No Heat in Decatur? 7 Things to Check Before You Call
The first cold morning of the year is when we find out which furnaces made it through summer. If you woke up to a cold house in Decatur, Monroe, Berne or Geneva, there are a few things you can safely check before you pick up the phone. Some of these fix the problem in five minutes. If they do not, you will at least be able to tell the tech what you already ruled out.
First, safety. If you smell gas or your carbon monoxide alarm is going off, skip this list. Get everyone outside, then call your gas utility and 911 from outside the house.
1. Check the thermostat
This sounds too simple, but it is one of the most common calls we run. Make sure the thermostat is set to HEAT, not COOL or OFF, and that the set temperature is a few degrees above what the room is now.
If the screen is blank, change the batteries. Many thermostats run on AA or AAA batteries even when they are wired to the furnace. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, check that a schedule or “away” setting is not holding the temperature down.
2. Check the breaker and the furnace switch
Your furnace needs power even if it burns gas. Look in the breaker panel for a tripped breaker labeled furnace or HVAC. Flip it fully off, then back on.
Next, find the furnace power switch. It usually looks like a regular light switch on the wall or ceiling near the furnace. People bump these all the time when they are storing things in the basement or utility room. Make sure it is on.
If the breaker trips again right away, leave it off and call us. That points to an electrical problem.
3. Look at the filter
A badly clogged filter can choke off airflow until the furnace overheats and shuts itself down as a safety measure. Pull the filter out and hold it up to a light. If you cannot see light through it, replace it.
Many 1-inch filters are typically changed every one to three months during heating season. Homes with pets or a lot of dust need it on the shorter end.
4. Make sure vents and returns are open
Walk the house. Supply vents should be open, and the large return grilles should not have furniture, rugs or boxes pushed against them. Closing a lot of vents to “save heat” in unused rooms can actually make the system work harder and run less efficiently.
5. Check the condensate line on a high-efficiency furnace
If your furnace has white PVC pipes coming out of it, it is a high-efficiency model that makes water as it runs. That water drains through a small line, often to a floor drain or a small pump.
If that line clogs or freezes, a safety switch will stop the furnace. Look for water around the base of the furnace or a condensate pump that is full and not running. On colder days, also check outside that the intake and exhaust pipes are not blocked by snow or ice.
6. Listen when it tries to start
Turn the heat up a few degrees and listen. You will usually hear a small fan start first, then a click, then the burners. Make a note of what you hear and where it stops. If it clicks over and over, starts and then shuts off, or makes no sound at all, that is useful information for the tech.
Many furnaces also have a small window with a blinking light. Write down the pattern. It is a code that helps narrow down the problem.
7. Know when to stop and call
Do not open the burner compartment, try to relight a modern furnace by hand, or reset it over and over. Repeated resets can cause more damage. Call for furnace repair if:
- You checked everything above and still have no heat
- The breaker keeps tripping
- The furnace starts and shuts off within a few minutes
- You hear loud banging, grinding or squealing
- You notice a burning or electrical smell
If the furnace is older and you are getting tired of calls like this, a furnace tune-up each fall catches a lot of these problems early.
Keeping the house safe while you wait
If it is bitter out, close curtains, keep interior doors open so heat spreads evenly, and open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so pipes do not freeze. Use space heaters carefully, keep them away from anything that can burn, and never use a stove or oven to heat the house.
We have been serving Decatur since 1969, and we know how fast an Adams County cold snap can turn a quiet morning into an emergency.
Schedule furnace service or call us at 260-339-3439.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my furnace not turning on?
The most common causes are thermostat settings, dead thermostat batteries, a tripped breaker, or the furnace power switch being off. If those are fine, call for service.
Can a dirty filter stop my furnace?
Yes. A badly clogged filter can cause the furnace to overheat and shut down as a safety measure. Replace it and see if heat returns.
Is it safe to keep resetting my furnace?
No. One reset is fine, but resetting it again and again can cause damage. If it will not stay running, call a technician.
When is no heat an emergency?
If you smell gas or your CO alarm is sounding, leave the house and call your gas utility and 911 from outside. Very cold temperatures with no heat are also urgent because pipes can freeze.
