You’ll need to turn on your furnace to keep your home warm when the cold weather arrives. But do you know how to turn on the furnace? Homeowners prepare their furnaces for use as the winter approaches, which may entail cleaning your heating system. It is not an easy operation to turn on a furnace for the first time. You must turn on the furnace, adjust the thermostat, and, if necessary, troubleshoot any heating problems.
This blog will guide you on turning on the furnace so that your home is warm and comfortable all winter.
Preparing for Setup
Check the User Manual
There is often a sticker on the front access panel with instructions for the primary heating system’s functioning, including how to ignite the pilot. Without routine maintenance, the heater could not work as well. Fires, damage to property, explosions, and human injuries may result from poor maintenance. As a result, you must take extra care when turning on the furnace for the first time.
Consult the user handbook for assistance if your gas furnace lacks an instruction sign, or you have trouble reading it. If the user guide isn’t accessible, try searching online for directions.
Check The Space Around The Furnace
Be sure to clear the area around the furnace before beginning. Dirt and dust will accumulate over time, so cleaning the area before starting up the furnace is essential.
In addition, check for any flammable materials that may have been left near the furnace. Gasoline, propane, cleaning supplies, and other flammable liquids and gases can cause fires if they’re too close to the furnace.
Keep anything that could catch fire at least three feet from the furnace.
Resume Power Supply If Required
If the furnace isn’t receiving power, it won’t turn on. Check the fuse box or breaker to see if a blown fuse or tripped breaker is the problem if you’re not getting power to the furnace. If the power is out, you’ll need to wait until it comes back on before you can turn on the furnace.
Turning On Pilot of the Furnace
Inspect The Pilot Flame
You should examine the flame to discover how to switch on the furnace. You should see the pilot light in the manual. Generally, the pilot light shouldn’t be dark yellow or be divided into many flames. The flame shouldn’t sway or flicker, either.
Modify The Pilot Flame If Needed
You can use a screwdriver to turn the knob if the pilot light needs to be adjusted. Be sure to turn the knob in the direction that will make the flame bigger. After making adjustments, recheck the pilot light to see if it is now blue and steady.
The furnace determines the pilot light’s appropriate intensity. Generally speaking, the flame should be constant and a half to 2 inches tall. After making necessary adjustments, if the pilot light’s condition is still dubious, switch off the electricity and light it again.
Lighting The Pilot Light
Once you have ascertained that you have already prepared the pilot light, you can continue to light it.
Locate the knob first. Turn the knob to the “Pilot” position and press and hold down the knob while using a long lighter to ignite the pilot light. Hold the button for 30 to 60 seconds after igniting the pilot light. It will allow the thermostat to heat up and turn on the furnace.
Release the button once the furnace begins to come on. If you’ve done everything correctly, you should see the pilot light stay lit.
Turn On The Furnace
Activate The System
After the pilot light is on, you can turn on the furnace. Find the switch that says “On/Off” or “Heat” and flip it to the ON position. The furnace will begin blowing warm air into the room once it’s on.
If the furnace doesn’t turn on, check to see if the pilot light is still lighting up. You’ll need to relight it and try again if it’s not. If the pilot light lights up, but the furnace still doesn’t turn on, there may be a problem with the furnace itself. In this case, you’ll need to call a professional to come and take a look.
Set The Thermostat
After the furnace is on, you’ll need to set the thermostat to the desired temperature. Find the thermostat and turn it to the warmest setting possible. Then, slowly turn it down to the temperature you want your home to be. The furnace will kick on and off to maintain your set temperature.
You’re all set! Once you’ve followed these steps, your furnace should be up and running and keeping your home nice and warm.
