Sometimes, during a cold snap, your furnace might suddenly quit. There is no need to panic and call a service professional right away. Your furnace or heat pump might simply need a reset. This is something you can do yourself to get your system up and running again. Here is how you do it.
Locating the Reset Button
The first thing you should do is to locate the reset button. Its location depends on the model of your furnace. It will be either yellow or red. If the furnace experiences an electrical interruption, the button should pop out and no longer be flush with the unit. When pressing the reset button, do not press it more than once, or it could engage the safety lock, and you will need to call a professional to turn the unit back on.
Resetting an Electric Furnace
An electric furnace is the easiest to reset. The first thing you should do is to turn off the power switch or the circuit breaker. Locate the reset button on your furnace. Press and hold the button for about 30 seconds.
On some furnaces, you will hear a click when the furnace has reset. When you turn the power back on, it should start working again. If it fails to reset or flips off again quickly, then it might be an indication that the unit needs to be repaired.
If the furnace does not keep running and you have to reset it several times in a row, it might be overheating or have an electrical issue. Other issues can cause this including a clogged air filter.
Resetting a Gas Furnace
Resetting a gas furnace is a little trickier. You must first make sure the pilot light is out. Next, turn your thermostat down to the lowest possible temperature. For gas furnaces with electric ignition, turn off the power supply or circuit breaker.
You can now turn off the main gas supply but allow the gas supply to the pilot light to remain open. Sometimes, on older models that do not have a reset button, turning off the gas supply to all but the pilot light will reset the system.
You should allow any gas to dissipate before turning the unit back on to avoid a fire hazard. Also, you should turn the gas back on quickly and not allow it to build up. If you get interrupted, it is best to turn the gas off again and wait another five minutes before attempting to turn it on again.
Once the system is reset, you can relight the pilot or use the electronic ignition. Turn the power back on, and then, open the main gas line. You can now find the reset button and press it for 30 seconds or until you hear a click. You can now turn the temperature back up, and the unit should be working again.
Before resetting the furnace, make sure to note if there is any smell of natural gas in the area. If there is, leave the area immediately, and call a professional. Some things that can cause the gas furnace to need to be reset include fuel problems, overheating, a clogged air filter, or a dirty motor. A clogged flame sensor can also cause it to shut down. Once again, if the furnace will not reset or relight or continues to shut down, it is an indication of a more serious problem, and you should call a professional.
Resetting an Oil Furnace
If you have an oil furnace, many problems can cause the furnace to need reset. When the problem was caused by a power outage, all you need to do is to locate the reset button and press it for 30 seconds. The first thing you should do is make sure the fuel tank is not empty.
When your tank runs dry, you will need to bleed out the line after you have the tank refilled. To bleed out the line, look for a small black box called a “bleeder valve.” Place a basin or tub below it. Turn the furnace on, and allow the fuel to run into the container until there is a steady supply of fuel with no breaks and air bubbles.
You can now close the valve and press the reset button. You can put the extra fuel from bleeding the line back into the tank. Your oil furnace should now be running normally. If you cannot get the furnace to reset, then it is time to call a professional.
Resetting Your Heat Pump
Resetting a heat pump is a little different from resetting a furnace. The first thing to do is to turn your thermostat to the lowest setting. Now, go outside to the unit. If it shows a green light, the unit is functioning properly. A yellow or red light means there is a problem.
Next, turn off the power switches on the unit. Sometimes, this will be on the unit itself or a nearby wall. Now, go to the circuit breakers, and turn off the electrical system. On some units, this alone will reset the unit. Wait about five minutes for this to happen.
You may now turn the unit back on starting in the opposite order that you used to power it down. First, turn on the electrical breakers. Then, turn on the power on the unit. Finally, turn the temperature up. This should get the unit working properly again.
Several things can cause the heat pump to reset. These include power outages, electrical issues, or issues with the thermostat. Dirty or clogged filters, vegetation, or anything that blocks airflow can cause these issues. If the unit will not power up again or keep running, then it is time to call a professional to see what the problem is and get it repaired.
Call the HVAC Experts
Resetting your furnace or heat pump is easy, but if you have any doubts or are concerned that there might be another issue, then it is best to call a professional. It is never a good idea to attempt any repairs other than changing a filter or resetting the unit yourself. The best thing to do is to have your unit maintained regularly to avoid any problems that might cause it to fail.
Sometimes, things happen that cause the unit to reset that cannot be avoided, like power outages or brownouts, but many issues can be avoided by taking a few precautions and having your unit inspected and serviced by a professional. Keeping the unit maintained according to the schedule can help prevent the unit from failing when you need it most, and it can help you get more years of reliable service from it.
Trusted Heating & Cooling provides expert HVAC installation, ductwork installation and repair, and we can solve your furnace and heat pump needs. Residents trust us because we have been in the business for three generations serving Austin, TX, and the surrounding areas. We can help with your ductless systems, indoor air quality, furnace replacements, and tune-ups. We believe in serving our customers with integrity, and we treat you the way we would want to be treated. We also provide emergency service. Call us at Trusted Heating & Cooling at our Ranch Road location today.
