Gas Heat - Furnace/Fan Won't come on?

Question

I recently bought a new home and am renting out my townhouse. About a month ago I moved out of the townhouse and set the heat down to around 50 degrees. Yesterday when stopping over to work on something in the house I noticed that the temperature had dropped in the house and it is now in the low 40s. In the previous few times I'd stopped by untill yesterday it was right at the 50 degrees it was set at.

Now, the fan/furnace won't kick on and thus the drop in temperature in the house. I though possibly that the pilot light might be out but not sure if that would cause the fan not to kick on or not. The house/heating system is gas and is about 5 years old. In the five years I lived there I never had one issue and never had to ignite or do anything else to the system. 

When I switch the system over to cool, the fan comes on problem.

Would the pilot light be off since maybe there were a few hot days where the heat (thermostat) was set to on but then it just wasn't used? Or does this sound like another issue. Gas in the house is fine as gas range/gas fireplace are working ok. Right now I turned the whole system off hoping when I go back by later today and turn it on the auto igniter might take.

Also, would the furnace be in the attic or crawlspace? My vents on the second floor on on the ceiling but the vents on the first floor on on the ground? Never had to check on it before and never had to have it serviced.

Any help is appreciated and would love to be able to take care of this myself. T

Thanks.

TK

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Does your furnace have a little window to look through?  Then you can see what's happening.  If your furnace is only 5 years old I would think that it doesn't use a pilot light but uses glow plugs.  This is similar to a spark plug where energy heats it up which then ignites the gas.  Over time the glow plug or other parts can get corroded and cause the furnace to not start properly and error out.  My furnace had one glow plug that started the first flame then the flame would travel to the other gas compartments via small opening in a metal piece.  Well my metal piece was clogged and wouldn't let the flame to the other compartments.  The best thing to do might be to call a furnace guy for a tune up.

Madeleine · Answer

You might try and sand paper the thermocouple to clean the soot off. and remove the air filter. Also make sure the room the furnace is in gets a little heat in it to keep a good draft up the flue. If this doesn't work. Look for an error code at the control module. count how many times the light blinks and look on the label on the cover inside to see which what it says.

Anonymous · Answer

If you never did anything to the furnace in 5 years then it's time to have it looked at.  You're supposed to change the filter once a month r once every couple of months.  It's got to be clogged.

dvdacmn · Answer

if the furnace is 5 years oldits got an igniter not pilot call a tech or go up there and see what code is blinking see door for legend

Holly S · Answer

Have you tried to get it to kick in by raising the temp at the thermostat?  Newer gas, high efficiency units are susceptible to condensation.

? · Answer

Power system down for a minute or two then power it backup

rottendog93 · Answer

5 years old and never had it serviced? 
Do you buy a car and drive it till the engine locks up then get the oil changed?
This too is a mechanical device and needs attention.
Call a local contractor and get this unit serviced and repaired.

Foggy · Answer

You might need to check the air filters.

William B · Answer

with all the high winds we have had  the pilot light is out, 
 mine got blown out twice

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Gas Heat - Furnace/Fan Won't come on?

9 Answers