6 Reasons Why Your Furnace Keeps Turning Off and How to Take Care of It 

Your furnace keeps your house cozy during the frigid winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something isn’t quite right. One common complaint is a furnace that continually kicks on and switches off over and over. This problem is called short cycling. It strains equipment and could cause pricey repairs or even early replacement. 

Short cycling can happen for several reasons. Before you request furnace repair, read about the potential causes and how to take care of the situation. 

1. Clogged 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 often enough, it can eventually be clogged and block the airflow. When this occurs, a safety mechanism switches off the furnace to avoid getting too hot. Inspect the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. From here on out, change the filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling. 

2. Obstructed Air Vents 

A dirty filter isn’t the only thing that can reduce airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your house and look for closed or blocked air vents. For adequate system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in empty rooms. 

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower uses blades that move air through the ductwork. If they are dirty, the air won’t move correctly, creating overheating and short cycling. Regularly replacing the filter is the simplest way to prevent a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, book furnace maintenance to have them cleaned. 

4. Faulty Thermostat 

Check your thermostat next. This is the brain of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Double-check the thermostat is set to heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown on the screen. Try putting in new batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in full sunlight or near a heat source that could affect the temperature reading. If you have a smart thermostat, check the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions. 

5. Soot-Covered Flame Sensor 

The flame sensor switches off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t detect the flame if it’s coated in soot, so the gas switches off too soon and the furnace shuts off. Leave the work of fixing a dirty flame sensor to a professional like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it involves heating and cooling equipment, larger isn’t always right. A larger system adds warmth to your house too rapidly, creating uncomfortable temperature fluctuations and short cycling. The only way to take care of this situation is to request new furnace installation. 

If you go through the solutions suggested here to no avail, it’s time to contact the pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll examine the situation, pinpoint the cause, and perform the necessary work. Our goal is to reintroduce indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for all season long. And our services are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to schedule HVAC repair, give us a call at 587-404-0790 right away! 

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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.