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The Daily Insight

How do I start my furnace

Author

Rachel Ross

Published Apr 15, 2026

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 I turn my furnace back on?

  1. Turn the circuit breaker off and switch the furnace power button off too. …
  2. Access the pilot light by removing the access panel. …
  3. Turn the gas control valve off and let the gas dissipate for five minutes before turning it back on in order to prevent a fire hazard.

Where is the reset button on furnace?

Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.

Why is my furnace not kicking on?

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.

Can I just turn my heat on?

After sitting dormant for six or more months out of the year, you can’t just turn your furnace on. … But after sitting dormant for several months out of the year, you shouldn’t just turn the furnace on and start using it again.

How long does it take for furnace to turn on?

A furnace should take around five minutes to start once you’ve turned on your thermostat. That said, you might end up waiting closer to ten minutes to see your furnace kick on if it’s older or has an issue with its pilot light. If this is the case, it may need to be checked out by a professional.

Why is my furnace not calling for heat?

Dirty filters are the most common cause of furnace problems. Dust and dirt restrict airflow—and if the filter gets too clogged, the heat exchanger will overheat and shut off too quickly, and your house won’t warm up. If the blower is running but no heat is coming out, replace the filter.

How do you light a pilot?

  1. First, locate the pilot valve on the furnace. …
  2. Find the gas valve and turn it to the “off” position. …
  3. Turn the valve to the “pilot” position.
  4. Press and hold the reset button.
  5. If the reset button fails, ignite the lighter.

How do you start a furnace fire?

  1. Twist five or six sheets of newspaper into tight coils. …
  2. Pick eight to 10 pieces of kindling about 1/2 inch in diameter, and anywhere between 10 and 18 inches long. …
  3. Open the air vent fully to allow the most air into the furnace.
Should I hit the reset button on my furnace?

The purpose of the reset button on a furnace is to shut it down before it can trip your circuit breaker. The need for this may arise if the furnace becomes too hot, or if there is some sort of electrical system interruption. To get the furnace working again, you simply press the reset button back down again.

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How do you reset a furnace blower?

  1. Step 1: Turn off the power to the furnace. …
  2. Step 2: Remove the blower compartment cover. …
  3. Step 3: Make sure the blower is completely cooled off. …
  4. Step 4: Locate the reset button. …
  5. Step 5: Press the button in (assuming that this is your issue and that the button has popped).

Why is my central heat not working?

Two of the most common reasons your home central heating isn’t working are a dirty flame sensor and a dirty air filter. Clean the flame sensor with a steel wool pad and replace the air filter every 1-2 months. This will help prevent future problems.

When you turn your heat on for the first time?

When you turn on your heater for the first time, it is not uncommon to smell burning dust. As dust can settle on the heating components during the warm months of the year, it is inevitable that it is going to burn off when the unit heats up. You can open a window or two to get rid of the odor.

Do I turn my thermostat up or down for heat?

Generally speaking, your thermostat is a fairly simple device. This is particularly true if you are still using an older, manual thermostat with a dial and a slider. When you want more heat in the wintertime, you just turn up the thermostat and get the extra heat. … You turn the thermostat back down.

When should you turn the heat on at what temperature?

That said, experts recommend turning on the heat when the indoor temperature is below 64 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have children, seniors, or people who are sick that threshold might need to be a bit higher. Set the thermostat lower when you go to bed.

Why is my heat blowing cold air?

A clogged filter is one of the leading reasons for a heater blowing cold air. But even if you swap the air filter with a brand new one, dirt and debris can still be found within the unit. This could eventually lead to overheating. If your furnace looks pretty dirty, call an HVAC provider for a professional clean.

Why my furnace is blowing cold air?

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the filter is too dirty. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the furnace’s heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. When overheating, your furnace can trip a high limit switch, causing the furnace burners to shut off so that the heat exchanger does not crack.

How do you check the pilot light on a furnace?

  1. Locate the front cover panel on your furnace. It should be a little door that’s easily visible. …
  2. If your pilot light is on, it should be easy to see – your eyes will be drawn to the little flame.
  3. If you don’t see a flame, your pilot light is out.
  4. If there is a flame, check the color.

Why is my gas heater not lighting?

There are several possible reasons why your gas furnace pilot won’t light: an ongoing draft, a faulty thermocouple, an accumulation of dirt, or an inefficient supply.

How do I know if my furnace spark ignitor is bad?

  1. The Furnace Stops Running. When a furnace won’t run at all, check for a bad ignitor. …
  2. Your Furnace Blows Chilly Air. Unless you’ve set your thermostat to COOL, your furnace should not blow cold air. …
  3. Does Your Furnace Short Cycle? …
  4. A No Glow Ignitor. …
  5. We Can Replace Your Furnace Ignitor.

How long does it take for a pilot light to ignite?

It’s important to allow a bit of time to pass from turning off the pilot before attempting to relight it. This lets the gas dissipate from the chamber so you don’t ignite excess gas when relighting the pilot light. A minute to two minutes is sufficient.

How long should it take for furnace blower to start?

In normal operation, your furnace blower fan should come on 1.5 to 3 minutes after your thermostat calls for heat and should turn off several minutes after the heating cycle ends.

How do you ignite coal in a furnace?

  1. Start a small fire using some paper or dry kindling.
  2. Add small pieces of hardwood when the fire is burning hot. …
  3. When a decent bed of red wood embers builds up, start adding coal—small amounts at a time. …
  4. Continue adding small amounts of coal until there is a 1” to 2” bed of burning coal.

Can heat registers cause fires?

Fire, Freeze and Financial Hazard When a vent is blocked, less cool air flows across the heat exchanger, which then overheats, and expands, and cracks. … It’s unlikely but not impossible that blocking a heating vent and causing the furnace apparatus to overheat could cause a fire.

How do I turn my house central heating on?

Turn on the circuit breaker for the gas heater. Open the gas valve by turning the handle in line with the gas piping. Adjust the thermostat at least a few degrees above the room temperature to engage the gas heater. Wait approximately two minutes for the gas heater to blow warm air into the home.

How do you reset a furnace after overheating?

  1. Turn down the thermostat to its lowest setting.
  2. At the circuit breaker, turn off the power to the furnace.
  3. If this is a gas furnace, turn off the gas supply at the valve for the main gas pipe, but leave the pilot’s gas supply on.
  4. If the pilot light was out, light a match to relight it.

How do you bleed a furnace?

  1. Step 1: Fill the Fuel Tank. …
  2. Step 2: Hit the Reset Button. …
  3. Step 3: Turn off the Furnace. …
  4. Step 4: Collect Your Tools. …
  5. Step 5: Find the Bleeder Valve. …
  6. Step 6: Attach Nylon Tubing. …
  7. Step 7: Turn on the Furnace and Unscrew the Valve. …
  8. Step 8: Tighten the Valve.

How do I reset my furnace thermostat?

  1. Turn your thermostat off by switching it to the off position.
  2. Find the breaker that powers your HVAC system and turn it off.
  3. Wait 30 seconds and turn the breaker back on.
  4. Turn your thermostat back on.

Where is the reset button on a blower motor?

Examine the exposed components in the furnace cabinet to locate the blower motor; look for a small silver box positioned toward the top of the cabinet. Mounted just above this box you should see a small round component with a raised red or white button at the center; this is the blower reset switch.