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

Your furnace keeps your house warm during the harsh winter months, so it’s frustrating when something isn’t quite right. One routine situation is a furnace that endlessly turns on and shuts back off again. This problem is known as short cycling. It stresses your heating system and might cause expensive repairs or even premature replacement. 

Short cycling can be caused by for several reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, review the likely causes and how to take care of the issue. 

1. Filthy Air Filter 

The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other substances that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t get a new filter often enough, it can get clogged and decrease the airflow. When this happens, a safety mechanism turns off the furnace to stop overheating. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. From here on out, get a new filter every 30 to 90 days to keep your furnace from short cycling. 

2. Obstructed Air Vents 

A dirty filter isn’t the only issue that can reduce airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your residence and look for closed or obstructed air vents. For proper system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms. 

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower consists of blades that distribute air through the ductwork. If they are dirty, the air won’t travel right, creating overheating and short cycling. Frequently replacing the filter is the best method to avoid a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, schedule furnace maintenance to have them cleaned. 

4. Faulty Thermostat 

Inspect your thermostat next. This is the cortex of your HVAC system and tells the furnace what to do. Ensure 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 bright sunlight or near a heat source that could impact the temperature reading. If you have a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions. 

5. Dirty Flame Sensor 

The flame sensor switches off the gas valve when no burner flame on. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s covered in soot, so the gas switches off too soon and the furnace turns off. Leave the job of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a professional like Stevenson Service Experts. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it involves HVAC equipment, bigger isn’t always right. A bigger system adds warmth to your house too quickly, creating unpleasant temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to resolve this issue is to schedule new furnace installation

If you attempt the solutions we mentioned here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to reach the Experts at Stevenson Service Experts. We’ll take a look at the situation, pinpoint the cause, and provide the necessary work. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the remainder of the season. And our work is upheld by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to request HVAC repair, give us a call 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.