A Kenmore Oil Furnace Will Not Restart Automatically

Manual Restart

• All oil furnaces have a manual restart button. If the oil furnace will not start, locate the restart button on the primary stack of the unit or on the burner motor. Press down the button firmly once or twice. The furnace should turn on within the next 60 seconds. If the furnace does not start, do not continue pressing the button; this pumps oil into the unit and may cause flooding.

Electrical Problems

• If a manual restart doesn't work, check the fuse that controls the electricity for the oil furnace. Flip the circuit breaker to the on position if it is off. If the breaker appears cracked, you will need to replace the fuse. A breaker that flips to the off position right away indicates that there is likely a short in the system, and the oil furnace should be checked by a professional. Dirty or cracked electrodes in the furnace will keep the furnace from restarting.

No Flame

• A burner that starts but does not have a flame indicates a different issue. The burner nozzle can easily clog from dust or debris. You can blow out the nozzle with a can of compressed air, or you can unscrew it from the furnace with a wrench to clean it.

Lack of Oil

• Newer oil furnace models will automatically stop if the oil level is too low, or if the oil has too much sludge in it. If a furnace detects a lack of oil, the furnace will not restart. An oil furnace should be cleaned once a season by a service professional and refilled. Service professionals can typically set up a regular schedule of refilling and cleaning for your convenience. It is easy to forget that a furnace needs maintenance.