It is often that you come across a furnace that simply refuses to shut off. A continuously running furnace not only increases the energy costs but might soon develop problems as well. You should call in furnace services if your furnace is not shutting down. In this blog, we are going to take a look at some important factors contributing to this problem and how you can solve them.
Check Your Thermostat
The first thing you need to check if your furnace is not shutting off is the thermostat. A thermostat measures the inside temperature of your house and tells the furnace to increase or decrease the production or circulation of hot air accordingly. If it happens to be faulty, it will confuse the furnace.
As a result, the furnace will continue working and the temperature inside your house will not reach the desired temperature. Even though thermostats giving up is rare unless they are very old, that does not mean it is not possible. In other cases, you might need to calibrate it. Either way, fixing up the problem does not break your bank but ignoring it will increase the energy costs in the long run.
To check whether the thermostat is working fine, you should set it to On or Auto. If you set it to Auto, the fan will automatically shut down once the adjusted temperature is achieved. In addition to that, if the temperature is set too high, the furnace might not be able to keep up, causing it to run continuously. Upon running an inspection there seems to be no problem with the thermostat, you should move on to the next step.
Check Your Air Filter
No matter how much you stress it, some homeowners still ignore the air filters. The air filters are installed in the furnace for a reason. The primary job of the air filters is to filter the air and then distribute it. Since air passes through the air filter, they are prone to get blocked or clogged. Therefore, it is always advised to clean the air filters at least once or twice a week.
In some cases, you might need to replace the air filter as well. Ignoring a clogged air filter will lead to toxic air making its way inside your house and causing serious respiratory problems to your family members. Depending on the area where you live, you should regularly inspect the air filters. If that is not possible, hire a professional to do it.
Check The Ductwork
The ductwork is a system through which hot or cold air passes to the inside of the house. Overtime, duct leakages can develop, causing both hot and cold air to escape. As a result, the furnace will continue working to keep up with the adjusted temperature. There could be several reasons contributing to leaky ducts. Birds and rats can build accommodations for themselves, which can sometimes lead to cracks and damages.
Unfortunately, fixing damaged or cracked ductwork is not something you can do on your own. In some cases, the leaks are so minor that it is hard for a new person to notice. Therefore, the problem will require a thorough inspection. With that said, you should call upon a professional who will inspect the unit find the main issue and fix it.
Check The Fan Limit Switch
You will be able to find this part inside the furnace panel cover. It is designed to turn on and off the blower at appropriate times. Therefore, if the fan limit switch happens to be working perfectly, it should turn on the fan when the thermostat signals heat and turn off a little after the end of the heat cycle.
However, if you notice that the furnace fan keeps running regardless of the furnace heating or not, your fan limit switch is either set incorrectly or faulty.
Final Word
Concluding, the tips mentioned above will surely help you fix your furnace that fails to shut off. A furnace is an expensive unit and ignoring such minor problems can lead to a replacement, which is a costly procedure. Therefore, if you fail to solve the problem, do not hesitate to call in furnace repair services Long Island.