It's not unheard of for heating systems to have a problem every now and then. It could be as straightforward 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, forcing your furnace to work harder and run longer to meet your desired temperature.
This increases usage on your furnace, as well as the odds of a malfunction and premature failure.
It can also make your furnace get too hot and shut down for a time to cool down. Then it will keep repeating this process when your furnace switches on. This is called short cycling. In addition to wearing out your furnace more quickly, it can increase your heating bill and make your home feel unpleasant.
We recommend replacing flat filters each month and pleated filters every three months. If you can't remember the last time you replaced your furnace filter, pull it out 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, replacing it with a fresh filter should solve this common problem when your heat won't turn off. If not, we recommend checking your thermostat settings next.
Check Out the Thermostat
Your thermostat runs your furnace and basically informs the unit when to turn on and off. It's usually the problem when your furnace won't stop running.
Sometimes having the heat turn off is as simple as changing a wrong thermostat setting.
Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”
Your thermostat includes two settings, “auto” and “on,” that manage your heating system's blower motor.
“Auto” means the furnace blower will only run when the furnace does.
“On” indicates the furnace blower will operate continuously. This constant air flow can help with heat circulation but will also increase your power bill and lead to wear and tear on your furnace.
If your thermostat is set to "on," it will seem like your furnace is not shutting off, but it's really just the furnace blower you're noticing. Switching 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 area temperature. If it's greater than the room air temp, your furnace will keep operating until it hits your desired temp.
Keep in mind that if it's very cold outside, your furnace will have to run much longer than normal 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 lowering the setting to correspond with the room. Then, wait a few minutes. This should make the furnace shut off in a few minutes.
Put in Fresh Batteries
If you use a programmable thermostat, it's probably battery powered. You can try replacing the batteries to see if that solves the issue. If it doesn't or if there's wiring to your electrical system, shift it to "off."
If your furnace won't shut off after you set it to "off," you will need to cut 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 dedicated power switch.
- Go to your breaker box and locate the breaker marked "furnace." Push the breaker switch to the right to shut off power.
- Next, search for the dedicated power switch to your heating system. It's similar to a light switch and can be found on or close to your furnace. Push the switch down to cut power.
- Your furnace should be turned off now.
If you had to switch off your system at the breaker, contact us at 716-427-6807 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 adjusting thermostat settings. In other situations, you might need a professional when your heater won't turn off.
Fan Limit Switch Needs Replacing
The furnace fan limit switch controls your furnace's blower motor. If the switch goes out, it might seem like your furnace running nonstop, even though just the blower is running.
You might see a furnace error code if there's a problem with the limit switch. Your furnace will communicate through a flashing red light on the front of your heating system.
Our Experts can diagnose and correct any issues you're having with your furnace blower motor. Often this can involve replacement parts, such as the control board, faulty wiring or the fan switch itself.
Bad Thermostat
Like other things in your home, your thermostat can break down over time and need to be replaced. If you're due for a new one, ask us about installing a smart thermostat.
These thermostats make it easy to save energy, because they create an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your needs. Plus, you'll be able to set and monitor your thermostat from just about anyplace with your phone.
Leaky Air Ducts
Your furnace uses 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.
Identifying 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 identifying and taking care of any air duct repair service that you need.
Rely on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs
Troubleshooting furnace issues can be annoying, particularly 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 industry. You can count on our ACE-certified technicians to solve your problem quickly and affordably. And what's even better, we back our HVAC system repairs with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for one year.* Call us at 716-427-6807 to schedule your appointment today.