Furnace

Life is busy, between work, the kids, the gym…the last think you need is to worry about your furnace breaking down.

The first thing to do is to avoid any issues is to schedule your annual furnace tune-up.  Preventative maintenance is the best defense against any unforeseen calamities that can happen when you least expect it.  It is fairly typical that if something is going to go wrong, it will go wrong at the worst possible time.  Prevent this with preventative measures.

However, if you have not scheduled your tune-up yet and you have issues there are a few things you can do before calling in a professional (but then definitely schedule a tune-up!)

Here are a few common furnace issues you can typically fix on your own before calling for repair.  However, for any large issues or repairs you are not comfortable with it is best to give a professional a call.

Check Your Thermostat

This may seem silly, but there are usually a lot of calls made for this issue.  Verify your temperature settings are programmed in properly. Double check someone hasn’t switched off the heat accidentally.  Make sure you changed the settings after the warmer fall we had and that you have actually set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature for the cool weather.

Most thermostat units have batteries, if your unit takes batteries make sure the batteries have not died and/or replace them with fresh batteries to ensure the thermostat continues to talk to the furnace and tell it when to run.

Check the Power

The furnace needs electricity to run, even a gas unit.  The furnace is usually plugged into an electrical outlet, make sure the plug is still plugged into the electrical outlet.  Some units even have a light switch located above the power source that can flip the furnace on and off.  Make sure the switch hasn’t inadvertently been flipped to the “off” setting.  Finally, check the breaker box and make sure the breaker hasn’t been tripped (though if your breaker has tripped this may be a signal there is something more serious wrong.)

Check the Filter

A clogged filter can limit the flow of warm air from the furnace unit to the rest of the home.  Make sure you have changed the filter and installed a new, fresh, and clean filter so the heated air has the ability to flow through the vents.

Once you have verified that the thermostat is working and correctly programmed, the power is on, and the filter is fresh, and you realize you are still having issues with heating your home it is time to call in a professional.

Most HVAC companies will provide a free estimate to investigate the problem.  The best thing to do is call in a skilled HVAC technician to inspect the unit and make the necessary repairs.

TR Miller Heating and Cooling is committed to keeping your family comfortable this winter, we provide free in-home estimates to determine any issues and we have emergency hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We are ready to help you get your furnace up and running so you can enjoy your free time!

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Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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