If your furnace was working and suddenly shuts off, but won't turn back on again, it's a problem. If you are experiencing extreme temperatures at the time, your home will start to cool down in no time at all. If you don't have any other source of heat, such as a fireplace, you could end up needing to leave your home until you can get your furnace working again. Leaving your home in the cold can result in freezing pipes and other issues with your home. To help you repair your furnace, there are things you can do. Read on for helpful information to guide you.

Check The Thermostat

First, check to be sure the thermostat is running properly. If the thermostat is the problem, it's a quick and easy repair. Be sure nobody changed the setting on the thermostat to something other than heat, and check that nobody changed the temperature. If you have a digital thermostat, check that the thermostat has a reading on the screen. If it isn't lighting up or isn't making any adjustments when you touch the screen, it may need new batteries. Check the batteries in the thermostat and also check the wiring in the back of the thermostat. If none of these are working, you may need to change the thermostat. If it seems to be in good working order and it is on the proper setting, the problem is not with the thermostat and it's time to check the furnace.

Pull The Air Filter

One of the common problems with a furnace not working is a dirty air filter. If the air filter is too dirty, the air isn't able to flow through it to the furnace. Pull out the air filter and inspect it. If it's filthy, throw it away and replace it with a new one. Then you need to press the reset button on the furnace to turn it back on. If the air filter wasn't dirty, this may not have been the issue, and you need to continue to troubleshoot.

Inspect The Flame Sensor

Find the flame sensor and inspect it to see if it has a film on it. A dirty film can build up over time. When it gets dirty, the system will shut down after attempting to restart three times. If the flame sensor is dirty, take a piece of emory cloth and scrub it gently to remove the film. If the flame sensor wasn't dirty, it may be something more complicated.

If you have a problem with your furnace and you checked the above-mentioned items, you should call a professional HVAC technician for help to make the heating repair.