Possible Reasons Your Furnace Runs Continuously And Repairs The Furnace May Need
A furnace that runs continuously drives up your power bill, and it may not keep you warm enough even though the furnace doesn't shut off. A few things can cause your furnace to run continuously, so you may need to bring in a heating repair contractor to solve the issue. Here are some possible reasons for the problem.
When The Blower Runs Continuously
Sometimes, the problem is with the blower. When that happens, the furnace may blow hot air for a while and then blow cooler air. Check that your thermostat isn't set to the "on" or "fan" position. Instead, it should be set to "auto" so your furnace can cycle on and off. If the thermostat settings seem right, try shutting the thermostat off. If that doesn't help, you may need a furnace technician to repair the thermostat or replace a bad limit control switch.
It's also possible the blower will put out cool air continuously, and this signals a problem with the ignition or pilot light. If the pilot light is out, light it if you know how. If that doesn't help, the ignition portion of your furnace may need repairs to get the burners working again.
When The Furnace Blows Hot Air Constantly
If your heater blows hot air constantly, that could be due to the furnace's inability to heat your house to the temperature set on the thermostat. Reduce the thermostat setting to a lower number to see if that helps. For instance, if it's very chilly outside and you have a leak through a door or window that you don't know about, your furnace may not be able to reach the target temperature even though it runs all day and night. If this is your problem, you may need to figure out why your house is so cold and cover windows or add caulk to keep the cold air out.
If the problem is due to a thermostat malfunction, a heating repair technician might be able to fix the problem, but if not, it may be necessary to put in a new thermostat. That's a good time to get a programmable or smart thermostat so you can program it to be more energy-efficient.
It's not good for your furnace to run continuously whether it puts out hot air or cool air. The problem could be due to bad wiring, worn out parts, or even gaps in the ducts. A heating repair professional will examine your heating system and pinpoint the problem first and then make repairs that get your home warmed up again with a properly running furnace that won't drive up your power bill.
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