Why Is My Heater Not Working? 5 Interesting Reasons!

Why is my heater not working? It could be due to many problems like poor maintenance, thermostat issues, dead blower capacitor, low refrigerant levels, or faulty ductwork design or installation.

Fix these problems right away, or be the leading cause of fires in most households. You surely want to avoid death in your family because of a malfunctioning heater.

Why is my heater not working

And while the residential heating system is reliable and highly sophisticated, it’s still able to develop issues at some point. If these issues occur, they may hinder the comfortable lifestyle of your family. It will also affect the safety of all. So, read on for you to learn more about the topic.

 

Reasons Why Heater Not Working

Here are the common reasons and fixes for a malfunctioning heater:

 

#1. Poor maintenance

One of the reasons you must call for HVAC technicians is poor maintenance in the furnace. If the furnace doesn’t turn on, it’s because you have not tuned it correctly for the longest time. The problem goes with the dirty heating system. If the blower is dirty, it can cause failure in the equipment. The heat exchanger will not work unless air is sufficient as it moves across it and prevents it from overheating.

It’s the dirty blower that causes failure in the heat exchanger. In this case, replace the filter after three months. If you don’t tune it regularly, it might get the flame sensor dirty, making it impossible to light the burner. It’s also better to contact an HVAC technician who will tune the furnace yearly. It’s still worthy of your investment to regularly maintain the furnace. If the furnace fails prematurely, replacing the expensive parts won’t worry you.

 

#2. Dead blower capacitor

The blower capacitor is the section in the furnace that appears like a giant battery. The capacitor sets the furnace when the thermostat setting signals it to start. But remember that each capacitor comes with a tolerance level. If it has a lower tolerance level than the standard level, it will not likely achieve a suitable RPM. That could be due to a dead or dying capacitor that doesn’t start the heater. The solution to this problem is to find a replacement.

 

#3. Faulty ductwork design or installation

There could be an issue with the ductwork. So, designing and installing the ductwork properly, although it’s a big undertaking. Some installers choose to cut corners as they size ducts or install them. It’s ok if you have ductwork with more or even less-sized and installed. But if the installers perform a poor job, it may expose more issues with the airflow. That’s when the heating system shortens its life cycle. It might overheat and then break down afterward. The best thing to do is hire a competent HVAC technician repair specialist. One will be there to fix the furnace parts that have failed already. Trust that he will redesign the heater’s ductwork to avoid problems from recurring.

 

#4. Too low refrigerant levels

If your home heats up with a heat pump, the refrigerant level is too low. The heat strips will continue to come more often. That will result in expensive utility bills. Lower refrigerant levels over time will cause breakdown and overheating of the compressor. Thus, increase the charge of the refrigerant the moment you notice the heat strips always come on. It costs less recharging the refrigerant or fixing the leaks than replacing the compressor.

 

#5. Thermostat issues

Why is my heater not working is also because of an issue with the thermostat. The leading cause of the problem is an improperly set or malfunctioning thermostat. This can also regulate the quantity of heat generated by the furnace after generating the heat. The thermostats to find are reliable and are after giving a stress-free service. But then, each thermostat will develop some issues and will require replacement or repair. 

If you find a problem with the current thermostat, replace it with a programmable option. This will allow you to select various temperatures at various times a day, week, and night, as simply, these are more energy-efficient than the non-programmable options. Check if the thermostat is wrongly programmed. Or, you may have reprogrammed it, which causes its failure. It’s best to also know thermostat wiring.

 

It’s A Wrap!

Now you have an idea why is my heater not working is because of a lot of problems, as mentioned. The furnace that doesn’t work is said to be the worst of these problems. If it has no power in the furnace, it means the family will enjoy no heat. It might result in illness and discomfort in the cold season. It’s easier addressing the issue if you know the reasons for the heater as it stops working. But if the heater is still giving you problems, call for help from seasoned technicians. It’s a good idea to call them for a free quote as this will free up your mind from worries and stresses! So, don’t worry anymore if your heater is not working anymore and tell your friends too what to do. You may want to read related articles; know where to place a space heater and Pelonis heaters are safe.

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