What To Do When Your Heat Won’t Start

As New England autumns go, it’s been a mild one so far in 2020 – so there’s a good chance your heating system has yet to get a full workout.

But we all know that cold weather is coming to Rhode Island and Massachusetts – and when it does, you may find that your heating equipment isn’t up to the challenge (especially if you haven’t scheduled your annual heating service yet).

If your furnace or boiler doesn’t answer the bell when the temperature drops this fall or winter, don’t worry – our experts are only a phone call away, able to handle just about any kind of heating system repair there is.

But before you pick up that phone, it’s a good idea to make sure the problem isn’t something you can fix yourself.

Heating System Troubleshooting Tips

If your furnace or boiler won’t start, please try these steps before you call for service:

1. Check to see if you have enough heating oil
2. Make sure all power switches associated with your heating equipment are in the “on” or “start” position.
3. Make sure the temperature on your thermostat is set at least five degrees above the current room temperature, and the system switch is on the HEAT or AUTO position. The fan switch should be set to ON (for continuous airflow) or AUTO (which runs the fan only when hot air is being produced).
4. Check the pilot light, if your equipment has one.
5. If you have a forced (or warm) air system (a furnace with ductwork), check the air filter if airflow from your vent seems low; also make sure that vents are not blocked.
6. Reset the red burner switch – but only to it once, or you may flood your system with oil).

If you take all of the above and your heat still won’t come on, contact us and we will send a technician to fix the problem and get your heating system back on track ASAP.

For fast heating repairs done right the first time, trust the pros at Discount Oil Brokers. Contact us today for expert heating service in northern RI and southeastern MA.