A heater is an essential appliance in our homes. It heats your rooms, providing your family with coziness and comfort. Regardless of the type of heater you have in your home, the appliance can develop operation issues at some point, causing it to run nonstop. If your heater fails to turn off, it’s important to understand the problem before calling in an expert. Below are some of the leading causes of a constantly running heating unit and what you can do to solve the problem.
1. Clogged Filters
Clogged filters can cause several problems to the heater. They will force your heater to work twice as hard to attain the heat demand of your residential property, making it difficult to shut off. Professionals recommend replacing your air filters several times a year to protect the heating unit from damage. Nonetheless, the number can vary, depending on your environment and filter model. For instance, if you have pets or live near a construction site, you should consider replacing your filters more often.
2. Blower Issues
If the air coming from the vents is cold even when your heating unit runs, you may have blower problems. An electrical problem such as corroded wires might be causing the blower to run nonstop. If that’s the case, do not try to fix your furnace’s electrical components. Contact an HVAC expert to inspect the unit and make the necessary repairs.
3. Damaged Fan Limit Switch
If your heater’s limit switch is damaged, faulty, or the wiring is worn out, your unit will run constantly. The limit switch is found underneath the hood of the furnace, and it controls the blower’s function inside the furnace. There is a probe inside the switch that activates the heater’s fan when the burner assembly overheats. Once the components cool down, it turns the blower fan off again. The fan will run nonstop if the probe or limit switch becomes defective or damaged. Call in a heating expert to assess the situation and make the needed repairs.
4. Wrong Thermostat Settings
If you’ve set the temperatures too high, your heater will run more often than it should. Always check the thermostat setting first to rule out any other more serious issues. Setting the temperatures too high will only make your living space unusually hot and uncomfortable. Reset the thermostat to appropriate settings, and your furnace will start running normally again.
5. Pilot Light Problems
Pilot light issues can also cause your heater to run constantly. If your heating system is running nonstop, but the air coming via the vents into the house isn’t hot, the pilot light might have gone out. If that’s the case, your heating unit will run nonstop as it tries to warm your home. You can follow the heater’s manual to relight the pilot light yourself or call an HVAC technician to do it for you.
6. Leaky Ductwork
Leaky ductwork can also cause your heating system to run nonstop. Your home comprises of return and supply ductwork. The return ductwork sucks air into the heating unit to get heated while the supply ducts blow hot air to your living space. If the supply air ducts have leaks, the heated air may leak into the attic instead of into your living space. As a result, your heating system will run nonstop to keep your home warm. If you have duct leaks, consider calling an expert to inspect and repair the ducts for you.
7. A Faulty Thermostat
If the temperatures are correctly set and your heater is still running nonstop, your thermostat may be the culprit. A malfunctioning thermostat can have non-responsive switches, a faulty heating sensor, or in some cases, poor wiring. Depending on the problem and its severity, your thermostat might be repairable. However, in some cases, you may need to replace it entirely.
Contact the Heating Professionals
Heating your living space is vital to surviving the cold season. However, if your heating unit is running nonstop, you might be experiencing one or more of the issues highlighted above. If nothing in the above troubleshooting guide solved the issue with the heater, it’s time to call an experienced professional from Variable Comfort Solutions. In most cases, our experts can fix the problem with a simple adjustment or tune-up service.
It would be best if you reached out to your technician once you suspect an issue with your heater. That’s because waiting or ignoring the problem will only damage your unit further or cause a costly breakdown. Apart from heating, we also offer remodels, humidifiers, ductless systems, air purifiers, cooling, and air quality services to the residents of Huntington, WV, and its surroundings. Call or contact us online to request our services.
