Troubleshooting an Electric Furnace

Electric furnaces have operational problems that are mostly their own. Here are some of the most common concerns with electric furnaces that can help determine if you need an emergency repair service.

Unit Won’t Run

Before embarrassing yourself by calling a repairman haphazardly, check first if the unit is plugged or switched on. If it is plugged but still won’t turn on, check for blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers at the main entrance panel. If nothing’s wrong with the external circuitry, then the problem may be inside the furnace itself – which should ideally be checked by a professional.

Short Cycling

This occurs when the furnace repeatedly turns on and off quickly, sometimes within minutes. A common reason for this is a dirty filter. Check the filter first, and replace it if it’s already clogged with dust and debris. If you have a reusable filter, wash and dry it adequately before putting it back in. Another reason for this is blower malfunction. Oftentimes, cleaning and lubrication may be required. You can also choose to check your thermostat’s battery to ensure there isn’t a problem with wrong commands being sent to the unit.

Unit Keeps on Running

When this happens, you might be dealing with issues regarding the blower and relays. Sometimes, the blower control is set wrong and can be fixed by resetting the thermostat from ON to AUTO. If this doesn’t work, then the relays may be malfunctioning and you’d be better off calling on a skilled technician.