5 Reasons Your Furnace Keeps Turning On and Off
It can be frustrating and stressful when the furnace keeps turning on and off. As the weather gets colder, homeowners start to worry. Will the furnace last through the winter? How much will it cost to fix?
If you have a furnace that’s working right, the reason could be as simple as a dirty air filter. There may also be a more serious issue which needs professional maintenance or repair.
If it’s an easy solution you can perform yourself, that’s great. If it’s a more complicated problem, you’ll need to deal with it as you prepare your home for cold weather.
Here are a few common reasons why your furnace is not functioning as it should.
Dirty Air Filter
This is a common problem with a simple solution.
When too much dirt builds up on the air filter, the furnace works harder to push air through. With less air getting through, the heat exchanger works harder. This causes the limit switch to shut the gas off.
It seems like the furnace won’t stay on, but it is trying to restart. The solution is to replace the filter. It’s also important to change the filter every month, or three months depending on the type of filter you buy.
This will help improve the air quality in your home.
Dirty Flame Sensor
Another furnace element affected by dirt is the flame sensor.
The flame sensor lets you know that the flame is on when the gas valve is open. When there is no flame the sensor closes the valve. This is a safety feature to prevent gas from building up inside the home.
If the flame sensor needs cleaning, this job requires a professional.
Improper Thermostat Placement
The thermostat regulates temperature. When placed next to an air vent or window exposed to direct sunlight it will give an incorrect reading. This causes the furnace to shut down before heating the home to the desired temperature.
Moving the thermostat away from windows or vents should solve this problem.
If there is an issue with the furnace fan and the furnace won’t shut off, the thermostat fan might be set to the “on” setting. Change to the auto setting and that should fix the issue. If that doesn’t work, turn the thermostat off.
If the furnace won’t shut off, there is likely an issue with the thermostat which needs replacement.
What to Do If Your Furnace Keeps Turning On and Off
Undersized air ducts in a home may be to blame if your furnace keeps turning on and off on due to overheating. When overheating in the furnace occurs it triggers a shut down followed by a restart attempt. Also, if the furnace is too large for a home, it will heat up fast and shut down.
If you’ve run through the troubleshooting tips above but are still having problems, call us. If you have a furnace making noise and it’s got you worried, schedule a service appointment with us today.