Many older San Fernando Valley homes and apartments still heat with a wall heater or a floor furnace instead of a central system. When the first cold night comes and it won’t turn on, a few safe checks can tell you whether it’s something simple or time to call a licensed HVAC contractor.
Smell gas? Don’t try to light anything or flip switches. Leave the home and call SoCalGas or 911 from outside.
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1. Check the thermostat or control knob
Many wall heaters have a dial on the unit or a simple wall thermostat. Turn it a few degrees above room temperature. If the thermostat uses batteries, replace them.
2. Make sure the gas valve is on
There’s usually a small gas shutoff near the heater. The handle should line up with the pipe when it’s open. If someone turned it off over the summer, that alone can explain it.
3. Is the pilot light lit?
Older units have a standing pilot you can see through a small window or behind the grille. If it’s out, follow the lighting instructions printed on the heater’s label exactly. If it won’t stay lit after a couple of tries, stop: a worn thermocouple or a dirty pilot assembly is a job for a pro.
4. Clear the grille and the space around it
Dust and lint build up over the summer, and that “burning” smell on the first run is often just dust burning off. It should fade in a few minutes. Keep furniture, curtains and anything flammable well away from the heater, and never cover a floor furnace grate with a rug.
5. Test your carbon monoxide alarm
Any gas heater needs a working CO alarm nearby. If yours chirps, beeps or is missing, fix that before running the heater. See carbon monoxide and furnace safety.
When to call a licensed HVAC contractor
- The pilot won’t light or won’t stay lit.
- The flame is yellow or lazy instead of mostly blue, or you see soot around the heater.
- The heater clicks, rumbles or shuts off soon after starting.
- Your CO alarm goes off, or anyone feels headachy or dizzy when it runs.
- The unit is decades old and parts are hard to find.
A contractor can service the heater you have, check the venting and gas connection, or quote a replacement. Many owners of older homes replace wall heaters and floor furnaces with a ductless mini-split or a heat pump, which also adds air conditioning. See furnace and heater repair.
Related: Wall heater & floor furnace repair · No central heat? Ways to heat an older home · Furnace won’t turn on · Heater smells like burning · Get your heater ready for winter · Gas company shut off your heater?
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