It's not unheard of for heating systems to have a problem once in a while. It could be as simple as a broken thermostat or an electrical problem. If your gas furnace won't turn off, here are a couple steps you can take to get a properly working furnace again.
Check the Air Filter
A dirty air filter causes problems for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here's why. It restricts airflow, making your furnace work harder and run longer to satisfy your ideal temperature.
This multiplies wear and tear on your furnace, as well as the likelihood of a breakdown and early failure.
It can also make your furnace overheat and shut off for a time to cool off. Then it will keep duplicating this process when your furnace turns on. This is known as short cycling. In addition to wearing out your furnace faster, it can drive up your heating bill and make your home feel uncomfortable.
We encourage replacing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months. If you can't remember the last time you replaced your furnace filter, remove it and hold it up to the light. If you can't detect light through your filter, it's too dirty and you should get a new one.
If the matter was linked to a clogged air filter, putting in a clean filter should solve this common problem when your heat won't turn off. If not, we suggest checking your thermostat settings next.
Check the Thermostat
Your thermostat controls your furnace and basically informs the unit when to turn on and off. It's often to blame when your furnace won't stop running.
Sometimes having the heat turn off is as simple as adjusting an incorrect thermostat setting.
Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”
Your thermostat includes two settings, “auto” and “on,” that control your heating system's blower motor.
“Auto” indicates the furnace blower will only operate when the furnace does.
“On” indicates the furnace blower will operate continuously. This constant air flow can help with heat distribution but will also drive up your power bill and increase wear and tear on your furnace.
If your thermostat is switched to "on," it will seem like your furnace is not shutting off, but it's really just the furnace blower you're noticing. Changing it to "auto" should resolve the problem. It will also help you spend less money on your energy costs.
Check Your Temperature Setting
If your thermostat won't turn off heat, compare the temperature setting to the room temperature. If it's greater than the room air temp, your furnace will keep operating until it hits your desired temp.
Remember that if it's extremely cold outside, your furnace will have to operate much longer than usual to keep your home cozy. This is due to a large temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm indoors.
As a check, you can try decreasing the temperature to correspond with the room. Then, wait a couple of minutes. This should make the furnace turn off momentarily.
Replace the Batteries
If you use a programmable thermostat, it's probably battery powered. You can test putting in new batteries to see if that solves the problem. If it doesn't or if there's wiring to your electrical system, shift it to "off."
If your furnace won't turn off after you move it to "off," you will need to turn off the power.
Turn Off the Power
Thermostat appears to be working fine but your furnace still won't turn off? There are two places you can shut off the power to your heating unit: at the breaker box and at its specific power switch.
- Head to your breaker box and find the breaker marked "furnace." Move the breaker switch to the right to cut power.
- Next, search for the specific power switch to your heating system. It looks like a light switch and is located on or near your furnace. Push the switch down to shut off power.
- Your furnace should be turned off now.
If you had to turn off your system at the breaker, call us at 803-399-7208 for professional service, as you may require furnace repair.
What Causes a Furnace to Keep Running?
Occasionally correcting this problem can be as easy as changing your air filter or changing thermostat settings. In other instances, you might need a professional when your heater won't shut off.
Fan Limit Switch Needs to Be Replaced
The furnace fan limit switch regulates your furnace's blower motor. If the switch goes out, it might sound like your furnace running nonstop, even though just the blower is going.
You might notice a furnace error code if there's an issue with the limit switch. Your furnace will communicate through a flashing red light on the front of your heating system.
Our Experts can identify and correct any issues you're having with your furnace blower motor. Sometimes this can involve replacement parts, such as the control board, faulty wiring or the fan switch itself.
Faulty Thermostat
Like other things in your home, your thermostat can break down as time passes and need to be replaced. If it's time for a new one, ask us about getting a smart thermostat.
These thermostats make it easy to save energy, since they develop an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your needs. Additionally, you'll be able to adjust and monitor your thermostat from just about anyplace with your phone.
Leaky Air Ducts
Your furnace relies on ductwork to circulate hot air to vents across your home. If your home or ductwork is older, your furnace might be operating constantly since the ductwork is leaking hot air in the attic.
Diagnosing this leaky ductwork and other airflow issues can be difficult to troubleshoot on your own, since it's concealed behind walls and ceilings. Our Experts can help with diagnosing and handling any air duct repair service that you need.
Depend on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs
Troubleshooting furnace issues can be inconvenient, especially when it impacts your comfort, energy efficiency and heating bill. When it comes to furnaces, there's a reason why we say we're Experts in our field. You can depend on our ACE-certified technicians to resolve your problem quickly and affordably. And what's even better, we stand behind our HVAC system repairs with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for one year.* Call us at 803-399-7208 to book your appointment today.