Why Does My Furnace Keep Turning Off?
Furnaces cycling on and off in short time periods is a common problem that you and other homeowners experience. What is causing your furnace to keep turning off can be a simple fix or a more involved issue. Here are three common problems that can cause this to happen:
1. Restricted Airflow
Your furnace depends on a good airflow to operate. If the airflow is restricted, the inside of your furnace can overheat. A safety mechanism will then activate and shut down your furnace. After the inside of your furnace cools off, it will restart and shortly shut off again due to overheating.
Check the air intake for your furnace. Is there anything obstructing it? What about the filter? Have you replaced it lately? Check the filter and replace it if it is dirty.
Are all of the air vents open and unblocked, even in rooms that are not being used? Too many closed air vents will reduce the amount of air being used and lead the heat exchanger to overheat.
A dirty blower wheel does not work efficiently. It will keep the furnace from receiving the amount of air it requires to operate. You should call a trained technician to check this out for you.
2. Malfunctioning Thermostat
If your thermostat is sending incorrect messages to your furnace’s controller, then it could be causing your furnace to keep turning off. Watch your thermostat while your furnace is running. Is anything odd happening with the thermostat?
Have you changed the batteries lately? Is the thermostat in direct sunlight or near a heating vent? Replace the batteries or relocate the thermostat if necessary.
3. Faulty Sensors
Safety features in your furnace are in place to shut it down in case of a malfunction. Faulty sensors will turn off your furnace when there is no problem.
One sensor that should be checked is the flame sensor. Its job is to detect the presence of a flame while fuel is being fed to the furnace. If no flame is detected while the furnace is in operation, the furnace will turn off. After a brief period of time, the furnace will restart.
Since a faulty or dirty flame sensor cannot detect a flame, it will continue to turn off your furnace. The trained professionals at Mike Bryant Heating & Cooling of Olathe, KS, will safely check this sensor for you.
Mike Bryant Heating & Cooling serves the greater Kansas City area. Our licensed technicians can service and repair all makes and models of heating systems. Call us to help you stay warm and comfortable this winter season. We provide heating, cooling and indoor air quality services.
