Why Your Heater Is Shutting Off Before Reaching The Desired Temperature
Posted on: 12 December 2019
When you choose a setting on your thermostat, that's exactly how warm you expect your home to be. Unfortunately, there are a variety of issues can lead to insufficient heating. Know what some of the causes are for poor heating so that you can diagnose the problem and schedule a heating repair.
Thermostat Issues
A variety of issues with the thermostat can lead to insufficient heating. A malfunctioning thermostat, for example, may not be interfacing with the furnace properly or reading the air temperature correctly. In this case, you need to either recalibrate or replace the thermostat.
Another common issue is location. A thermostat placed in an area where sunlight hits it or near a hot light bulb or appliance may also shut down the furnace due to a false temperature reading, which is why proper installation is important. Moving the thermostat should solve the problem.
Flame Sensor
A broken or dirty flame sensor in a gas or oil furnace can also lead to early shutoffs. When dust and debris get onto the sensor, it affects the reading and can lead to the furnace turning off early or even failing to turn on completely. Fortunately, a furnace tuneup should solve this problem since part of the maintenance visit should include the cleaning of this sensor.
Overheating
Most furnaces are equipped with safety mechanisms that shut down the furnace if it is in danger of overheating. Keep the area around your furnace clean so that air can flow around the unit easily. Further, clean or replace the air filter every month or two to further ensure that there is sufficient airflow to prevent overheating. During an annual tuneup, the technician should also remove the furnace housing and dust the interior of the furnace to ensure nothing is blocking airflow or causing the furnace to overheat.
Closed Ducts
If the room with the thermostat is reaching the desired temperature, but other rooms aren't, then the issue is likely with the duct system. Verify that the vents are open and no furniture or other items are sitting on top of the vents in the cold rooms. Also, move any drapes that could be blocking airflow from the vents and leave the room doors open so that air exchange with the rest of the house can occur. If this doesn't help, you could have a loose or damaged duct. Your repair technician can inspect the ducts and repair any issues that are uncovered.
Contact a heating repair service for more help.
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