In case your furnace doesn’t hold up all the way through the Pennsylvania winter, you can do some furnace troubleshooting on your own!  Of course, in case of a major heating emergency, you should always call in the McHale’s heating experts to do your furnace repair, replacement, and annual maintenance.  But when you suddenly notice that your heating is down, there’s a possibility that the answer is (literally) as simple as flipping a switch.

Always exercise caution when attempting these basic troubleshooting tips!  At the first sign of trouble, call McHale’s for our fully-licensed and certified assistance.  If your heating breaks down, though, you might be able to find the cause by checking each of these areas:

• Thermostat– When you’re at home, your thermostat should be set to about 68 degrees. If you suddenly stop experiencing heat, the first place you should check is your thermostat.  Make sure that it is set to “heat” mode (as opposed to “off”) and has the appropriate temperature level.  Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat by calling McHale’s today!
• Circuit Breaker- A power surge can cause your home’s electrical panel to trip, and if your furnace is electric it will need its breaker to be reset.  If your panel is a circuit breaker type, this means simply flipping the shut-down switch.  If you have a fuse box, however, that fuse will need to be replaced.  McHale’s can help you find the right size.
• Pilot Light– The pilot light is the flame on a gas furnace that actually heats the air.  This fire can be blown out by a strong draft or smothered by dirt in the gas tube.  In this case, you can relight them by turning the pilot light valve off for 3 minutes, then switching valve to pilot setting, holding a lit match to the opening, and depress the reset button.

Don’t risk being cold and without a clue this year in the Pennsylvania winter.  An informed homeowner is more likely to find cost-effective, safe, and all-around smart solutions to their heating problems!  For all of your home comfort needs this cold season, call McHale’s as soon as possible!

By McHales