Whether it’s the dead of winter or the height of summer, there’s never a good time for your heating or air conditioning to stop working. But before you call Bryan’s Fuel for an emergency service, there are a couple of things you can check if you think the temperature is not quite right.

1) Check that your pilot light is on

2) Does the unit have power? If your furnace runs on electricity, you can check this by looking at the thermostat. Most thermostats have a switch for the fan – switch it to “On”, and if the fan comes on, your unit has power.

3) Go outside and check the vents; if pipes are obscured by snow or leaves or any other debris, clear them off and see if that fixes the problem.

4) Make sure your thermostat is turned on, working and set to the right temperature; the problem could even be as simple as your thermostat not being set to “Heat”.

5) Check the condition of your furnace’s filters; clogged filters often limit the unit’s air flow, and newer, more efficient furnaces even shut down before filters get too dirty.

6) Make sure the furnace switch is on. This is often located on the unit or on a wall next to it. While these should be labelled properly upon installation, sometimes they can be mistaken for a light switch.

7) If your furnace runs on gas, check the gas valve. This is unlikely to have been touched, but you should always double-check.

Always be careful about resetting your unit; for example, flipping the circuit breakers to reset it. If your unit is reset, it’s difficult for your technician to tell what the initial problem was.

If you’ve gone through this checklist and still don’t see a change in your furnace, call Bryan’s Fuel in Orangeville. Especially if:

• Your furnace has been cycling on an off at an increasing rate
• Your furnace simply won’t turn on
• The temperature in your home is fluctuating dramatically or there is no hot or cold air coming in at all