What to do if your gas heater is not working

While these systems work diligently to keep your house warm, they are not without flaws. Is it possible that your heater has suddenly ceased working? If your heating system does not turn on, you are dealing with a typical issue. This article will cover the reasons why your gas heating system has ceased working and the possible solutions to the issue.

What is a Gas Heater?

A gas heater uses natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, or butane to heat your room or any other given area. Indoor gas heaters come in two categories:

• Flued and unflued gas heaters
• Vented and unvented gas heater

Different Varieties of Gas Heaters

Radiant convectors, convection heaters (which circulate warm airflow), and radiant gas heaters are the three main types of gas heaters. They have distinct heating methods, heat production, LPG or natural gas options, and venting options.

What Can Cause a Furnace to Stop Working?

It is not unheard of for a gas supplier to stop working. There are a variety of reasons for this. Gas heaters are intricate devices that need regular maintenance. There are several moving elements and pieces that might be causing your system to malfunction, and they include:

• The air quality might be poor.
• A crack that is causing a leak.
• One of its parts could be loose, worn out, or require cleaning or replacement, or any number of other problems could develop.

Your gas heater’s furnace needs frequent maintenance to keep the system working smoothly. Any gas heater can leak carbon monoxide into your living space. If you detect a drop in performance, get your central heating system inspected by a professional straight away.

Central Heating Problems and Their Solutions

Central heating systems, often known as forced air furnaces, use many ducts to transfer heat throughout your home. However, furnace issues can occasionally be caused by faulty ductwork, a malfunctioning heater, or both.

Water heaters, water filters, furnace filters, and gas heaters all have a lifetime of about 15 to 20 years. Here are some furnace troubleshooting strategies to take if your ducted heater develops any of the issues below and stops operating or does not ignite:

1. The Heater is Blowing Cold Air

If you are uncertain why your heater is working as a cooling system instead of blowing warm air, ensure that your thermostat is set to the right temperature. If you have double-checked that your thermostat is set correctly, your problem might be one of several things, including:

• Dirty Air Filter or Air Blower

Over time, air filters become clogged, which requires you to clean or change your system’s air filter. Dirt and debris might obstruct your furnace’s function. Replace your air filter and see if the problem goes away.

• Leaky Ductwork

Leaky ductwork is an almost inconspicuous issue, but it may be costly if not addressed. You can walk alongside your ductwork and feel for any blowing air to your attic insulation or crawl space if you are comfortable with it. If you detect blowing air, there is a leak.

To be certain, you can also bring a lighted stick of incense with you and place it near your ducts. If the smoke begins to move, there is a leak in that area. Finally, seal any leaks and properly insulate your ducts.

• Pilot Flame or Light Issues

Ensure that your furnace’s pilot light is turned on. If it still does not light, confirm that gas flows into it and the gas valve is switched on. However, if your pilot light still does not light, the best thing to do would be to call a gas heater repair agency.

• Lack of Fuel

To run effectively, your system needs fuel, whether you have an HVAC system or an electric gas supply system. Your furnace will not operate as well as it should if it is low on fuel or if the fuel cannot supply power to your furnace efficiently.

If none of these appears to be the problem, you can have your gas heating system inspected to run it continuously.

2. The Heater Cannot Stay Lit

The thermostat being set-off or not operating effectively is one of the most common reasons for your gas heater not igniting or not working. As a result, you should double-check the thermostat and, if it is off, switch it on while putting it to heat mode for your peace of mind. If this is not the case, the batteries might need to be replaced.

Your furnace may not have a pilot flame or light if it is modern. Therefore, you might have to employ electrical ignition. Newer systems will include a flame mechanism to ensure that gas does not flow without turning on the heater. These sensors become worn out over time and must be changed. Cleaning and changing these sensors is a simple task that you can carry out on your own.

3. The Heater Cannot Shut Off

If your furnace continues to operate and blow hot air, check your thermostat to ensure it is at “auto” rather than “on”. When the furnace reaches a specific temperature, it will turn off. Below are some of the reasons why your heat cannot shut off.

• Your Thermostat is Either Faulty or Incorrectly Connected

You can examine your thermostat’s wiring first to make sure everything is connected accurately. Then, restore factory settings on your thermostat and try operating your system again. If this does not fix the problem, your thermostat might need replacement.

• Your Furnace’s Blower is Broken

If your furnace continues to run after you replace the thermostat, it might be due to a problem with the air blower. For a more thorough check, contact your preferred heating specialist right away.

• Certain Parts of your House are not Heating

If your heater is delivering heat unevenly throughout your home, it might be due to two things: filthy air filters or insufficient ductwork. Therefore, check for dust and dirt in your air filters and replace them as needed. If your air filters are clean or replacing them does not help, you may need to look for leaks in your ducts. If you discover that your ducts require extra attention, contact an HVAC specialist for a thorough examination.

• Controls are not Working

If you can not get your furnace to work correctly, it is most likely due to a malfunctioning thermostat. You can ensure your thermostat is set to the proper temperature, then replace the batteries to see if the problem is resolved. If it does not, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to reset the thermostat.

If none of these steps solves your problem, you will need to replace your thermostat.

4. The Fan is Not Working

If your furnace’s heating and cooling fan is not operating, you can check your thermostat to see whether the settings are correct. Then, you can dry clean your vents or clean drains, making sure they are not so filthy that ventilation is impeded. Extremely filthy air filters might cause your fan to cease operating entirely.

Next, verify that your circuit breakers or power supplies are turned on. The cause might be a tripped circuit breaker. As a result, you might need to examine the fuse panel and furnace pilot light to determine if anything is off.

If turning on the circuit breakers does not solve the problem, get an HVAC specialist to examine your system.

5. The Heater Smells Burnt

Something is incorrect when your heater emits a burnt smell. If your furnace smells like it is on fire, turn it off and unplug it immediately. Keeping it on might be dangerous. The burnt smell might be the result of a filthy air filter or dust accumulation in the furnace. You should take immediate action for this.

After disconnecting your heater, you can check for dust or obstructions and clean it as needed. To be safe, you can also change or clean your air filters. If the problem persists, you should have your electrical components and chimney inspected by an expert.

6. The Furnace is Short Cycling

If your furnace is cycling on and off quickly, it is known as short cycling. Only a piece of the area you are heating will warm up after a short cycle. Many factors can bring this on, and they include:

• A dirty filter
• An oversized unit
• The thermostat is set off or has a fault
• Placement of the thermostat

Furnaces are intended to operate for at least 15 minutes at a time and perform optimally. Shorter runs may affect the heat exchanger in the long term.

7. Safety Switch is On

A safety power switch is frequently included in modern gas heaters. If the access panel is removed, this switch stops the fan and burner from turning on. If your heater does not turn on or off, it is most likely because the power to the furnace safety switch is turned on.

You can only turn off the heater’s safety switch if the furnace door is in its proper position. Similarly, a faulty flame sensor might be problematic. In such a scenario, you should contact a furnace repair or HVAC technician.

8. Fuel Shortage

Gas heating systems rely on fuel, and if there is not enough of it, they do not light or work. Your heating system will not operate if your heater is not receiving enough gas or running short on gas. In this case, you should inspect your gas pipeline. If your blower motors, gas pipeline, and gas valve are operational, you can call a professional expert.

Gas Heater Plumbers are the Best Bet

In a nutshell, it is always a good idea to contact a competent HVAC professional before attempting heater maintenance on your own. Your heating expert may also provide you with an estimate for any servicing work as well as an owner’s manual to assist you in making your selection.

With time, the mentioned problems with your heat exchanger system might occur. Go for it if it is an issue that you can easily deal with on your own. However, if there are any complications, do not take any chances. Reach out to a hot water system or reliable local gas heater repair service immediately.