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

Your furnace keeps your family comfortable during the frigid winter months, so it’s frustrating when something is off. One frequent situation is a furnace that continuously switches on and switches off again. This operating error is known as short cycling. It overworks your furnace and may lead to pricey repairs or even premature replacement. 

Short cycling can be the result of for several reasons. Before you book furnace repair, consider the likely causes and how to resolve the problem. 

1. Filthy Air Filter 

The HVAC filter attracts airborne dust, hair and other substances that could damage the furnace. If you don’t replace the filter frequently, it can become filthy and block the airflow. When this happens, a safety mechanism switches off the furnace to stop getting too warm. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. Going forward, install a new filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling. 

2. Blocked Air Vents 

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

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower has blades that move air through the ductwork. If they are covered in dirt, the air won’t move right, creating overheating and short cycling. Routinely replacing the filter is the easiest approach to prevent a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, schedule furnace maintenance to have them cleaned. 

4. Faulty Thermostat 

Check your thermostat next. This is the core of your HVAC system and instructs the furnace 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 bright sunlight or near a heat source that could influence the temperature reading. If you have a smart thermostat, go to the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting guides. 

5. Soot-Covered Flame Sensor 

The flame sensor turns 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 shuts off prematurely and the furnace shuts down. Leave the work of fixing a sooty flame sensor to a pro like Norrell Service Experts. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it involves home comfort equipment, oversized isn’t always best. A larger system warms up your home too quickly, creating intolerable temperature fluctuations and short cycling. The only way to take care of this issue is to do new furnace installation

If you attempt the fixes suggested here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to reach the professionals at Norrell Service Experts. We’ll examine the situation, diagnose the cause, and perform the necessary repair. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for the rest of the season. And our services are upheld by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about furnace short cycling, or to request HVAC repair, give us a call at 205-267-0023 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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