Help me troubleshoot.

[conuly]

The house is heated by a gas boiler. Today, it's not kicking on.

The thermostat has working batteries and is displaying both the correct temperature and the "heat on" light.

The furnace is not out of water.

All appropriate lights are lit on the furnace, so we can be reasonably certain that it isn't a device-specific power outage.

Turning the "boiler on/off" switch at the top of the stairs did nothing, so power cycling isn't the solution.

Is there anything else I can try (that won't burn the house down!) before I call the repairman?

Comments

[movingfinger]

Have you checked the breaker box? If the breaker is tripped, flip it back and see if the furnace kicks on. If it trips again do not flip it; call service as this means there's a short. Sometimes a breaker will flip if there is a surge or drop in the main line power.

[jhetley]

Not knowing the vintage of the beast, I'd suspect either a pilot light or a hot-surface igniter problem. I don't mess with gas appliances, beyond lighting a pilot light if one exists. Too easy to go BOOM . . .

[shadowkat]

Gas problem? Mainly because that's the problem my apartment complex had.

[pwcorgigirl]

I think you have done your due diligence. If the problem is the igniter, it needs a repairman.

[blueswan]

The pilot light could be out on the furnace.I would call for service at any rate. You can cover your bases that way and be safe.

[topaz_eyes]

Check your exhaust pipes and vents from the boiler for an obstruction. Newer furnaces and boilers will stop working if the exhaust is blocked. I get ice blockages at least once or twice a winter with my furnace so it's the first thing I check.