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

Your furnace keeps your family comfortable during the harsh winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something is wrong. One routine complaint is a furnace that endlessly switches on and switches off all the time. This problem is known as short cycling. It overworks your furnace and could result in expensive repairs or even early failure. 

Short cycling can be the result of for several reasons. Before you book furnace repair, read about the possible causes and how to fix the problem. 

1. Filthy Air Filter 

The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t change the filter regularly, it can become filthy and block the airflow. When this takes place, a safety mechanism turns off the furnace to stop getting too warm. Inspect the filter, and if it’s dirty, install a new one. From now on, install a new filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling. 

2. Obstructed Air Vents 

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

3. Dirty Blower Wheel 

The furnace blower has blades that distribute air through the ductwork. If they are caked with dirt, the air won’t flow correctly, creating overheating and short cycling. Regularly putting in a new the filter is the easiest approach 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 brain of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Make sure the thermostat is in 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 influence the temperature reading. If you rely on 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 find the flame if it’s sooty, so the gas shuts off sooner and the furnace shuts off. Leave the work of cleaning a sooty flame sensor to an Expert like Stevenson Service Experts. 

6. Oversized Furnace 

When it comes to home comfort equipment, bigger isn’t always better. An oversized system heats up your house too rapidly, creating unpleasant temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to fix this issue is to request new furnace installation

If you go through the solutions we mentioned here and nothing has changed, it’s time to reach the pros at Stevenson Service Experts. We’ll take a look at the situation, diagnose the cause, and provide the necessary repair. Our aim is to reintroduce indoor comfort, energy efficiency and trustworthy furnace performance for the remainder 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 book HVAC repair, reach us at 614-334-3192 right away! 

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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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