7 Reasons Your Furnace Shuts off and When to Call an Expert

Your furnace plays a major role in keeping your home warm and comfortable. A furnace that keeps shutting off is a major cause of distress, especially during the cold season. A faulty heater can soon turn your cozy home into an icebox. A furnace that keeps shutting off usually indicates an underlying issue. Do you constantly have to find alternative ways of keeping your home warm because your furnace suddenly turns off? Or do you have to reset your furnace repeatedly because it won’t stay on? Let’s delve into some possible reasons why your furnace constantly goes out.

1. CLOGGED AIR FILTERS AND BLOCKED VENTS

If you don’t regularly change or clean the air filters in your furnace, they can become clogged due to an accumulation of dirt and debris. Under these conditions, the airflow is restricted. As a result, the furnace has to work harder to draw in air. This can result in overheating. When the furnace overheats, it should trigger the safety mechanism to shut down the system.

You might notice the heater shuts off before the entire house is warm. The space around the thermostat could be at your desired temperature, but the rest of the house could be frigid. This could be the result of blocked vents. To prevent this, make sure every vent has at least 10 inches of space on all sides.

2. THERMOSTAT PROBLEMS

Incorrect temperature settings and calibration can trigger the furnace to shut off constantly. Depending on the temperature, the thermostat signals the furnace to turn on or off. When set too high, it erroneously triggers the furnace to shut off even when the room hasn’t reached the desired temperature.

Using an old thermostat or exposing it to the sun or heat sources might contribute to the furnace going off constantly. Old thermostats can send inaccurate signals. Under direct heat sources, the thermostat will trigger the furnace to shut off due to false temperature readings.

3. FAULTY IGNITION SYSTEM

A faulty ignition system is another reason for the furnace continually going out. The ignition system is responsible for igniting the fuel to produce the heat that warms your house. A faulty ignition system may fail to ignite the fuel properly. The furnace thus repeatedly tries to start, resulting in many cycles without successfully establishing a flame.

Modern furnaces are installed with flame sensors. If this component is dirty or faulty, it may fail to detect the flame accurately, leading to the heater shutting off as a safety measure. This prevents the gas from building up, which is harmful if breathed in and presents a risk of an explosion.

4. DUCTWORK ISSUES

Leaks or blockages in the ductwork can result in loss of heat before the warm air reaches all parts of the home. The furnace will shut off, thinking that the desired temperature has been attained, while in reality, some rooms haven’t been heated to expectations. Faults in the ductwork may also lead to pressure imbalances within the heating system. This will affect the normal operations of the furnace, leading to irregular cycling as the system tries to compensate for the imbalances.

Finally, poor ductwork insulation and leaks or clogged ductwork will strain the blower motor. The blower is responsible for circulating warm air through the ducts. Loss of heat through the leaks or poor insulation will cause the blower motor to overwork just as clogged ducts will. This increased motor strain results in the furnace turning off as a safety precaution.

5. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

A faulty electric power supply could contribute to a furnace constantly turning off. The electric system may become unreliable if it has faulty wiring, a broken fuse, or a tripped circuit breaker. These problems cut off the power supply to the furnace, effectively turning it off.

Circuit tripping and blown fuses may be a result of a power surge. Whenever a surge happens, your furnace might turn off. Additionally, there could be problems with the electrical panel. The circuit board is a critical component of your home’s electric system. Problems in this system can affect the performance of appliances throughout the home and may lead to the heater turning off unexpectedly.

6. GAS SUPPLY ISSUES

A problem with the gas supply will cause the furnace to go off unexpectedly. Inadequate gas pressure will prevent the burners from receiving sufficient gas, resulting in an incomplete combustion process. The gas valve responsible for regulating and delivering gas to the burners can also disrupt the process. A faulty or blocked gas valve, meter, or regulator will obstruct the gas flow to the burners.

As a safety measure, the furnace will undoubtedly turn off if gas fails to flow. A system shutdown will also happen if gas detectors identify leakage into the house.

7. UNDERSIZED FURNACE

A furnace too small to properly heat the size of your home adequately will struggle to maintain the desired temperature. The furnace may overwork for long periods to compensate for its limited ability to heat the room adequately. This could lead to overheating, which will trigger the safety mechanism and cause the furnace to turn off.

Additionally, continuous and heavy overworking will strain the furnace’s components. These include the blower motor, heat exchanger, and other critical components. This strain will likely lead to a malfunction, shutdowns, and a shortened service life of the furnace.

WHEN TO CALL THE PROFESSIONALS

Armed with this knowledge as to why your furnace keeps turning off, you can now move on to understanding when to call in an expert. Some of the causes of a heater shutting off can be fixed without professional help. For instance, when the problem stems from clogged filters, you can simply change them.

But what happens when cleanliness doesn’t solve the problem? If your furnace turns off and on unpredictably, it may indicate electrical problems. Unusual noises in the furnace could mean complex mechanical problems. Lack of heat or inadequate heating abilities may indicate issues with the heating elements, gas supply, or ignition faults. Whenever any of these issues happen, it’s time to call in a professional HVAC expert to help diagnose the problem and offer a solution.

TRUST YOUR HVAC SPECIALISTS

At Blue Best Heating & Air, we offer unrivaled, first-class heating and cooling services to residents of Bountiful, UT. Being home to hot summers, cold winters, and everything in between, Bountiful residents need top-notch services to stay comfortable all year.

Our women-owned company installs heating and cooling systems for greater indoor comfort, including fireplace cleaning. We also provide indoor air quality (IAQ) services and repair services for furnaces and ACs. Whether you’re looking for professional installation of a ductless air conditioning system or duct cleaning, we’re your go-to team. With over 20 years of HVAC experience, we don’t doubt that our team of fully certified and licensed technicians will bring coziness to your home. Contact Blue Best Heating & Air today for more information or to schedule an appointment.