Verify the fan is set to work at the thermostat before troubleshooting other problems. It's a frustrating experience to turn on your furnace, only to discover no heat comes through the vents. A number of events can lead to this problem, from those that are simple to fix to complicated mechanical repairs or replacements. To determine the extent of your furnace's blower problems, follow some troubleshooting tips to see if you can resolve the issue on your own. Power Check your furnace for power. Locate the service panel or fuse box for the home in the garage, basement or exterior of the home. Furnaces are wired to their own circuits in most homes. An electric outage, storm or power surge through the electrical system of the house can cause the furnace's circuit breaker to trip or the fuse to blow. Before you do anything else, eliminate power as the culprit when troubleshooting your home furnace blower problems. Thermostat Check the setting on the thermostat. The fan must be on at the thermostat for it to operate.

Adjust the setting to "Fan" or "Auto." When you select "On," the fan stays on even when the heat is off. If the fan stays on continuously, change its setting to "Auto." Also check to ensure that the thermostat is set 3 to 5 degrees above the room temperature, or else the furnace won't come on at all. If your thermostat is digitally controlled by batteries, ensure the batteries are functional. Filters and Vents Before progressing to more complicated furnace blower issues, check the vents in the house to ensure they are open. Locate the cold air return to remove the filter for examination. A dirty or clogged filter, or one that is installed in the wrong direction, can adversely affect the air that comes through the ventilation ducts. There will be an arrow on the top of the filter that shows the direction the air must flow through it. Place the arrow toward the ductwork. Blower Motor After you've completed all the previous steps, you will need to ascertain if the problem is with the blower motor itself.

Verify the furnace door is closed fully, as an open door will cause the furnace not to work. A switch inside the door compartment engages when the door is closed properly. Turn off the furnace at the circuit breaker. Locate the blower motor and examine its belt to check for cracks; see if it's frayed or broken. Simply replace the belt to get the blower motor operational again. Use caution, but check the blower motor to see if it is hot. A hot blower motor, which indicates an overheating problem, will require replacement. To fix a broken blower motor, you will need the services of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician. References HVAC Parts Outlet: Troubleshooting Troubleshoot a Blower or Condenser Fan Motor. Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionIn addition to asking how to change a home air filter, many homeowners wonder how to properly insert a furnace air filter. Although on the surface the answer might seem idiot-proof - just take the old one out and put the new one in - it's sufficiently confusing to address here.

You see, there is a definite wrong way to insert a home air filter that can hamper your furnace’s efficiency and cost you money (see Can Putting the Air Filter in Your Furnace the Wrong Way Damage It?). Running your furnace with a clogged filter can have a similarly negative effect. Clean air filters matter. It's important to routinely monitor them so that, when they become clogged with all the dirt, dust and debris that they filter out of the air you breathe, you can respond with a clean filter for better indoor air quality and improved energy efficiency. jual ac portable sharpWhen the air filter is clogged, your furnace will strain harder to remove these contaminants, increasing your utility bills and shortening your HVAC equipment’s life. trane home ac condenserJust like a car's air filter, a dirty furnace filter starves the engine in your furnace for air.frigidaire ac heater wall unit

In fact, a government study indicates that replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your central air conditioner's or furnace's energy consumption between 5 and 15 percent. >> Here's how to choose the best furnace air filter. By the way, if you aren't sure exactly when to change your filter, invest in an electronic air filter monitor. It will eliminate all guesswork on your part. Ok, so you have realized that now is the time to change your air filter. You have the new one in front of you and the old one still in the furnace. 1.  On your new filter, find the arrow that indicates the proper air flow direction. This tends to confuse everyone more than anything else. That arrow must always face toward the furnace and away from the return duct that carries the air in need of heating or cooling. Forced air furnaces recirculate air throughout a home: pushing air (cool or heated) in and pulling spent air back in for another cycle. Tip: It’s a good idea to draw the airflow direction arrow with a permanent marker on the actual furnace housing or ductwork.

Ideally, you'd indicate the airflow direction and filter size (16x25x4  Airflow→) 2.  Slide the new filter in with the arrow pointing toward the furnace, and you are done. Here's a helpful 1:42 minute video from Liberty Homes titled Home Maintenance: How To Change Your Furnace Filter which reviews air flow direction and how properly to insert your home air filter. Replacing your air filter is not difficult as long as you understand that air flows from your ducts, through the filter, and into the furnace. The arrow on the filter always should point toward the furnace. What have you found most helpful when you last changed your furnace filter? How did you ensure you were inserting it properly? Let us know so others can learn from you.Why is my heater AC blower not working? Furnace blowers often fail to work when there is a problem with the power supply, thermostat, filters, vents or the motor of the blower. A homeowner can troubleshoot problems with the vent himself or call a professional to take a look at the unit.

How do you troubleshoot a furnace motor blower that is not turning on? How should you maintain a gas furnace? How do you handle a furnace blower that is making noise? Reasons the power might be out on a furnace include power surges, storms and electrical outages. Checking the fuse box or service panel for the HVAC unit first is the best starting point for malfunctioning surface blowers. Incorrect thermostat settings can also cause a furnace blower not to work properly. If the thermostat isn't set at least three degrees above the room temperature, the furnace is not likely to turn on. Homeowners who have digital thermostats should check to see that the batteries work. Closed vents and dirty, clogged filters can lead to problems with a furnace blower. It is also possible that the filter was installed in the wrong direction. Homeowners should check the filters at the cold air return to ensure the arrow on the filter is pointing toward the ductwork. The door of the furnace blower motor should be closed in order for it to work properly.

Other problems with the blower motor that can cause the furnace blower not to work include cracks in the belt and overheating. Where can you purchase a replacement blower motor for a Carrier furnace? , as of 2015. What is the difference between variable-speed and multi-speed furnace blowers? A variable-speed furnace blower adjusts its speed dynamically based on the temperature, while a multi-speed blower has a finite number of motor blower spee... How do you safely clean air vents yourself? Air vents can be safely cleaned by dusting them, unscrewing the vent covers, vacuuming the air ducts, screwing the covers back on and changing the air filt... What makes an air conditioner blower not come on? An air conditioner blower that won't come on is normally caused by a problem with the thermostat, breakers, micro-switches or the blower motor itself. How do Burnham hot water boilers heat a home? How do Legacy propane infrared plaque heaters work?