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Furnace Won't Turn On in Calgary? What to Check and Who to Call

Some causes of a furnace that won't start can be checked without tools, and the steps below go in a safe order. If you smell gas or a CO alarm is sounding, skip them all: get out, then call 911 from outside.

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What to do right now

  1. Gas smell, CO alarm or anyone unwell? Stop here

    Get everyone out of the building now. Once you're outside, call 911. For a gas smell, also call ATCO's gas emergency line: 1-800-511-3447. The checks below can wait until the fire department or ATCO says the house is safe.

  2. Check the thermostat

    Set it to Heat, with the temperature above what the room is now. If the screen is blank, put in fresh batteries.

  3. Check the furnace switch and the breaker

    Most furnaces have an on/off switch on the side of the unit or close to it. Make sure it's on.

    At the electrical panel, find the furnace breaker. Go to the panel only if the floor around it is dry. If the breaker has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off: Carrier says repeated trips call for a technician, to prevent fire hazards.

  4. Close the furnace door all the way

    A loose front panel can trip a safety switch that keeps the furnace off. Push the door fully closed. Never tape or hold that switch down.

  5. Look at the filter

    Turn the furnace switch off first. If the filter is dirty or clogged, replace it, then switch the furnace back on.

  6. Check the pipes outside

    From outside, find the furnace's intake and exhaust pipes where they leave the house. ATCO's no-heat checklist asks you to make sure they're clear of snow and ice. Brush off loose snow; don't chip at ice on the pipe.

    If a CO alarm went off, don't go back in to check anything. Stay outside and call 911. Even if the furnace starts again later, have a professional look at it before you rely on it.

  7. Still nothing? The rest is for a professional

    Ignition, the gas valve, the control board and the safety switches inside are not homeowner jobs. Don't open the burner area or touch the gas valve. Carrier's own advice is not to diagnose or repair gas, combustion or electrical parts yourself.

Glowing electric heater element in a dark setting.
A glowing heating element.

Furnace won't turn on: what is happening

Trane's furnace guide gives a short list for a furnace that fails to run: the thermostat setting, the blower door, the breaker or a fuse on the control board, the gas supply, and the filter. Any one of them can keep it off.

The gas supply and the control board are on that list, but they aren't yours to handle. If the furnace still doesn't run, Trane's advice is to contact a furnace technician.

Furnace won't turn on: when it becomes an emergency

  • Gas smell, a CO alarm, or headaches and dizziness at home: get out, then call 911 and ATCO from outside.
  • Someone vulnerable is getting cold: a baby, an older person or anyone unwell. Go somewhere warm, or call 911 if anyone is in danger.
  • The breaker trips a second time: leave it off and wait for a professional.

On Environment Canada's 1981 to 2010 normals, Calgary averages about 22 nights a year below -20 C.

Using a space heater while you wait? Plug it straight into a wall outlet, never an extension cord. Keep it well away from beds, curtains and anything else that can burn.

Furnace stopped working suddenly: what a professional handles

Once the safe checks are done, the work moves inside the furnace. That's where the ignition system, gas valve and controls sit.

In Calgary, the City issues the gas permit for a furnace to a qualified gas fitter, and a furnace replacement permit to a qualified HVAC contractor. Alberta lists gasfitting as a compulsory certification trade. When a pro calls, ask whether they hold an Alberta trade certificate, and which one.

Questions

Why is my furnace not working?

Trane's guide starts with five questions. Is the thermostat set correctly? Is the blower door in place? Has the breaker tripped? Is the gas on? Is the filter clogged?

You can check the thermostat, the door, the breaker and the filter. Leave the gas to a pro. The steps on this page go through each one.

My furnace won't turn on after a power outage. What should I check?

Start with the thermostat. ATCO's advice for a blank screen is fresh batteries. Then make sure the furnace switch is on and its breaker hasn't tripped, and reset a tripped breaker once only.

The City of Calgary recommends CO alarms that run on household power and have a battery back-up, in case of a power outage.

My furnace is not working. Who do I call?

It depends on what you notice.

  • Gas smell, CO alarm, or anyone feeling ill: leave, then call 911 from outside. For gas, ATCO's emergency line too: 1-800-511-3447.
  • Other gas appliances are dead too: your gas supply may be off. Call ATCO's emergency line and don't relight anything.
  • You rent: your landlord or building manager first.
  • Anything else: a furnace technician. ATCO also offers a free video call with one of its service technicians, who can troubleshoot with you.

You can also send a request on this site. A local furnace technician will call back as soon as possible.

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Call 587-880-3103

Calls are answered by an automated assistant and transcribed.