To make it safely through winter in Colorado Springs, CO, you must have a functional heater. If you have a no-heat situation in your home, you may be able to correct it with troubleshooting. Knowing how to resolve minor problems before calling for heating service can save you money.
Start Here for Safety
The first step in no-heat troubleshooting is distinguishing between minor problems and serious safety issues. This is especially important for Colorado Springs locals who rely on gas-fired heating systems.
If You Smell Gas or See Smoke
Natural gas is naturally odorless and colorless. To make it detectable, gas companies add mercaptan. This gives gas a distinctive rotten-egg or rotten-cabbage odor. If you smell natural gas, exit your home. Contact your gas company and schedule heating repair service right away.
Smoke is also a sign of danger. If you see or smell smoke in or around your furnace, turn this appliance off and call our Colorado Springs HVAC service to schedule heating repairs immediately.
If a Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of fuel combustion. Prolonged CO exposure can prove deadly. Your gas furnace has an exhaust vent that routes CO out of your home. If your CO alarm goes off, you may have an exhaust vent obstruction, a cracked heat exchanger, or other safety issues. Rather than troubleshooting, exit the building and call for help.
No-Heat Troubleshooting Checklist
After ruling out serious safety issues, take these steps to quickly troubleshoot your problem:
- Check thermostat set to “HEAT,” not “FAN”
- Verify setpoint above room temperature
- If needed, replace thermostat batteries
- Make sure air handler switch is on
- Open any closed air vents
- Make sure no furnishings block air vents
- Check that the gas supply is on
- Verify other gas appliances are working
- Rule out startup delays by waiting a full cycle
Common Winter Issues in Colorado Springs Homes
Many Colorado Springs locals rely on high-efficiency furnaces or heat pumps for winter heating. Gas furnaces are common heating solutions in the area as well. Troubleshooting common no-heat issues in Colorado Springs often requires an understanding of the specific types of heaters.
High-Efficiency Furnace Condensate Line Problems
Also known as high-efficiency furnaces, condensing furnaces have tightly sealed combustion chambers and two heat exchangers. This allows them to extract heat from combustion gases, minimizing wasted energy. They also have condensate lines and drains. While condensing furnaces don’t extract excess moisture from the air, they do harness and remove combustion-related moisture.
Condensing furnaces funnel moisture out of homes via their condensate drains. These drains are prone to developing algal blooms, mold, slime, and biofilms. If your indoor air feels muggy or heavy or if you have pooling water around your furnace, a condensate line blockage is likely the cause. HVAC technicians can clear and disinfect this drain to solve the problem.
Intake or Exhaust Vent Blockages From Snow or Debris
Exhaust vents route carbon monoxide and other combustion gases out of the home. In Colorado Springs’ frigid winters, these warm spaces are highly attractive to critters. Repeated CO alarms could indicate that birds or other animals are nesting in your exhaust vent. Technicians can inspect your exhaust and clear out nesting materials.
During times of heavy snow, both exhaust vents and intake vents can develop blockages from built-up snow. You can resolve these on your own by learning where these vents are and removing heavy snow loads as needed.
Heat Pump Defrost Cycle vs. a True No-Heat Issue
High-performance heat pumps have built-in countermeasures for icing. When the outside temperature dips too low, they automatically enter defrost cycles to remove frost from their coils. If your heat pump is on and active but isn’t producing or distributing heat, it could be in defrost mode.
Signs to Stop Troubleshooting and Call for Service
When basic troubleshooting doesn’t work, schedule service right away. Timely interventions can prevent minor furnace issues from escalating. Running your furnace with unchecked issues creates excessive operational stress. This stress accelerates normal wear and could lead to a premature breakdown.
There are several clear signs that you should stop troubleshooting and get help:
- Short-cycling
- Loud, jarring sounds
- Persistant and pervasive burning smells
- Pooling water around the air handler
- Frequent circuit breaker trips
- Failed startup following troubleshooting
When working as they should, furnaces should run approximately two to three heating cycles each hour. Each of these heating cycles should last between 10 and 20 minutes. When heating cycles last just two to five minutes and when furnaces run more than five heating cycles an hour, this is short-cycling.
While there are several one-off events that can trip your furnace’s circuit breaker, repeated circuit breaker trips typically indicate electrical safety issues or other hazards. If your furnace repeatedly trips its breaker, it may have problems with its electrical connections, wiring, or venting system. Frequent circuit breaker trips can also indicate overheating.
Failed startup following troubleshooting may indicate problems with your furnace’s venting system, its ability to safely combust fuel, or its heat exchanger. When fuel combustion fails or is incomplete, furnaces shut down to protect residents from carbon monoxide exposure.
How to Prevent the Next No-Heat Situation
Improper use, poor maintenance, and general furnace aging can all lead to sudden no-heat situations. The good news is that you can prevent many maintenance-related problems with minimal effort.
Schedule Seasonal Heating Maintenance
All HVAC equipment types need professional maintenance at least once each year. During these visits, HVAC technicians inspect and clean all heater components. They lubricate moving parts, replace worn parts, and tighten loose connections. Tune-up service is also an opportunity for HVAC technicians to spot and correct minor and developing issues. Pre-season tune-ups decrease the risk of mid-winter heating emergencies. They also keep homeowners compliant with the terms of their HVAC equipment manufacturers’ warranties.
The best time for professional heating maintenance is just before winter arrives. If you use a heat pump for year-round climate control, have it serviced once in spring and again in fall.
Replace Your Furnace Filter on a Consistent Schedule
All the air that your furnace draws in for heating must pass through its air filter. Heavy filter buildup inhibits airflow and can cause problems such as short-cycling and overheating. Dirty filters can also lead to increased humidity, burnt, dusty odors, poor air quality, and more.
You should inspect your standard air filter monthly and replace it every one to three months. Staying on top of this basic but essential maintenance is an excellent way to avoid no-heat emergencies.
Schedule Heating Repair in Colorado Springs
Sometimes, even diligent maintenance can’t prevent the need for a heating repair. Whether your furnace has age-related, wear-related, or manufacturing-related problems, Breathe Easy Heating & Air can help. As a full-service, family-owned and operated HVAC company, we proudly serve Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities. You might even be able to save money on services with some of our online offers, which we update regularly.
We offer expert heating repair service, emergency HVAC repairs, and easy online scheduling. If basic troubleshooting doesn’t solve your heating issue, contact Breathe Easy Heating & Air to schedule heating service!
