power the unit off first.

Your Power Supply

If you have a gas furnace, make sure your gas is powered on and gas is flowing. You can easily check this by turning on another gas-powered appliance, such as your stove.

If you have an electric furnace, it might not light if there is a power outage. It’s good to have a backup generator for cases like these.

If you can’t figure out why your furnace won’t light, ask the experts at Wahl Family Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing for help! Our heating team can assess your furnace and provide insight and solutions to get your home warm again — all for an affordable cost! Give a call today to schedule your next service today