Your electric furnace stopped working. You turn on the heat, but cold air blows through your vents. The issue might be simple to fix.
A tripped breaker can stop your furnace. A dirty filter can shut it down. The thermostat might need new batteries. Let’s figure out what’s wrong with your electric furnace.
Start With Your Thermostat
Check the basics first. Is your thermostat set to HEAT? Make sure the temperature setting is higher than your current room temperature.
Look at the display screen. If it’s blank or dim, your batteries might be dead. Replace them and see if that fixes the problem. Smart thermostats need Wi-Fi to work properly, so check your connection.
Does your fan run but the air feels cool? Your furnace isn’t heating. The blower works, but something else is wrong.
Check Your Electrical Panel
Electric furnaces need electricity to create heat. A tripped breaker stops everything. Find your home’s circuit breaker box and look for switches that flipped to the “off” position.
Flip the breaker all the way off, then back on. Did it stay on? Does it trip again right away? You have an electrical short or overload problem. Stop trying to reset it and call a professional.
Replace That Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter causes major problems for your furnace. When air can’t flow through properly, your system overheats. The safety switch kicks in and shuts everything down to prevent damage.
Pull out your air filter and hold it up to the light. Can you see through it? If not, it’s too dirty. Replace it immediately. Gray, dusty filters block airflow and make your furnace work harder.
Clean filters help your system run better. They spread heat evenly throughout your home. Change your filter every one to three months when you’re using your furnace a lot.
Look at the Heating Elements
Your furnace might turn on but produce no heat. A heating element burned out. Electric furnaces have multiple heating elements that work like big light bulbs. Over time, they fail and need replacement.
The limit switch can cause this problem. The limit switch prevents your furnace from overheating. If it breaks, your furnace won’t run at all. You’ll need a technician to test and replace these parts safely.
Check the Safety Switches
Electric furnaces have built-in safety features. One safety switch checks if the front panel is closed properly. If the door isn’t latched, the furnace won’t turn on.
Open your furnace door and close it again firmly. Make sure it clicks into place. Some furnaces have reset buttons inside the blower area. Check your owner’s manual before pushing any buttons.
Clean the Blower Motor Area
Dust and dirt pile up inside your furnace after running your air conditioner all summer. The buildup makes your blower work poorly or creates weird noises.
Turn off the power to your furnace first. Use a vacuum to gently clean around the blower motor and fan blades. Getting rid of this dust helps your furnace run quieter and heat your home better.
When You Need a Professional
You tried all these fixes and your electric furnace still isn’t heating? Call an HVAC technician. Some problems require special tools and electrical knowledge to fix safely.
Common repairs that need a professional include:
- Broken heating elements
- Burnt wires or loose electrical connections
- Bad sequencer or relay parts
- Broken limit switch or thermostat
These aren’t DIY projects. Working with electricity is dangerous. A licensed technician can diagnose the real problem quickly and fix it correctly.
Get Your Heat Back Fast in Sunnyvale
Bolton Heating & Air fixes electric furnaces in Sunnyvale, TX and the surrounding areas. Our licensed technicians find the problem fast and get your home warm again. We often complete repairs the same day you call.
We work on all major brands like Trane, Goodman, Lennox, and Carrier. You’ll get upfront pricing with no surprises. We tell you exactly what’s wrong and what it costs to fix before we start any work.