Troubleshooting Tips When You Have No Heat

Posted: December 2, 2019

Some things bear repeating. So, as the temperatures keep dropping and winter creeps up on us, we think this is a good time to do a review of what to look for in case your heating system suddenly conks out.

5 things to look for if you have an oil boiler or oil furnace

1. Check to see if you have oil in your storage tank.
2. Ensure all system power switches are in their “on” positions.
3. See if a fuse has blown or a circuit breaker has been tripped..
4. Make sure your thermostat is set above room temperature and to HEAT. Check the batteries also.
5. Press the reset button on the oil burner only once.. Pushing it more than once could flood your system with oil, resulting in a costly repair. If the burner starts but stops again after a few minutes, you should call us for service.

What to know if you have a propane or natural gas furnace or boiler

Begin by checking fuses/circuit breakers and make sure your thermostat is properly set. If you have a propane furnace or boiler, check the fuel level in your tank. It should never be below 10%.

There is also a reset button on gas furnaces that pops up when there is a problem; the button is designed to restart the blower motor if necessary. Your furnace may have shut down because the motor overheated or the electric supply got interrupted. If that happens, a switch in the furnace will “trip,” usually before the circuit breaker does. The reset button will then pop up.

If you have an older gas furnace or boiler, the pilot light may have been extinguished. If you’re not comfortable trying to light it on your own, please reach out to us for assistance.

If you have a modern gas heating system, it will have a more reliable electronic ignition instead of a pilot light. When an electronic ignition switch fails, the heating system will not start up. Dust and dirt in the area, along with a dirty air filter, may also cause a malfunction. Faulty control boards and faulty safety switches are also responsible for system failure. Do not attempt to try to repair an electronic ignition system. This is a job best left to a professional.

Count on Wilson Oil and Propane to provide 24/7 emergency heating service for our customers

If you have not been able to figure out the problem, please call us for service. Once we have determined that a service call is required, we will get someone to your home as soon as possible. Our goal is to keep our customers warm and comfortable all winter long, whether outdoor temperatures are “normal” or in the single digits. If you have a sudden breakdown and you are a Wilson customer, you can rely on us to be there to get you warm and comfortable again.

For additional reference, please take a look at our troubleshooting guide.

Stay warm and be safe!