What to Do When Your Heater Wont Turn Off!

It's not uncommon for heating systems to have a problem once in a while. It could be as simple as a bad thermostat or an electrical problem. If your gas furnace won't shut off, here are a couple steps you can take to get a correctly working furnace again.

Examine the Air Filter

A dirty air filter creates issues for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here's why. It restricts airflow, making your furnace work harder and run longer to meet your ideal temperature.

This increases usage on your furnace, as well as the odds of a breakdown and premature failure.

It can also make your furnace get too hot and shut off for a time to cool off. Then it will keep duplicating this process when your furnace turns on. This is called 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 got a new furnace filter, pull it out and hold it up to the light. If you can't see light through your filter, it's too dusty and you should replace it.

If the matter was linked to a clogged air filter, replacing it with a fresh filter should solve this common issue when your heat won't turn off. If not, we suggest checking your thermostat settings next.

Check Out the Thermostat

Your thermostat runs your furnace and simply informs the unit when to turn on and off. It's usually to blame when your furnace won't stop running.

Sometimes having the heat turn off is as easy as changing a wrong thermostat setting.

Ensure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”

Your thermostat has two settings, “auto” and “on,” that manage your heating system's blower motor.

“Auto” means the furnace blower will only operate when the furnace does.

“On” indicates the furnace blower will operate constantly. This constant air flow can help with heat distribution but will also increase your power bill and increase wear and tear on your furnace.

If your thermostat is set to "on," it will sound like your furnace is not turning off, but it's really just the furnace blower you're hearing. Switching it to "auto" should solve the problem. It will also help you spend less money on your energy costs.

Confirm Your Temperature Setting

If your thermostat won't turn off heat, check the temperature setting to the room temperature. If it's higher than the room air temp, your furnace will keep operating until it reaches your desired temp.

Remember that if it's very cold outside, your furnace will have to run much longer than normal to keep your home warm. This is because of a large temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm indoors.

As a check, you can try reducing the thermostat to match the room. Then, wait a few minutes. This should make the furnace turn off momentarily.

Replace the Batteries

If you have a programmable thermostat, it's probably battery powered. You can test 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 move it to "off," you will need to turn off the power.

Cut the Power

Thermostat seems to be working fine but your furnace still won't shut off? There are two spots you can cut the power to your heating unit: at the breaker box and at its dedicated power switch.

1. Head to your breaker box and find the breaker labeled "furnace." Move the breaker switch to the right to shut off power.
2. Next, look for the specific power switch to your heating system. It's similar to a light switch and is located on or near your furnace. Move the switch down to cut power.
3. Your furnace should be shut off now.

If you had to switch off your system at the breaker, contact us at 407-329-7661 for professional service, as you may require furnace repair.

What Causes a Furnace to Keep Running?

Occasionally fixing this problem can be as simple as changing your air filter or changing thermostat settings. In other instances, you might want a professional when your heater won't turn off.

Fan Limit Switch Needs to Be Replaced

The furnace fan limit switch controls your furnace's blower motor. If the switch goes bad, it might sound like your furnace running continuously, even though just the blower is going.

You might notice a furnace error code if there's a problem with the limit switch. Your furnace will speak through a blinking red light on the front of your heating system.

Our Experts can diagnose and correct any problems you're having with your furnace blower motor. Sometimes this can involve replacement parts, like the control board, faulty wiring or the fan switch itself.

Defective Thermostat

Like other things in your home, your thermostat can wear out over time 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, because they develop an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your preferences. Additionally, you'll be able to adjust and keep tabs on your thermostat from just about anywhere with your phone.

Air Ducts Are Leaking

Your furnace relies on ductwork to distribute hot air to vents across your home. If your home or ductwork is older, your furnace might be operating constantly because the ductwork is leaking hot air in the attic.

Diagnosing this leaky ductwork and other airflow problems can be challenging to resolve 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.

Depend on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs

Troubleshooting furnace problems can be inconvenient, particularly when it impacts your comfort, energy efficiency and heating bill. When it involves furnaces, there's a reason why we say we're Experts in our industry. You can depend on our ACE-certified technicians to solve 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.* Contact us at 407-329-7661 to book your appointment now.