First, make sure your thermostat is telling your furnace to start.

Digital Thermostat
Replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If the digital screen is jumbled, the thermostat may need to be replaced.

Make sure the switch is set to “heat” instead of “off” or “cool.”

Ensure the program is set to the appropriate day and time and is set to “run.” If you’re having a hard time overriding the program, set the temperature by using the up/down arrows and press the “hold” button. This will cause the furnace to turn on if thermostat programming is causing a problem.

Increase the temperature setting to 5 degrees warmer than the room temperature.

If your furnace hasn’t started within several minutes, make sure it has power by toggling the fan switch from “auto” to “on.” If the fan doesn’t begin to run, your furnace could be without power.

Smart Thermostat
If you have a smart thermostat—like one made by Nest, Ecobee, Lux, Honeywell or Bosch—troubleshooting is very model-specific. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for help. If you still can’t get your Wi-Fi thermostat to work, call us for heating and cooling service.

Check if your breaker and furnace switch are on.

Look for your house’s main electrical panel. If you have no idea where it is, keep an eye out for a gray metal box in your basement, garage or closet.

Make sure your hands and feet are dry before touching the panel or breakers.

Locate the breaker labeled “furnace” or “heat,” and make sure it’s switched “on.” If the breaker has tripped, it will be in the middle or “off” position.

Using one hand, firmly switch the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker immediately trips and pops back to “off,” don’t touch it and contact a professional from Team Enoch right away.

It doesn’t matter how old your furnace is or what brand it is, it has at least one standard wall switch located on or near it.

Make sure the switch is flipped up in the “on” position. If it was turned off, expect your furnace to take up to five minutes to ignite. (If you don’t know where to find your furnace, check your basement, garage or utility closet. It could also be in a crawl space or attic.)

When it comes to furnace problems, a grungy, clogged air filter is often the top offender.

If your filter is too dirty:

Your furnace won’t keep heating your home, or it could overheat from reduced airflow.
Your energy bills could increase because your furnace is turning on more often.
Your furnace could fail sooner than it should because a dirty filter causes it to overwork.
Your furnace can be cut off from power if an excessively dirty filter causes the breaker to trip.
Depending on what make of furnace you own, your air filter will be inside the blower compartment of your furnace, an attached filter case or wall-mounted return air grille.

To replace your filter:

Turn off your furnace.
Remove the filter and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, use a new one.
Add the new filter with the arrow pointing toward the furnace to avoid damage.
Flat filters should be replaced once a month, while pleated filters should last about three months. You can also get a washable filter that will last about 10 years. If you have children or pets, you may have to change your filter more frequently.

To make the process easier in the future, use a permanent marker on your furnace housing or ductwork to indicate the airflow direction and filter size.

Commonly known as drain pans, condensate pans catch water your furnace draws from the air.

If water is seeping out of your furnace or its pan has standing water in it, follow these steps.

If your pan has a drain (look for a PVC pipe), check that it’s clear. If it needs to be drained, use a special pan-cleaning tablet you can get at home improvement or hardware stores.
If your pan contains a pump, check the float switch. If the switch is stuck “up” with water in the pan, contact us at (817) 888-8880, because you will likely need a new pump.

If malfunctions continue, take a look inside your furnace’s plastic window to verify the status of the blower motor. Depending on the model, the light could also be attached on the outside of your furnace.

If you see anything other than a steady, colored light or blinking green light, call us at 817-888-8880 for HVAC service. Your furnace may be giving an error code that requires professional service.

If malfunctions continue, take a look inside your furnace’s plastic window to verify the status of the blower motor. Depending on the model, the light could also be attached on the outside of your furnace.

If you see anything other than a steady, colored light or blinking green light, call us at 817-888-8880 for HVAC service. Your furnace may be giving an error code that requires professional service.

If you own an older furnace, the pilot light could be out. To relight it, find the instructions on a label on your furnace, or follow these steps.

• Locate the switch on the bottom of your furnace labeled “pilot,” “on” and “off.”
• Turn the switch to the “off” position.
• Wait at least five minutes to avoid possibly starting a fire.
• Turn the knob to “pilot.”
• Hold down the “reset” button as you bring the flame of a long lighter to the pilot light opening.
• Release the “reset” button once the pilot light is lit.
• If you have followed the instructions twice and the pilot light still won’t light or stay lit, call Team Enoch for furnace service.

Try using another gas appliance. If it doesn’t work, your natural gas service could be turned off, or you could be out of propane.