6 Reasons Why Your Furnace Keeps Turning Off and How to Resolve It 

Your furnace keeps your home comfortable during the harsh winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something isn’t quite right. One frequent issue is a furnace that continuously kicks on and switches off again. This problem is referred to as short cycling. It strains your furnace and may lead to pricey repairs or even premature replacement. 

Short cycling can happen for varying reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, research the likely causes and how to fix the problem. 

1. Filthy Air Filter 

The HVAC filter attracts airborne dust, hair and other debris that could wreak havoc on 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 turns off the furnace to prevent overheating. Pull Out the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. From here on out, install a new filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling. 

2. Clogged Air Vents 

A dirty filter isn’t the only thing that can lower airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your house and be on the lookout for for shut or crowded air vents. For recommended system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in empty rooms. 

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower uses blades that distribute air through the ductwork. If they are covered in dirt, the air won’t flow properly, creating overheating and short cycling. Routinely changing the filter is the best method to prevent a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, request furnace maintenance to have them cleaned. 

4. Faulty Thermostat 

Inspect your thermostat next. This is the brain of your HVAC system and tells the furnace what to do. Double-check the thermostat is on heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown on the screen. Try changing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in bright sunlight or near a heat source that could influence the temperature reading. If you rely on a smart thermostat, go to the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting guides. 

5. Soot-Covered Flame Sensor 

The flame sensor is responsible for turning off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s covered in soot, so the gas turns off sooner and the furnace shuts down. Leave the job of cleaning a dirty flame sensor to a professional like Stevenson Service Experts. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it comes to home comfort equipment, oversized isn’t always right. A larger system warms up your house too fast, creating intolerable temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to resolve this problem is to schedule new furnace installation

If you attempt the solutions we covered here and you’re still having problems, it’s time to contact the professionals at Stevenson Service Experts. We’ll take a look at the situation, figure out the cause, and provide the necessary work. Our goal is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the remainder of the season. And our work is supported by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about furnace short cycling, or to schedule HVAC repair, call us at 614-334-3192 now! 

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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. 

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