Menu Close

What do you do when your oil furnace stops working?

Jim Brown

What do you do when your oil furnace stops working?

Truth is, as important as it is to keeping your home comfy and warm, a furnace is actually a pretty simple machine.

  1. Fuel (Heating Oil) + Spark = Flame and Heat.
  2. Check the thermostat.
  3. Check the electricity.
  4. Check the Emergency Shut Off Switch.
  5. Check the heating oil tank.
  6. If your furnace still doesn’t start.

How do I reset my oil furnace?

The reset button is typically located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. When should I press the reset button? First, you need to locate your circuit breaker and switch off the power supply to the furnace. Then, if you see that the button is up, push it to reset your furnace.

Why do I have to keep hitting the reset button on my oil furnace?

If you have a gas or oil furnace, the reset button may trip if you are out of fuel. If a furnace isn’t receiving enough airflow, it may overheat and trigger the reset button to trip. Make sure to clean or replace the air filters and keep the air vents open enough for proper airflow.

What to check if your furnace isn’t working?

Furnace Not Working? The 5 Most Common Causes [2019]

  1. Step #1: Check your Air Filter.
  2. Step #2: Check Your Pilot Light.
  3. Step #3: Check Your Thermostat.
  4. Step #4: Check The Power.
  5. Step #5: Check Your Gas Supply.

Can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up?

The Pilot Light (Faulty Ignition Sensor) The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.

Should I hit the reset button on my furnace?

Don’t hit “reset” more than twice. The process pumps oil into the burner chamber, where it can accumulate if you have no ignition. Then when the furnace finally does start, it can do so explosively. So if the button won’t reset, or quickly pops up again, it’s time to call a professional repair service.

Why does my oil furnace keep turning itself off?

A common cause of this is a problem with the motor bearings. Don’t try and fix this problem yourself — instead, speak to an expert in oil furnace repair. A furnace can also make intermittent sounds like it’s turning itself on and off. If this is the case, take a look at the air filter.

What should I do if my oil furnace is not running?

Shut down the furnace, check the belt, and put just a few drops of electric-motor oil in any oiling ports on your firing assembly fan (some sealed units run oil free, so you may not have ports). The furnace sounds like it’s running intermittently: Check the air filter first. Then check your oil supply and filter.

What are the most common problems with an oil furnace?

Common issues include blown fuses, exposed circuit breakers or damaged wires. However, it’s best to call the experts in to help find the actual cause. Possible causes: A blockage in the furnace, lack of draft, warped/cracked gasket or furnace could need adjusting. Possible solutions: Check for excessive heat coming from the combustion chamber.

Can a broken ignitor cause an oil furnace to not heat?

Ignitors can easily become clogged or broken—leaving you without heat. Fortunately, oil furnace ignitor problems are relatively easy to troubleshoot. Follow our guide below to troubleshoot your oil furnace ignitor problems, or contact us today for professional oil furnace repair.

What do you do when your oil furnace stops working?

Jim Brown

What do you do when your oil furnace stops working?

Check your furnace or boiler. Simply installing a clean filter can resolve the problem. Be sure all registers are open and not obstructed. Next, look for the reset button on the furnace control module. If it is popped, the problem with your furnace not running could be fuel related.

What are some of the problems that occur with oil burners?

The following are some of the most common issues that a service contractor addresses when troubleshooting an oil furnace, along with the possible cures.

  • BURNER DOESN’T OPERATE.
  • BURNER IS OPERATIONAL BUT WON’T FIRE.
  • BURNER SMOKES.
  • BURNER CYCLES OFTEN.
  • EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION.
  • ODORS OR FUMES.
  • CHIMNEY SMOKES CONTINUOUSLY.

How do you know if your oil burner is bad?

To double check if the start switch is bad, pull up on the motor shaft and note if the resistance drops and your meter reads the proper 2-4 ohms. If this happens, the start switch is most definitely bad and motor should be replaced.

Where is the reset button on oil burner?

The reset button is typically located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. When should I press the reset button? First, you need to locate your circuit breaker and switch off the power supply to the furnace. Then, if you see that the button is up, push it to reset your furnace.

Why does my oil burner need to be reset?

If you have a gas or oil furnace, the reset button may trip if you are out of fuel. This fix is as simple as making sure there is fuel in either the gas or oil tank. A clogged or dirty air filter may cause the furnace to trip.

Why is my oil burner still not firing?

If you have done all the checks and the burner is still not firing, then you may need to call on a professional to assess the problem. For any of the following faults to be diagnosed/tested for an oil boiler engineer would be required. Oil pump failure of blocked filter, or faulty coil.

What to do if your oil furnace is not working?

If the thermostat is working, take a look at the fuel tank to get a real idea of the levels of fuel and rule out low fuel as a possible cause. The air filter can also become blocked by dirt and dust, so take it out and make sure it’s clean. Air filters should be checked regularly because accumulated dirt can lead to poor efficiency.

Why does my furnace keep turning itself on and off?

A furnace can also make intermittent sounds like it’s turning itself on and off. If this is the case, take a look at the air filter. If it looks okay, examine the oil supply.

Why is my oil diffuser not working properly?

The Power Source Could Not Be Working Another surprisingly common reason why your oil diffuser appears not to be working right is the power source that it is relying on is not working. In most cases where a faulty power source is an issue, the diffuser is perfectly fine and works great once you plug it into a power outlet that works properly.