When the temperature in Oregon City, OR plummets, your furnace will keep you and everyone else in your household safe and warm. Although you might be familiar with the basic settings of this appliance, it’s also important to know how to reset it. When functional or electrical problems arise, your furnace’s reset button can save the day. Here are three times when you definitely want to use it.
1. Your Furnace Is Overheating
If your furnace is working harder than it should, it will eventually overheat. When operating temperatures rise too high, an overheating furnace can trip the circuit breaker.
If you believe your furnace is running hot, turn it off and troubleshoot the issue. The first thing to check is your HVAC air filter. If this component is coated in a thick accumulation of debris, your heating system will have a hard time moving air. This is also true if residents have sealed off any HVAC air vents throughout the building.
After you’ve put a fresh air filter in and opened up any closed air vents, you can reset your furnace and turn it on. If it overheats again, shut the entire system down and contact an HVAC technician.
2. There’s Just Been a Power Outage in Your Home
If your power goes off during a major storm, your heating system might not turn back on after electricity is restored. Although some heating systems immediately kick back into action after outages, others need a little help. Pressing your furnace’s reset button should do the trick. If it does not, there’s a possibility that your furnace sustained electrical damage as the result of a power surge.
3. Your Heating Oil Tank Has Run Dry
If you have an oil-fired furnace, the reset button will likely trip on its own when your heating oil supply is depleted. Running an oil-fired heater when the heating oil tank is near empty subjects it to unnecessary strain. Sediment and other impurities at the tank bottom can find their way into the system’s fuel lines.
When your next oil delivery arrives, your provider may need to bleed the system’s lines to keep your furnace protected and to ensure safe, efficient furnace operation. After the refill is complete, your delivery company can reset the furnace for you.
Reset buttons are triggered by furnace problems ranging from airflow issues to insufficient fuel. This feature keeps furnaces from sustaining serious and potentially permanent damage. Knowing where it’s at and when to use it is key to getting your heater back up and running after problems have been resolved.
At Anderson Heating & Cooling, we offer reliable heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services, including maintenance, repair, and installation. We’ve been proudly serving residents of Oregon City and the surrounding areas for many years. We also provide smart thermostats, water heaters, ductwork, and ductless heating and cooling systems. If your furnace needs professional maintenance, give us a call today!
