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

Your furnace keeps your family warm during the frigid winter months, so it’s annoying when something isn’t quite right. One frequent issue is a furnace that continuously switches on and shuts back off over and over. This problem is called short cycling. It stresses your furnace and could lead to costly repairs or even earlier than normal breakdowns. 

Short cycling can be the result of for varying reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, read about the likely causes and how to take care of the problem. 

1. Dirty Air Filter 

The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other debris that could cause problems for furnace. If you don’t change the filter regularly, it can eventually be dirty and decrease the airflow. When this takes place, a safety device switches off the furnace to prevent overheating. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, install a new one. From here on out, get a new filter every 30 to 90 days to prevent 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 residence and be on the lookout for for closed or blocked air vents. For adequate system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unused rooms. 

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower uses blades that distribute air through the ductwork. If they are caked with dirt, the air won’t travel right, causing overheating and short cycling. Frequently changing the filter is the simplest approach 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 core of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Make sure the thermostat is on heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown on the screen. Try replacing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in direct sunlight or near a heat source that could affect the temperature reading. If you use a smart thermostat, go to the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting tips. 

5. Sooty Flame Sensor 

The flame sensor turns off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s coated in soot, so the gas shuts off sooner and the furnace turns off. Leave the work of cleaning a sooty flame sensor to an Expert like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it involves heating and cooling equipment, bigger isn’t always better. A bigger system heats up your home too fast, leading to uncomfortable temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to take care of this problem is to do new furnace installation. 

If you go through the solutions we mentioned here and you’re still having problems, it’s time to reach the pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll examine the situation, figure out the cause, and provide the necessary repair. Our aim is to restore 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 info about furnace short cycling, or to request HVAC repair, reach us at 954-736-4314 today! 

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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.