This is the time of year when you’ll want to test your heating system and make sure it’s working so you’ll be all set to go when your home really needs to get warm.
If you adjusted your thermostat a few degrees above room temperature but your heating system doesn’t turn on, follow the steps below. It’s better to find out if you have a problem now instead of on that first cold night of fall when you want heat right away.
If your heating system isn’t turning on, check to see if the power switches to your oil boiler or oil furnace have been accidentally turned off.
If you find that the power switches for your heating system have been turned off by mistake, simply turn the electrical switches back to the “on” position and your problem may be solved.
If your power switches are not the problem, check your circuit breaker box next to see if all circuit switches are still in the “on” position. Flipping the proper switch to “on” again may be all you need to get your system running again.
However, please keep this in mind: a circuit breaker rarely ever trips for no reason. If this happens once and never happens again, it may be just a fluke. But if this happens more than once, you should contact a heating service professional since this could indicate a serious problem.
Many instances of heating systems not working can be traced to the thermostat, which sends a signal to your boiler or furnace to call for heat. But this signal may be interrupted if the wiring of the thermostat has begun to deteriorate. A build-up of dust inside your thermostat is another common reason why your thermostat is not operating correctly. Another thing to look for are weak or dead batteries in the thermostat.
If you don’t have any fuel in your heating oil tank, you’ll need to contact your heating oil provider for a delivery. Moving forward, if you call to order fuel, make sure to check your heating oil tank regularly. You should call when your oil tank gauge reaches the ¼ level. To save time and worry, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic heating oil delivery service. This will lower the chances of your tank running out of oil.
If you haven’t found the problem yet, press the reset button on the oil burner only once. Pushing it more than once could flood your system with oil, resulting in a costly repair. If the burner starts but stops again after a few minutes, you should call for service.
One more tip: you should always schedule preventive maintenance from your HVAC contractor so you don’t have to worry about your furnace or boiler breaking down during the winter. Regular maintenance service, also known as a heating tune-up, will also improve system efficiency, helping you to conserve heating oil during the winter.
It’s always better to get this service done now instead of waiting for the chilly weather to set in. Please check with your heating service company to find out if you’re due for tune-up service.