Furnace Not Working? A Colorado Springs Homeowner's No-Heat Checklist

Start with the simple stuff

Many no-heat calls along the Front Range turn out to be simple fixes. Before scheduling a furnace repair, run through these checks. They take less than ten minutes.

• Thermostat set to HEAT and a few degrees above room temperature
• Fresh thermostat batteries (a blank screen is a common culprit)
• Furnace power switch, which looks like a light switch near the unit, turned ON
• Breaker for the furnace not tripped
• Furnace filter not clogged. Dusty, dry Colorado air loads filters fast
• Furnace door panel fully closed (a safety switch stops the furnace if it's loose)

Why Colorado furnaces fail in cold snaps

At 6,000+ feet, furnaces work harder and burn differently than they do at sea level. Cold snaps that drop Colorado Springs below zero overnight expose weak igniters, dirty flame sensors, and failing inducer motors.

High-efficiency furnaces also vent through PVC pipes that can ice over or get blocked by drifting snow. After a storm, check that the intake and exhaust pipes outside are clear.

When to stop and call a technician

Turn the furnace off and call right away if you notice any of these:

• A gas smell. Leave the house and call your gas utility first
• Your carbon monoxide alarm is sounding
• Burning, electrical, or metallic smells
• Repeated short cycling: it starts, runs briefly, then shuts off
• Loud banging, grinding, or screeching noises