If you arrive at work or school and notice that the building feels colder than usual, it's possible that one of your furnaces isn't working right. Furnaces, whether gas or electric operated, are complicated appliances and there are a number of things that could be causing it to malfunction. Here are some things to look for if you think the furnace isn't working.
Strange noises when the furnace is turned on.
The furnace refuses to turn on at all. Your blower or fan runs constantly but doesn't seem to be producing warm air. Your thermostat is blank or isn't working properly. The pilot on your gas furnace doesn't light up. Each of these problems is common when it comes to commercial furnaces. They are especially common in older furnaces or furnaces that aren't maintained properly. If you notice any of these things happening with your commercial furnace, it's time to
contact us.
Power Failure
The issue to your furnace might be something as simple as a flipped breaker or a faulty electrical connection. However, working with commercial electricity is dangerous and not encouraged without the proper tools and training. Lucky for you, the service technicians at 1-800-Plumber + Air have both of these things. If there's a simple or complicated electrical issue that's keeping your furnace from working, we'll diagnose the problem and repair it.
Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter is one of the most common culprits when it comes to a furnace not working properly. The air filter is designed to catch harmful particles and protect you from them. However, air filters that aren't changed every three to six months can get so dirty that they don't let air flow through them. This will result in little to no air coming out of your registers and could cause more serious damage to your furnace.
Broken Thermostat
The thermostat is the regulator of your heating and cooling system that controls the temperature in your building. It also tells your furnace when to turn on and off, which means that if it's broken, your furnace won't know what to do. The result is that your building will get progressively colder, but your furnace won't turn on because the thermostat is unable to tell it to.
Busted Fan or Blower
Your furnace is equipped with a fan or blower that propels air through the air ducts and out the registers of your building. If this fan isn't working, your furnace will heat up the air, but there won't be anything to blow it out of the registers. A good way to know if this is the culprit is if you hear your furnace running but don't feel any air coming out of the registers. This is usually a sign of a bad fan or a dirty air filter.
Ignition Failure
On gas furnaces, there are a number of components involved in the ignition process.
Blown Fuse
There are a series of fuses that help your furnace operate. If one of these fuses is blown your furnace will sound like it's trying to run, but nothing will happen. Fuses are easy to repair and replace, but it's difficult to know if that's the issue without the proper diagnostic equipment.
Poor Gas Flow
If there isn't enough gas flowing to the pilot and ignition of the furnace, it won't have enough juice to turn on. If this is the problem, you'll likely hear flames blowing in your furnace as it tries to ignite the pilot. However, after two or three tries and failures, your furnace will turn off and will need to be reset.
Frayed or Severed Wire
Both gas and electric furnaces have electrical components inside of them that help them to operate. There are dozens of wires that are prone to potential damage. If any one of these wires becomes frayed or severed, your furnace will fail to turn on. Electrical problems are tricky to diagnose without years of experience and diagnostic equipment.
How to Keep Problems From Happening
Problems with commercial furnaces are only common in ones that aren't maintained and cared for. Maintaining your furnace isn't difficult, it only takes a little bit of time and discipline. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your furnace working as it should.
- Change your air filter every three to six months or as needed.
- Take the covers off of your furnace every time you change the filter and vacuum out the inside.
- Put vented covers on any vent pipes to keep animals and debris from getting inside of them.
- Have the service technicians at 1-800-Plumber + Air perform annual inspections and servicing on your furnace.
Who to Call for 24/7 Commercial Furnace Repair and Service.
No matter how well you care for your furnace, however, there will come a time when something goes wrong and you need it repaired. 1-800-Plumber + Air provides 24/7 emergency repairs. Whether it's the middle of the night or a holiday, give us a call and we'll race out as soon as possible to repair your commercial furnace. A furnace that isn't working isn't just inconvenient, it's also a safety hazard. Our goal is to keep you safe and to keep your furnace running smoothly.
