Your furnace is one of the most essential appliances in your home. If your furnace doesn’t ignite on a cold night, you need to know why and how to get it fixed immediately.

A professional HVAC technician can fix your furnace properly. However, it’s worth trying to figure out what’s wrong, so you can resolve a simple issue on your own. With a quick fix, you can enjoy the heat you need without a problem.

Five Reasons Your Furnace Won’t Ignite

Many issues can lead to a furnace that won’t ignite, but a few problems are more common than others. Here are five reasons your furnace may struggle to ignite:

1. Disconnected Thermostat

The thermostat is your connection to the furnace. If it doesn’t link up to the system, you have no way to tell the furnace to turn on. Sometimes, a thermostat may disconnect from the HVAC system due to a power outage or faulty wiring. Most systems have a simple reset setting or can be removed from the wall and placed back in position.

Try performing a basic reset of your thermostat to see if it can re-establish a connection to the furnace. If the problem persists, you may need an HVAC technician to go deeper.

2. Clogged Furnace Filters

Furnaces have air filters that trap dust and particles, so they don’t clog up the furnace or deliver dust throughout your home. Over time, however, these filters need replacing, or dirt and debris can get through and harm the furnace. This could lead to dust collecting in the furnace and stopping the mechanisms from moving properly.

Remove the furnace air filters and replace them with clean ones. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, there may be a serious buildup of materials in the system, and a professional may need to clean out the insides of the furnace.

3. Gas Line Problems

The furnace needs a source of fuel, and most systems have a fuel line that delivers it. These lines can run into a variety of issues, including blockages, leaks, and failing valves. When anything affects the gas line, the furnace can’t receive the fuel it needs to function properly. Even if the furnace ignites, it may not have enough fuel to keep running.

Gas line issues are serious, as the fuel can be deadly to inhale. Contact a professional HVAC technician if you suspect a fuel line problem with your furnace, especially if you smell gas near the system.

4. Dirty Burners

Furnaces have a series of burners that produce heat to warm your home. Over time, however, any of these burners can get clogged with dirt or debris and fail to provide heat. This can make your entire system work harder to produce the same amount of heat and stress the rest of the furnace. This can also lead to higher levels of carbon monoxide, a deadly gas.

Cleaning these burners is relatively easy. Turning off the furnace, waiting for it to cool, and wiping down the burners with a cloth or scrubbing them with a brush could clear up the openings. If individual burners still don’t ignite, it’s time to call an expert.

5. Bad Flame Sensor

Another part of the furnace that could malfunction is the flame sensor. This part ensures that too much gas isn’t delivered through the system. If the sensor believes that plenty of gas is flowing, but nothing is happening, it needs a reset or a replacement.

Flame sensors can be replaced if you know where they are and how to safely remove them. If you’re unsure how to handle a flame sensor replacement, a professional HVAC technician can take care of the job.

Furnaces can encounter a wide range of issues, but many of them are fixable. The best bet for fixing a furnace that won’t ignite is to call experts like those at Whipple Service Champions. We can diagnose the exact problem and fix it ASAP.

Contact our team online to schedule service today.