Why Your HVAC System Is Not Heating

Is your HVAC not heating your home as well as it should? Perhaps only a few rooms are getting heat while others remain cold, or the system won’t turn on at all. In either case, professional HVAC repair in Dayton, Ohio, will pinpoint the source of your heating troubles and create the best path toward total system restoration. 

A1 Mechanical is one of the area’s top HVAC contractors specializing in furnace inspections and repairs. Though heating problems are frustrating at best and dangerous at worst, it’s important to identify the reason for the lack of heat to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur after repairs. 

Below, we share some reasons a heating system could stop producing sufficient heat for a home or business. 

Why Is Your Heater Not Generating Heat?

So what would cause a heat pump or furnace to stop producing heat? Here are the top explanations. 

Lack of Refrigerant

If you heat your home with a heat pump, it’ll need enough refrigerant to pull warmth into the house and circulate heat throughout the building. A refrigerant leak will prevent the HVAC system from generating enough heat to make your home warm and cozy. 

Clogged Condensate Drains

Condensate lines prevent HVAC systems from accumulating water. The lines drain outdoors, so when leaves and twigs fall off trees in the fall, the debris can fill the condensate drain, forming a clog. The obstruction could cause several problems including:

• Water leaks around the HVAC unit
• Costly water damage 
• Total system shutdown

HVAC systems can stop working if something triggers its safety features. A clogged condensate drain may be one of them. Inspecting and cleaning the drain and ensuring it has sufficient drainage is the best way to ensure it protects your HVAC system as it should. 

Filthy Air Filter

An HVAC not heating a home properly could have a simple problem like an air filter blockage. Both furnaces and heat pumps have air filters to trap airborne particles as the system circulates air. It’s best to replace your equipment’s filter at least once every three months, yet amounts of dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particles can clog the filter sooner rather than later. 

Filthy filters will impede airflow, causing the heater to overwork itself. When an HVAC works too hard, it can lead to additional complications like premature wear and inconsistent heating. If a dirty air filter is the reason for your home’s lack of heat, you can restore the heater’s performance by replacing the filter. 

Failing Blower Motor

The blower motor is responsible for powering the fan that blows conditioned air from the HVAC unit to other spaces throughout the house. Issues with this component will likely result in the HVAC not heating your home. The motor must work at full capacity to efficiently and evenly distribute warm air from the furnace or heat pump. 

Thermostat Issues

It might not be time to replace your heating system if it’s not working correctly, yet you may need to pay closer attention to your thermostat. Sometimes an HVAC system will be functional but won’t provide heat because the thermostat that controls the furnace is malfunctioning. 

Thermostat problems like the wrong temperature settings or heating mode can be minor and easily resolvable. Inspect your thermostat to see if you switched the device from “Cool” to “Heat” and set the temperature high enough to trigger the furnace’s operations. Also, ensure the thermostat has fresh batteries or a reliable power source.

Your thermostat could need recalibration to ensure it provides accurate temperature readings. Unfortunately, these devices can lose their calibrations over time, resulting in inefficient heating.  

Problems With Your Electricity

Sometimes electrical problems can lead to an HVAC not heating a home. Check your system to see if it’s getting enough electricity by looking at your circuit breaker panel. If the HVAC system trips the breaker, you can restore power by flipping the switch back to its “On” position. 

This step usually resolves the problem, which could happen due to a sudden influx of electrical current going to the heat pump or furnace. However, if the problem continues and you must frequently flip your HVAC unit’s tripped breaker, something is likely wrong with the appliance. 

Gas furnaces have safety features that will cause a total system shutdown if something triggers them. It’s also possible for a heating system to have electrical problems that don’t impact the property’s circuit panel, like faulty auxiliary heat strips in heat pumps. No matter what, it’s best to contact a professional HVAC company like A1 Mechanical to quickly and safely assess the heating unit and resolve its electrical problems. 

Malfunctioning Ignition System

Ignition failure is a common reason for a lack of heat from a furnace, heat pump, or boiler. This equipment relies on a complete ignition process to generate sufficient heat. Without it, your home might have uneven heating or no warmth at all. 

Gas heaters have a pilot light that ignites the gas and facilitates the combustion process for heat production. A gust of wind could blow the flame out, so you must reignite it to restore the furnace or heat pump’s functionality. Yet you’ll need prompt HVAC repair if you notice the following problems with your pilot light:

• The flame is yellow instead of bright blue
• The light isn’t large enough to trigger combustion
• The pilot light has too much dirt, dust, and grime around its base

Worn igniters and failing ignition control modules can also cause incomplete ignition or stop the ignition process altogether. Inspecting and cleaning the furnace and replacing malfunctioning parts could resolve these issues.

Get Swift Help With Your Heating System by Contacting A1 Mechanical in Dayton

An HVAC not heating your home is a serious problem, but our heating and cooling experts at A1 Mechanical are ready to provide the best solutions for any situation. Our certified technicians in Dayton, Ohio, have more than 300 years of combined experience, so no heater issue is too big for us to handle.

Your satisfaction is our guarantee — call (937) 865-2325 today for an appointment or to ask your HVAC technician questions about your heating system.