What to Do When Your Heater Won’t Turn Off!
It’s not uncommon for heating systems to have a problem once in a while. It could be as straightforward as a bad thermostat or an electrical issue. If your gas furnace won’t shut off, here are a couple steps you can take to get a properly working furnace again.
Examine the Air Filter
A dirty air filter causes problems for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here’s why. It restricts airflow, making your furnace work harder and run longer to satisfy your ideal temperature.
This multiplies usage on your furnace, as well as the likelihood of a breakdown and early failure.
It can also make your furnace overheat and shut down for a time to cool down. Then it will keep duplicating this process when your furnace turns on. This is called short cycling. In addition to wearing out your furnace faster, it can drive up your heating bill and make your home feel unpleasant.
We recommend replacing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced your furnace filter, remove it and hold it up to the light. If you can’t detect light through your filter, it’s too dirty and you should get a new one.
If the matter was connected to a clogged air filter, replacing it with a fresh filter should fix this common issue when your heat won’t turn off. If not, we recommend checking your thermostat settings next.
Check Out the Thermostat
Your thermostat controls your furnace and simply informs the unit when to turn on and off. It’s often to blame when your furnace won’t stop running.
At times having the heat turn off is as simple as changing an incorrect thermostat setting.
Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”.
Your thermostat includes two settings, “auto” and “on,” that control your heating system’s blower motor.
“Auto” indicates the furnace blower will only run when the furnace does.
“On” indicates the furnace blower will run constantly. This constant air flow can help with heat distribution but will also drive up your power bill and lead to wear and tear on your furnace.
If your thermostat is set to “on,” it will seem like your furnace is not turning off, but it’s really just the furnace blower you’re hearing. Switching it to “auto” should solve the problem. It will also help you spend less money on your energy costs.
Check Your Temperature Setting
If your thermostat won’t turn off heat, check the temperature setting to the room temperature. If it’s greater than the room air temp, your furnace will keep operating until it reaches your desired temp.
Remember that if it’s very cold outside, your furnace will have to run much longer than normal to keep your home cozy. This is because of a big temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm indoors.
As a test, you can try lowering the thermostat to match the room. Then, wait a couple of minutes. This should make the furnace shut off momentarily.
Put in Fresh Batteries
If you use a programmable thermostat, it’s likely battery powered. You can try replacing the batteries to see if that solves the issue. If it doesn’t or if there’s wiring to your electrical system, shift it to “off.”
If your furnace won’t shut off after you set it to “off,” you will need to cut the power.
Turn Off the Power
Thermostat seems to be working fine but your furnace still won’t shut off? There are two places you can shut off the power to your heating unit: at the breaker box and at its dedicated power switch.
- Head to your breaker box and find the breaker labeled “furnace.” Push the breaker switch to the right to cut power.
- Next, look for the dedicated power switch to your heating system. It’s similar to a light switch and can be found on or near your furnace. Push the switch down to shut off power.
- Your furnace should be shut off now.
If you had to turn off your system at the breaker, call us at 226-773-3357 for professional service, as you may need furnace repair.
What Causes a Furnace to Keep Running?
Sometimes correcting this problem can be as simple as changing your air filter or changing thermostat settings. In other instances, you might want a professional when your heater won’t shut off.
Fan Limit Switch Needs to Be Replaced
The furnace fan limit switch regulates your furnace’s blower motor. If the switch goes bad, it might sound like your furnace running nonstop, even though just the blower is going.
You might see a furnace error code if there’s a problem with the limit switch. Your furnace will speak through a blinking red light on the front of your heating system.
Our Experts can identify and correct any problems you’re having with your furnace blower motor. Sometimes this can involve replacement parts, like the control board, faulty wiring or the fan switch itself.
Defective Thermostat
Like other things in your home, your thermostat can wear out over time and need to be replaced. If you’re due for a new one, ask us about getting a smart thermostat.
These thermostats make it easy to save energy, since they create an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your needs. Additionally, you’ll be able to set and monitor your thermostat from just about anywhere with your phone.
Air Ducts Are Leaking
Your furnace relies on ductwork to distribute hot air to vents throughout your home. If your home or ductwork is older, your furnace might be running constantly since the ductwork is leaking hot air in the attic.
Identifying this leaky ductwork and other airflow problems can be challenging to resolve on your own, since it’s hidden behind walls and ceilings. Our Experts can help with identifying and taking care of any air duct repair service that you need.
Rely on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs
Troubleshooting furnace issues can be annoying, especially when it impacts your comfort, energy efficiency and heating bill. When it involves furnaces, there’s a reason why we say we’re Experts in our industry. You can rely on our ACE-certified technicians to solve your problem quickly and affordably. And what’s even better, we back our HVAC system repairs with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for one year.* Call us at 226-773-3357 to schedule your appointment now.