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The Daily Insight

What would cause a furnace not to kick on?

Author

James Williams

Published Apr 03, 2026

Thermostat. If your furnace is not kicking on, it can be an issue with the thermostat. You should first make sure that the thermostat is switched to the heating function. You may also have an internal problem with your thermostat, which needs to be repaired by a professional.

What happens if furnace flame goes out?

If no flame is detected, the sensor shuts off the furnace to avoid unburned gas from being lost into the vent system or chimney. In older furnaces (those without draft inducers) it could cause a build up unburned fuel and cause a “hard ignition” (sort of a minor explosion) that could do damage to the furnace.

How long is a furnace warranty?

two years
A new home warranty is usually a limited warranty that covers workmanship as well as materials of various household elements. This includes you HVAC system. Typically, such a warranty covers furnaces and other HVAC equipment and systems for a period of two years.

How do I know if my furnace fuse is blown?

You may also need to use your multimeter to check if your fuses are blown. You can quickly determine by checking resistance with a multimeter. A good fuse will have nearly zero ohms of resistance, if the fuse is blown there will be no reading. Once you know how to check your furnace fuse, you can replace it easily.

What to check if your furnace isn’t working?

Furnace Not Working? The 5 Most Common Causes [2019]

  1. Step #1: Check your Air Filter.
  2. Step #2: Check Your Pilot Light.
  3. Step #3: Check Your Thermostat.
  4. Step #4: Check The Power.
  5. Step #5: Check Your Gas Supply.

How do I reset my electronic ignition furnace?

Once the gas has had time to dissipate, turn the knob to “Pilot.” Then, hold down the “Reset” button and bring the flame of a long lighter close to the pilot light opening. This should light the furnace pilot light. Once you are sure the pilot light is on, release your pressure on the reset button.

How do you know if a flame sensor is bad?

Signs of a bad furnace flame sensor are:

  1. The furnace lights but then shuts down after a few seconds (short cycles)
  2. The porcelain on the flame sensor is cracked.
  3. The flame sensor is sooty or corroded.

How do I know if my furnace is still under warranty?

You’ll want to look for the date it was made. This is typically found on a label on the exterior of your system. If your unit is newer than five years old, it may still be warrantied. Having said that, warranty terms and conditions vary between manufacturer and installing company.

How do you find out if my Lennox furnace is under warranty?

Tap Warranty Lookup, under Resources in the Menu. Step 3. Tap the barcode icon and scan the barcode on Lennox equipment to bring up the most recent warranty certificate. That’s all there is to it.

Where is the thermostat fuse located?

Simply locate your breaker panel or fuse box (usually either outside your home or located in a closet somewhere inside) and look for the fuse or circuit that your furnace is on. If the fuse is blown, replace it.

Can thermostat cause furnace not work?

1. Thermostat Issue. One of the first things to consider when your furnace isn’t working is that your commands are simply not reaching the machine, meaning there could be a problem with the thermostat you use. The issue could be as simple as a lack of power, as some need batteries to operate.

What do you do when your furnace won’t ignite?

First, you need to turn off the gas to the furnace. Then, remove the front panel to find the ignitor or ignition sensor. This is typically located near the burners. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.

Can you manually light an automatic pilot light?

Since automatic pilot lights cannot be lit by hand, the procedure for lighting them is entirely different. In fact, it is really not a matter of “relighting” the pilot, but rather of resetting the pilot light. To do this, you must shut off the gas supply, effectively resetting the system and resetting the pilot.

What happens if a flame sensor goes bad?

What happens when a flame sensor goes bad? If your flame sensor is dirty or faulty, it will automatically shut down the heating unit if it doesn’t detect a flame. Most furnaces will go into a safety ignition lockout when a shutdown happens three times.

Can you bypass a flame sensor?

Actually, you can bypass the flame sensor. the flame sensor is just a way of exposing the voltage on the flame sensor wire to the furnace burner flames. So you can connect the flame sensor wire to a screwdriver and put the screwdriver into the flames.

Should I turn my pilot light off in the summer?

Should I Turn Off My Pilot Light In The Summer? If you have an older furnace, turning off your pilot light can be an excellent idea. A continuously burning furnace pilot light will generate heat and moisture throughout the summer months – in a small amount to be sure, but still undesirable once the weather heats up.

Does gas still flow when pilot light goes out?

If your pilot light repeatedly goes out, this is a likely culprit. If this flame sensor should fail, gas will continue to flow even after the pilot light has been extinguished, causing a safety hazard, and requiring immediate repair.