The Furnace Isn’t Working: Now What?

March 1, 2025

The cold winter days are in full swing in the Pacific Northwest and ice, snow, or other frigid temperatures are still possible. This time is when you rely on your furnace the most. What happens if it doesn’t turn on? You’ll probably panic for a minute. There are some initial things to check to see if you can get it up and running.

Here are some tips:

• Gas supply: Is the gas valve open? Is the unit free of gas leaks? If you smell gas or are worried about a leak, make sure the system is turned off fully, leave the area right away, and call an experienced HVAC professional and your gas company. Gas leaks can be dangerous and even deadly if left unchecked.
• Thermostat and circuit breaker: Is the thermostat set to ‘heat’ mode and set to an appropriate temperature? Does the thermostat need new batteries? Also, check your electrical panel to see if there is a tripped breaker. If there is, turn it back on and see if that jumpstarts things. If the breaker trips frequently, it may be a bigger issue that should be checked by an experienced professional, such as an electrician and/or an HVAC technician.
• Air filters: When was the last time you changed or replaced your furnace filter? Dirty or clogged filters impact the functionality of your furnace. Unfortunately, our team at Climate Control often sees issues related to clogged filters. But it’s an easy home maintenance task to complete that has big benefits! So, replace it with a new filter or hose and wipe down other filters that are reusable. Dirty filters not only mess with how your furnace runs, but they can also cause you to use more energy than needed – which drives up your utility costs and puts a dent in your wallet.

If you complete this checklist and the furnace still doesn’t switch back on, don’t try to dismantle anything to fix it. Your heating system is a complex and expensive machine that should only be worked on by licensed technicians. At Climate Control, we know and understand the inner workings of a variety of gas furnaces, ductless heat pumps, and more. We are familiar with the most common – and unusual – problems that can cause residential or commercial heating systems to stop working.

Our team of technicians arrive on time, keep your property secure, take the time to answer your questions, and work to properly diagnose the cause of any issues plaguing your machine. Once we resolve the problem, we’ll work efficiently and quickly to get things repaired so you can stay warm. We take pride in our workmanship. Once we get the machine up and running again, it’s important to stay on top of regular maintenance, too. This is the best way to ensure your furnace works when you need it. Professional furnace maintenance allows us to run energy efficiency checks, clean or replace filters, examine the internal components of the system, and make sure everything is operating like it should. If we notice anything out of the ordinary, we’ll discuss a solution.

Whether it’s a last-minute furnace repair, an annual tune-up appointment, or a full furnace system replacement, our team of HVAC Professionals at Climate Control are ready to work with you. Call us today to get your appointment scheduled!