How to Reset Your Furnace - Find the Power Reset for a Gas or Electric Furnace
Resetting your gas or electric furnace is a simple task that can often resolve common issues such as a malfunctioning thermostat or a tripped circuit breaker. Whether you have a gas or electric furnace, knowing how to reset it can save you time and money on unnecessary service calls.
Keep reading to learn how to safely reset your furnace to keep your home comfortable when it’s cold outside.
Table of Contents
What Is a Furnace Reset Button?
The furnace reset button is a crucial safety feature within your home's HVAC system, allowing for rapid shutdown in case of overheating or malfunction. When triggered, it cuts power to the furnace to prevent potential hazards. However, frequent tripping of this button signals an underlying issue such as overheating.
Does Your Furnace Have a Pilot Light or Electronic Ignition?
Before you reset your furnace, it's important to know whether your unit uses a standing pilot light or an electronic ignition system. Most newer gas furnaces installed in Indianapolis homes no longer have a continuously burning pilot light. Instead, they use an electronic ignition controlled by the thermostat and the furnace's internal safety controls.
Furnaces installed within roughly the last 20 years typically use hot-surface or intermittent-pilot electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot light — which is why manually relighting a pilot with a match doesn't apply to most modern systems.
If your furnace was manufactured within the last 20 to 25 years, it likely has electronic ignition. These systems automatically ignite the burners when your thermostat calls for heating. Older systems may still rely on a standing pilot light, which must remain lit for the gas burners to operate properly.
If your heating system won't start, begin with a few simple checks before attempting a furnace reset:
- Verify your thermostat is set to "Heat" and the temperature is above the current room temperature.
- Make sure the breaker hasn't tripped. If necessary, reset the circuit breaker once and restore power to the unit.
- Locate the furnace reset button (if your model has one). Press and hold the reset button for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer—typically just a few seconds.
- If your system has a standing pilot light, check whether it has gone out. Never attempt to relight a pilot light if you smell gas. Leave your home immediately and contact your utility company.
If the reset button immediately trips again or your breaker continues to trip after you reset it, there is likely a larger electrical or mechanical issue that requires professional repair. Continuing to repeatedly press the reset button can damage your equipment or mask an underlying safety problem.
A clean, efficiently burning gas furnace produces only small amounts of carbon monoxide, while a dirty or malfunctioning one can produce deadly amounts — never operate a furnace without its front safety panel properly in place.
Safety Precautions Before You Reset Your Furnace
Before attempting to reset your furnace, take a few minutes to perform some basic safety checks. Many heating problems are caused by a simple thermostat setting or a tripped breaker, but others require professional diagnosis. If you're ever unsure, Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical is available to provide safe, reliable furnace repair throughout the Indianapolis area.
| ✓ Safe to Check Yourself | ⚠ Stop and Call Chapman Heating |
|---|---|
| Confirm the thermostat is set to Heat and increase the temperature a few degrees. | You smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak. |
| Check your home's electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker. | The circuit breaker or furnace reset button continues to trip. |
| Press the furnace reset button once, following the manufacturer's instructions. | The furnace won't restart after one reset attempt. |
| Replace a dirty air filter if it restricts airflow. | You hear grinding, banging, squealing, or other unusual noises. |
| Verify all furnace access panels are securely closed before restoring power. | The system repeatedly shuts down, blows only cold air, or won't produce heat. |
| Turn off power before opening any service panel. | You're uncomfortable working around electrical or gas heating equipment. |
Where Is the Reset Button on a Furnace?
It’s typically colored red or yellow for easy identification and is commonly found inside the blower compartment. The reset button on a furnace serves as a vital safety feature. Remember that it’s normal for furnaces to require occasional resetting, especially in response to overheating. If the furnace frequently requires resetting, you should have it inspected to address any underlying issues.
How to Reset a Gas Furnace
Resetting a gas furnace involves several key steps to ensure safe and effective operation.
- Ensure the Pilot Light Is Out: Verify that the pilot light is extinguished before proceeding with the reset.
- Adjust the Thermostat Setting: Reduce the thermostat temperature setting to its lowest level.
- Power off the System: Switch off the power supply to the furnace by turning off the corresponding breaker in the circuit box.
- Shut off the Gas Supply: Shut off the main gas supply to the furnace, keeping the pilot gas supply line open.
- Relight the Pilot Light: Use a lit match to relight the pilot light by holding it near the pilot flame jet's opening.
- Restore Power and Gas: After relighting the pilot light, turn the circuit breaker and the main gas supply back on.
- Press the Reset Button: Hold down the reset button for approximately 30 seconds.
How to Reset an Electric Furnace
Resetting an electric furnace involves a few different steps, which are outlined below.
- Power off the System: Turn off the power supply to the furnace. Locate the corresponding breaker in the circuit box, and turn it off also.
- Find the Reset Button: Locate the reset button. It’s typically found inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor.
- Press the Reset Button: If the reset button pops up, press it down to reset the furnace. Exercise caution as the housing may be hot.
- Replace the Cover: Once the reset is complete, return the cover to the blower compartment.
- Power On the System: Turn the power back on by flipping the breaker switch in the circuit box.
Why You Might Need to Restart Your Furnace
During the colder months, maintaining a functional furnace is crucial for indoor comfort. In certain situations, such as when the furnace becomes overheated, a reset may be necessary to ensure proper operation. This action halts the furnace and allows for a safe restart, preventing potential issues like a tripped circuit breaker. Here are some reasons why you might need to reset the furnace:
- Fuel Depletion: Running out of fuel can cause the reset button to trip. Check the fuel tank and refill if empty before attempting a reset.
- Closed Gas Valve: A closed gas valve connection can impede furnace operation. You may be able to remedy this problem by opening the valve manually.
- Flame Sensor Problems: Malfunctioning flame sensors can trigger a reset. In such cases, we advise contacting Chapman for a prompt inspection and efficient repairs.
Top-Notch Emergency Furnace Services in Indianapolis and Surrounding Areas
Chapman Heating and Air has served Indianapolis and its surrounding communities with exceptional HVAC and plumbing services for over four decades. We offer comprehensive services, including emergency furnace repair, installation, maintenance, heat pump repair and installation, and indoor air quality solutions.
Whether you're facing furnace issues or seeking to enhance indoor comfort, our team is dedicated to delivering reliable and efficient service. Contact our team of expert technicians to schedule an appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may need to reset your furnace if it suddenly stops during a heating cycle, the blower is moving air but no warm air is coming from the vents, or the reset button has tripped. Before you press the reset button, check your thermostat, verify the breaker or circuit breaker hasn't tripped, and confirm the gas supply is on. If the reset button trips repeatedly, schedule repair with Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, as repeated reset attempts usually indicate a larger HVAC issue.
After you press and hold the reset button, most heating systems will restart within a few minutes. Some modern HVAC systems perform a short safety check before reigniting. If your furnace hasn't started after 5 to 10 minutes, avoid trying to reset it multiple times. Instead, check the thermostat, verify power has been restored, and contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical for professional service.
No. While many gas furnaces include a reset button, others rely on electronic controls and may only require restoring power after a tripped breaker or circuit breaker. Newer systems often use internal electronics to monitor operation instead of a manual reset. If you're unsure how your furnace is designed, check your owner's manual or schedule maintenance with Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical.
In most cases, no tools are required. You simply press the reset button by hand or restore power by resetting the breaker if necessary. Older gas furnaces with a standing pilot may require additional steps, but most modern heating systems found in Indianapolis homes can be safely reset without special tools. If the system still doesn't operate correctly, professional repair is the safest next step.
