Have you ever wondered how the reset button on your furnace works? What exactly does it do? The purpose of the reset button is to shut the furnace down before it can trip your circuit breaker. The need for this may arise if the furnace becomes too hot, or if there is some sort of electrical system interruption.
Typically, the problem does not go any further than the reset button popping. Then, to get the furnace working again, you simply press the reset button back down again. However, if you press the reset button and your furnace turns off again, continuing to press the reset button can damage your furnace.
If your furnace insists on shutting off despite your pressing the reset button, then it’s time to call an HVAC professional. Our technicians at Ambient Edge would be happy to take a look. Give us a call at 888-230-5160.
Location of the Reset Button
The location of your reset button depends, of course, on the make and model of your particular furnace. For instance, if you have both central heating and central air in your home, you should be able to find your reset button on the blower motor. You can tell it’s the reset button because it’s usually painted red or yellow in an effort to help it stand out. You’ll know it has popped because it will be sticking up about a half-inch, as opposed to laying flush as it normally does.
On some models, you may not be able to see the reset button right away due to the location of the blower motor. You may need to then reach toward the bottom and back of the motor to locate the reset button. Once you find it, you may have to press it for up to 30 seconds before it will actually reset the furnace.
Resetting a Gas Furnace
If you have a gas furnace, follow the following steps to reset it. If, however, after following these steps you still can’t reset the furnace, turn the unit off and call a professional.
- Check to see if your pilot light is out.
- Turn down your thermostat as low as it can go.
- Turn off the power to the furnace.
- Turn off the main gas supply to the furnace. Leave the pilot gas supply line on.
- Light a match and hold it to the pilot flame jet’s opening, which is inside the furnace. This should relight the pilot flame.
- Turn the power back on, then the main gas supply.
- Press and hold the reset button for about 30 seconds.
- Raise your thermostat to the desired temperature. This should ignite your furnace. If not, then it’s time to call a professional.
Causes for a Reset in an Oil Furnace
Gas furnaces aren’t the only ones to experience a reset. Oil furnaces may reset as well for several reasons. Simply put, the reset button in an oil furnace trips when the furnace realizes there are no flames in the burner chamber. This is typically the result of some interruption in the supply of fuel to the furnace. The furnace then automatically turns off to prevent the furnace from suffering damage.
The first thing you should do is to make sure you haven’t run out of oil. If you have, schedule an oil delivery ASAP and be sure to inform the oil company that your oil tank is completely depleted. The technician will need to prime your system before he refills the empty tank, else you risk damaging your system.
If you know you haven’t run out of oil, then there may be an obstruction in the fuel line. Or someone may have closed one of the valves in error. Double-check that all your valves are open before calling an HVAC professional.
Having Trouble with Your Furnace? Ambient Edge Can Help!
At Ambient Edge, we understand that life gets busy. Sometimes you simply forget to fill your oil tank, and while this is an easy fix, it can cause some significant damage if you don’t take the proper steps to fix the problem. If you’ve recently run out of oil and need to prime your system, we can help.
Similarly, if you have tried resetting your furnace to no avail, our technicians can come look at your furnace and diagnose and treat the problem. It is important that you do not continue trying to diagnose the problem yourself if you’re not quite sure how, else you risk damaging your system, which can require repairs or, in the worst-case scenario, a complete replacement.
With our decades of experience in the HVAC industry, you can trust Ambient Edge to give your furnace the attention it deserves and the treatment it requires. Call us at 888-230-5160 or fill out the contact form on our website and let us help you get your furnace back in proper working order today!
