As stated under “Do you have power”, your furnace doors are equipped with safety switches. If the doors for your furnace are not on securely, these switches will not allow your furnace to operate.
We recommend you go ahead and turn the breaker completely off then turn it back on, it is possible the breaker has tripped but not appear tripped.
Verify that the Service Disconnects is set to “ON”
As a matter of safety to our service technicians, your equipment is installed with service disconnects. Sometimes these “switches” can be inadvertently “bumped” or turned off.”
At the furnace or boiler, this service disconnect appears to be a light switch. Normally this switch is mounted on the side of the furnace; it may be located on the ceiling or wall nearby.
At your condenser (see What is a Condenser?), the service disconnect is typically located mounted to the wall by the condenser. It appears to be a metal box with a thick wire leading to it. There are two (2) types of disconnects: fused or non-fused. You can lift the cover to ensure the “pull out block” is in place. CAUTION: Please keep in mind, this is 220v of electricity and we recommend you let your service professional check the pullout.
Check that Furnace Doors Are On Securely
For your safety, furnace manufacturers have placed safety switches on the doors of your furnace. If a furnace door becomes loose or isn’t replaced properly, these safety switches will not “make” cutting power to the furnace.
If You Are Experiencing Power Problems or Brownouts:
If so, you may not have enough voltage to operate your equipment.
Some indications of power problems are:
- Your lights are dim
- Only half (1/2) of lights in your home work
- The elevator in your condominium building is not working
Generally, we do not recommend homeowners attempt to repair their equipment themselves. However, there are some common problems that can result in unneeded service calls.
There are many thermostat manufactures and those manufacturers have a multitude of models of thermostats. Also, inevitably, as they change their technologies, their programming methods also change. With these factors in mind, one must realize we do not have an easy answer for you. The good news is that most manufacturers list easy to follow instructions on the websites.
Locate your humidistat.
Your humidistat may be located near your thermostat or mounted at the furnace on the plenum (sheet metal box).
Set humidistat:
Set to [OFF] OR [0]
Move the humidistat dial to a “higher” setting until you hear a “click.” This click indicates the current level of humidity the humidistat is sensing in your system.
Set bypass damper (if equipped).
You may see the works open/closed, summer/winter, or it may not be labeled at all.
Set damper lever perpendicular to duct to “close” or set to “summer” setting.
Set damper lever parallel to duct to “open” or set to “winter” setting.v
For heating, it may cause safety or limit to “open.” What this means is that the heat will not run or it will “short cycle.” The short cycle is a term we use to describe the phenomenon of the furnace going on & off rapidly.
For cooling, it may cause your evaporator coil to ice up. The problem is, once the ice begins to form and the system is not given a chance to thaw between cycles, the ice can become so thick as to diminish your airflow from your registers.
It should be replaced each heating season because:
- Maximizes humidifier performance
- Eliminates Odors
- Removes Cellulose Coating
Failing to change your water panel regularly could cause your humidifier to “leak,” sometimes causing damage to furnace controls and/or floors.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is a measure of how effective a heating appliance (such as a furnace) converts fuel (namely natural gas or propane) into energy on a yearly basis. The Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure is defined as the “heat transferred to the conditioned space divided by the fuel energy supplied.”
Energy Star is a program that was created in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of its main goals is to provide consumers with much-needed information so they can make purchase decisions based on economic and environmental considerations. It is only awarded to products that not only are energy efficient but also provide a reasonable payback for their initial investment.
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the standard on which the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compares the efficiency of cooling equipment, including condensers and heat pumps.
Variable Speed is generally used to describe the blower motor of the furnace. However, some manufacturers are adding variable speed inducer motors to their furnaces as well.
In regards to the blower motor, a variable speed motor or “smart motor” has the capacity to operate at lower power levels to use up to two thirds (2/3) less electricity of a normal blower motor. For example, at the lowest speed, it can operate at 65 watts whereas a normal blower motor generally operates at 500-600 watts.