What to Do When Your Heater Wont Turn Off!

It's not uncommon for heating systems to have a glitch every now and then. It could be as simple as a bad 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.

Examine the Air Filter

A dirty air filter creates problems for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here's why. It limits airflow, making your furnace 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 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 monthly 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 see light through your filter, it's too dusty and you should get a new one.

If the matter was connected to a clogged air filter, putting in a new filter should solve this common issue when your heat won't turn off. If not, we recommend checking your thermostat settings next.

Check Out the Thermostat

Your thermostat controls 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 adjusting an incorrect thermostat setting.

Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”

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

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

“On” indicates the furnace blower will operate constantly. This constant air flow can help with heat circulation but will also drive up 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 noticing. Changing it to "auto" should resolve the problem. It will also help you save 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 higher 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 normal to keep your home warm. This is due to a big temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm indoors.

As a test, you can try decreasing the temperature to match the room. Then, wait a couple of minutes. This should make the furnace turn off momentarily.

Put in Fresh Batteries

If you have a programmable thermostat, it's likely 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 set it to "off," you will need to turn off the power.

Cut the Power

Thermostat appears 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 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, look for the specific power switch to your heating system. It's similar to a light switch and can be found on or near your furnace. Move the switch down to shut off power.
3. Your furnace should be turned off now.

If you had to turn off your system at the breaker, call us at 352-414-4006 for professional service, as you may require furnace repair.

What Causes a Furnace to Keep Running?

Sometimes correcting this problem can be as simple as changing your air filter or changing thermostat settings. In other situations, you might want 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 seem like your furnace running continuously, 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 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.

Bad Thermostat

Like other things in your home, your thermostat can break down as time passes and need to be replaced. If you're due for a new one, ask us about getting a smart thermostat.

These thermostats make it simple to save energy, since they create an energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your preferences. 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 distribute hot air to vents across 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 resolve on your own, since it's hidden behind walls and ceilings. Our Experts can help with diagnosing and handling any air duct repair service that you require.

Depend on Our Experts for All Your Furnace Repair Needs

Troubleshooting furnace issues can be annoying, especially when it affects 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 rely on our ACE-certified technicians to resolve 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 352-414-4006 to book your appointment now.