What to Do When Your Heater Wont Turn Off!

It's not uncommon for heating systems to have a problem every now and then. It could be as simple as a broken thermostat or an electrical issue. If your gas furnace won't shut off, here are a few steps you can take to get a properly working furnace again.

Examine the Air Filter

A dirty air filter creates problems for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here's why. It restricts airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder and run longer to satisfy your desired temperature.

This multiplies wear and tear on your furnace, as well as the likelihood 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 repeating 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 unpleasant.

We encourage replacing flat filters each 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 dusty and you should replace it.

If the matter was connected to a clogged air filter, replacing it with a new 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 simply informs the unit when to turn on and off. It's often the problem when your furnace won't stop running.

At times having the heat turn off is as simple as changing a wrong thermostat setting.

Ensure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”

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

“Auto” indicates the furnace blower will only run when the furnace does.

“On” means 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 switched to "on," it will seem 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 save money on your energy costs.

Confirm 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.

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

As a test, you can try reducing the setting to correspond with the room. Then, wait a few minutes. This should make the furnace shut off momentarily.

Put in Fresh Batteries

If you use a programmable thermostat, it's likely battery powered. You can test replacing the batteries to see if that resolves the problem. 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 turn off the power.

Turn Off the Power

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

1. Head to your breaker box and locate the breaker labeled "furnace." Push the breaker switch to the right to shut off power.
2. Next, search for the specific power switch to your heating system. It looks like a light switch and is located on or close to 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, call us at 603-923-4570 for professional service, as you may require furnace repair.

What Causes a Furnace to Keep Running?

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

Fan Limit Switch Needs Replacing

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

You might notice a furnace error code if there's an issue with the limit switch. Your furnace will speak via a flashing red light on the front of your heating system.

Our Experts can diagnose and fix any problems 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 anything else in your home, your thermostat can wear out as time passes and need to be replaced. If it's time for a new one, ask us about installing a smart thermostat.

These thermostats make it simple to save energy, since they create an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule according to your needs. Additionally, you'll be able to adjust and monitor your thermostat from just about anywhere with your phone.

Leaky Air Ducts

Your furnace uses ductwork to distribute hot air to vents throughout your home. If your home or ductwork is older, your furnace might be operating all the time since the ductwork is leaking hot air in the attic.

Identifying this leaky ductwork and other airflow issues can be tricky to troubleshoot on your own, since it's concealed behind walls and ceilings. Our Experts can help with diagnosing and taking care of any air duct repair service that you need.

Depend on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs

Troubleshooting furnace issues can be annoying, especially 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 rely 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.* Contact us at 603-923-4570 to book your appointment now.