The cold weather will be here before you know it. If your furnace isn't blowing the hot air you desire, don't panic! There are a few things you can check before calling your HVAC technician.

Thermostat

Yes, you've turned your thermostat on, but is it working?

• Make sure it's set to heat and not cool.
• If it's on heat and you're still cold, up the setting five degrees above the current room temperature.
• If things still don't get better, open its panel and gently blow out any dust or debris that's accumulated.
• Lastly, change the batteries.

Air Filter

A dirty air filter means the return air can't circulate back to the furnace to be reheated. As a result, less and less air is blowing out of the vents. The longer the blockage exists, the longer the furnace must run. If your furnace runs for too long, the heat exchanger is at risk to overheat and will shut down altogether. Even if the air filter doesn't look dirty, change it if it's been in use for longer than three months.

Air Ducts

Check the air ducts if some rooms are receiving heat while others are staying cold. First, check the dampers in these chilly rooms. The handles should be parallel with the ducting, allowing the air to flow. If they're all open, it may be a case of gaps, leaks, or cracks that are allowing the heated air to leak out. Leaking ducts not only leave you cold, but they can also run up your heating bills for heat that never reaches your house. Find them and plug them with mastic sealant.

Blower Panel

This is the easiest step of all. Open the panel door and shut it securely. If this is the case, a safety device kicked into action, preventing the furnace from running.

Gas Valve

This is another easy fix you can do on your own. Someone repairing your unit may have neglected to finish the job by turning it on again. Is the valve in the open position? The handle should be parallel to the gas pipe. If it's not, no gas is passing through the pipes.

Pilot Light

This could be a very simple solution, or it might require professional help.

• If there's no blue flame, light the pilot. End of story — unless it won't light.
• In this case, it may be that the valve we discussed above is in the off position. Make sure the handle is parallel to the pipe.
• If it still doesn't light, gas may not be getting through because the pilot is dirty. Clean it.
• Still not working? Then most likely it's the thermocouple, the copper rod the flame should be hitting. It may need adjusting or replacing. If you feel confident enough to take care of this yourself, feel free to do so. If not, call your HVAC technician.

At Guaranteed Services, we're here for all your HVAC needs. Give us a call today to schedule a routine maintenance before the winter chill arrives.