When a Gilbert Furnace Will Not Start

Gilbert heating systems go months without running, and the first cold night of the year is when that shows. Most furnace repair in Gilbert involves one of a few parts that wear or get dirty while the system sits idle.

The Usual Suspects

  1. Flame sensor coated with dust, so the burners shut off seconds after lighting.
  2. Hot surface igniter cracked with age, so the burners never light.
  3. Inducer motor worn or seized, so the furnace never tries to light.
  4. High-limit switch tripping because a dirty filter or blocked return lets the furnace overheat.
  5. Blower capacitor weakened, so heat builds up but no air reaches the rooms.

Before You Call

Check the thermostat is set to heat with fresh batteries, the furnace switch is on, the breaker has not tripped and the filter is clean. If it still will not run, leave it off.

Safety

If you smell gas, leave and call your gas utility from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get out and call 911. We check burners, flue and the heat exchanger area on every visit.

Repair or Replace

Most Gilbert furnaces are original to homes built since the 1990s. Small parts are routine repairs. A failed inducer, board or heat exchanger on a 20-year-old furnace is where we price a replacement next to the repair, so you can decide with both numbers.

Keep It Ready for Winter

A furnace that sits idle for most of the year benefits from a short check each fall. Replace the filter, make sure nothing is stored against the unit, and run the heat for a few minutes on a mild day in October. A burning-dust smell for the first few minutes is normal. A smell that lasts, or any rattle or banging, is worth a call before the first cold night.

Common Questions

Do you work on heat pumps too?

Yes. See heat pump repair in Gilbert.

Can you come out after hours?

Our phone line is open 24 hours. Call and describe what the system is doing.

Book a Repair

Adams Refrigeration has repaired heating and cooling since 1947, under Arizona ROC 245268. Call (602) 269-6447 or schedule an appointment.

More in Gilbert

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