6 Reasons Why Your Furnace Keeps Turning Off and How to Take Care of It
Your furnace keeps your house comfortable during the chilly winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something isn’t quite right. One routine situation is a furnace that continually kicks on and switches off all the time. This problem is referred to as short cycling. It strains your heating system and might lead to expensive repairs or even early failure.
Short cycling can be caused by for several reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, review the potential causes and how to resolve the problem.
1. Clogged Air Filter
The HVAC filter traps airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could damage the furnace. If you don’t get a new filter regularly, it can become clogged and decrease the airflow. When this takes place, a safety feature shuts off the furnace to avoid getting too hot. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, replace it. From now on, replace the filter every 30 to 90 days to prevent your furnace from short cycling.
2. Blocked Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only thing that can lower airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your house and check for closed or crowded air vents. For recommended system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower consists of blades that move air through the ductwork. If they are dirty, the air won’t flow right, leading to overheating and short cycling. Regularly changing the filter is the best way to avoid a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, schedule furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Check your thermostat next. This is the core of your HVAC system and instructs the furnace on what to do. Double-check the thermostat is in heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown on the screen. Try changing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in direct sunlight or near a heat source that could impact the temperature reading. If you rely on a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting guides.
5. Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is responsible for turning off the gas valve when no burner flame on. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s covered in soot, so the gas turns off too soon and the furnace shuts off. Leave the adjustment of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a pro like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it includes home comfort equipment, oversized isn’t always better. A larger system heats up your home too quickly, leading to unpleasant temperature swings and short cycling. The only way to resolve this situation is to schedule new furnace installation.
If you go through the solutions we mentioned here to no avail, it’s time to call in the professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll take a look at the situation, diagnose the cause, and perform the necessary service. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the remainder of the season. And our services are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about furnace short cycling, or to book HVAC repair, give us a call at 954-736-4314 today!
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*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.
