After coming home on a raw and windy day, all you want to do is turn up the heat and unwind. But it can be hard to relax when you realize your furnace not blowing hot air. It’s even harder when you don’t know where to start to fix the problem.
Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air:
Starting Points and Solutions
The team at Appliance & AC Parts Today has fielded numerous customer calls about a furnace not blowing hot air. To better help you solve the problem we’ve put together this troubleshooting guide.
Complete with the most common causes as well as the most straightforward solutions, you’ll be warm and cozy again in no time.
Check the Power Source
Sometimes the most typical cause of a furnace not blowing hot air is not the furnace at all, but the power source. Before opening up your furnace, we recommend first checking the furnace circuit breaker to see if a fuse has been tripped.
If there is a tripped fuse, reset it and wait to see if that signals the heating cycle to begin.
Blower Motor is Burned Out
The blower motor’s job is to blow air through the furnace’s return vent, past the heat exchanger, and into your venting system to heat your home. If the furnace blower not coming on, it could mean that the blower motor is burned out.
Here’s how to check furnace blower motors to determine if it will need to be replaced:
- Confirm that your furnace is receiving power.
- Rule out your furnace fan not working by checking to see if it spins freely.
- If there is no obstruction blocking the fan, the blower motor is burned out and will need to be replaced.
Capacitor is Defective
The capacitor helps turn your blower fan to distribute air to the furnace for heating. Signs that the capacitor may be defective include:
- A noisy fan motor
- Fan motor overheating
- Fan motor won’t turn on
- Capacitor is distended or leaking
Along with these signs, a meter can determine if the capacitor is no longer functioning. In this case, the capacitor will have to be replaced.
Control Board Has Failed
The control board operates as a “brain” for your furnace by performing these functions:
- Receiving signals from your thermostat to turn the furnace on and off.
- Regulating the flow of energy through the furnace.
- Monitoring the furnace for malfunctions.
Control board failure could result in a furnace not blowing hot air as well as other problems. To determine if your furnace control board has failed you can inspect the board itself for burnt spots, indicating malfunction.
You can also individually test other furnace functions to rule out other causes. Upon determining that the control board has failed it will need to be replaced.
We hope this guide can help pinpoint the causes and solutions when your furnace not blowing hot air. Call Appliance & AC Parts Today to help you troubleshoot or complete a repair.
