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

Your furnace keeps your house warm during the chilly winter months, so it’s frustrating when something is off. One routine complaint is a furnace that continually turns on and turns off over and over. This issue is called short cycling. It stresses your furnace and might result in pricey repairs or even earlier than normal failure. 

Short cycling can be the result of for several reasons. Before you request furnace repair, research the possible causes and how to resolve the problem. 

1. Dirty Air Filter 

The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other substances that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t change the filter frequently, it can eventually be clogged and decrease 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. Going forward, replace the 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 restrict airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your home and look for closed or blocked air vents. For adequate system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied 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 correctly, leading to overheating and short cycling. Frequently replacing the filter is the simplest method to avoid a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, request 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. Make sure the thermostat is on heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature showing on the screen. Try changing the 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, go to the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting tips. 

5. Soot-Covered 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 switches off prematurely and the furnace shuts off. Leave the work of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a pro like BW/Cook Service Experts. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it involves heating and cooling equipment, larger isn’t always best. A larger system heats up your house too fast, leading to unpleasant temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to resolve this problem is to request new furnace installation. 

If you try the resolutions we mentioned here and nothing has changed, it’s time to contact the Experts at BW/Cook Service Experts. We’ll review the situation, pinpoint the cause, and provide the necessary service. Our goal is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for all season long. And our services are supported by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to request HVAC repair, reach us at 574-218-6404 now! 

— 

*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.