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Heating and cooling ultimately determines the comfort of a home. Learn how to troubleshoot heating and cooling and how to fix and maintain HVAC systems.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Club, Fix-It. "How to Repair Electric Furnaces." 28 March 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-repair-electric-furnaces.htm> 12 May 2008.
by
Fix-It Club
Inside This Article
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Troubleshooting Electric Furnaces and Electric Heaters
Troubleshooting Electric Furnaces and Electric Heaters
Although major problems will require professional help, there are many quick-fix jobs that a homeowner can do to get his or her electric furnace operating properly again. Use this chart if your furnance is not working properly.ELECTRIC FURNACE TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
| Problem | Possible cause | Solution |
| Furnace won't run |
1. No power. |
1. Check for blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers at main entrance panel, at separate entrance panel, and on or in furnace; restore circuit. |
| |
2. Switch off. |
2. Turn on separate power switch on or near furnace. |
| |
3. Motor overload. |
3. Wait 30 minutes; press reset button. Repeat if necessary. |
| Not enough heat |
1. Thermostat set too low. |
1. Raise thermostat setting 5°. |
| |
2. Filter dirty. | 2. Clean or replace filter. |
| |
3. Blower clogged. | 3. Clean blower assembly. |
| |
4. Registers closed or blocked. |
4. Make sure all registers are open; make sure they are not blocked by rugs, drapes, or furniture. |
| |
5. System out of balance. |
5. Balance system. |
| |
6. Blower belt loose or broken. |
6. Adjust or replace belt. |
| |
7. Element faulty. | 7. Call a professional. |
| Furnace turns on and off repeatedly |
1. Filter dirty. 2. Motor and/or blower needs |
1. Clean or replace filter. 2. If motor and blower have oil ports, lubricate. |
| |
lubrication. |
|
| |
3. Blower clogged. | 3. Clean blower assembly. |
| Blower won't stop running |
1. Blower control set wrong. |
1. Reset thermostat from ON to AUTO. |
| |
2. Relays faulty. | 2. Call a professional. |
| Furnace noisy |
1. Access panels loose. |
1. Mount and fasten access panels correctly. |
| |
2. Belts sticking, worn, or damaged. |
2. Spray squeaking belts with fan belt dressing; replace worn or damaged belts. |
| |
3. Blower belt too loose or too tight. |
3. Adjust belt. |
| |
4. Motor and/or blower needs lubrication. |
4. If motor and blower have oil ports, lubricate. |
Many electric furnaces are fused separately from the rest of the home. Learn where to find the fuses for the electric furnace on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep youor furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Club, Fix-It. "How to Repair Electric Furnaces." 28 March 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-repair-electric-furnaces.htm> 12 May 2008.
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