Frustrated by a furnace that won’t turn off?
We understand your frustration—and we’ll do our best to explain what causes this annoying problem and how you can fix it.
If your furnace won’t shut off, you likely have one of the following issues:
- Thermostat issue
- Dirty air filter
- Faulty blower
- Leaky air ducts
We’ll go into more detail about each of these issues below...
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Cause #1: Thermostat issue
Two thermostat problems could be causing your furnace to run continuously:
- Your thermostat is set incorrectly
- Your thermostat has a wiring issue
Incorrect thermostat setting
Your thermostat controls your furnace fan. Sometimes the fan setting accidentally gets changed to the wrong position.
The correct setting is AUTO. Make sure your thermostat is set to AUTO instead of ON.
Here’s the difference between the two fan settings:
- When your thermostat is set to ON, your furnace fan will run non-stop, which could be what is causing your furnace to sound like it’s not turning off
- When your thermostat is set to AUTO, your furnace fan will run only while your furnace is heating your home’s air
Wiring issue
If your thermostat is set to AUTO and everything else seems to be working, the issue could be with the thermostat itself.
Over time, the wiring that connects the thermostat to your furnace can start to wear out. This could prevent your furnace from turning off.
Instead of attempting to fix the wiring issue yourself, we recommend contacting a professional to inspect your thermostat. Electrical issues are often complex and potentially dangerous to fix, which is why it’s best to let a pro handle this job.
Cause #2: Dirty air filter
A dirty air filter blocks air from entering your furnace, which could be causing your furnace to run non-stop.
Here’s why: When you set your thermostat to HEAT, your furnace starts pulling in cold air from inside your home to be heated. This air passes through the air filter where any large particles are removed from the air before it reaches your furnace.
However, if your filter accumulates too much dirt and debris, air will have a difficult time passing through the filter, which means little or no air will reach your furnace. The less air your furnace pulls in, the less hot air it can breathe out. This means your furnace will have to run longer to get your home to your desired temperature, which may be the reason your furnace is running continuously.
Do this: Check your air filter. If it is dirty, replace it with a new one. Then, run your furnace as normal and wait a couple of hours. If you still hear your furnace running non-stop during that time, contact a professional for help.
Cause #3: Faulty blower
Like we mentioned above, your furnace has a blower that pulls in cold air to be heated and pushes out warm air into your home.
This blower is powered by a motor, which can start to malfunction over time. The most common blower problem that makes your furnace run non-stop is a faulty limit switch. A limit switch is the part of your furnace that tells your system when to turn on and off. If it’s broken, your furnace won’t know when to shut off and will continue to run.
If this is your issue, you’ll need to hire an HVAC professional to fix it. Fixing a broken fan limit switch requires electrical skills and know-how, which is why we recommend letting a professional handle this job.
Cause #4: Leaky air ducts
If you have leaky air ducts (specifically on the supply side, seen in the image below), then heated air might be leaking into the attic instead of going into your home.
If you’re losing heated air, your furnace will have to produce more heated air to warm your home, which means longer run times.
You might have leaky ducts if you notice the following signs:
- Uneven heating throughout the house
- Lots of dust in your home
- Higher-than-normal utility bills
If you notice these signs, have a duct specialist inspect your ductwork for leaks. If they find that your ducts have leaks, you’ll need them to be repaired (sealed).
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For more information about what to expect when you hire us, visit our furnace repair page.