Your furnace needs to run properly in order to heat your home and offer you comfort during the winter months. A house where the furnace is not working can not only be dangerous because of the cold temperatures for you, it can be dangerous for the pipes in your home as well. The pipes in your home need to remain warm enough because the water flowing through them could freeze. If your furnace isn't working properly, you need to do a bit of troubleshooting. Read on for helpful information. 

1.  Check Thermostat

Inspect your thermostat to see if it is set to the right temperature and to be sure it is set to the heat setting. If it's just on fan, you'll have air blowing through your vents, but it won't be warm air. You should make the necessary adjustments to your thermostat and adjust the temperature to see if it turns the furnace on. Change the setting off entirely and turn it back on to see if it resets the furnace and turns it on.

2. Clean The Furnace

Clean your furnace to remove any dirt and debris that may be inside and could be causing a problem with it running properly. Your furnace should be cleaned out often, but most people skip this task. Turn off the furnace and remove the panel to expose the inside. Use a shop vacuum to vacuum the interior out and remove all dust and debris inside. Remove the old air filter and replace it with a new one to prevent an issue with airflow to your system. Once finished, turn the power to your furnace back on and see if it turns on.

3. Clean The Flame Sensor

If the flame sensor is too dirty, it won't send the signal to light your furnace, and you won't get the heat you need. Clean the flame sensor and then try to see if the furnace turns on when you finish. You don't have to scrub hard to remove the soot on the sensor, just enough to remove the soot.

If your furnace is not running, it may be a number of different issues causing the problem. Hire a professional HVAC contractor to determine the problem with your furnace and to have it repaired to ensure the repair is done correctly. Use the tips above to help you troubleshoot as well.

Reach out to local heating contractors to learn more.