It’s not unheard of for heating systems to have a glitch every now and then. It could be as simple as a broken thermostat or an electrical issue. If your gas furnace won’t shut off, here are a couple steps you can take to get a properly working furnace again.
A dirty air filter causes problems for numerous homeowners and their HVAC system. Here’s why. It limits airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder and run longer to meet your desired temperature.
This increases wear and tear on your furnace, as well as the odds of a breakdown and premature failure.
It can also make your furnace overheat and shut down for a time to cool down. Then it will keep repeating this process when your furnace switches on. This is known as short cycling. In addition to wearing out your furnace faster, it can increase your heating bill and make your home feel uncomfortable.
We encourage replacing flat filters once a month and pleated filters every three months. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced your furnace filter, remove it and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see light through your filter, it’s too dirty and you should replace it.
If the matter was linked to a clogged air filter, replacing it with a clean filter should solve this common problem when your heat won’t turn off. If not, we suggest checking your thermostat settings next.
Your thermostat runs your furnace and simply informs the unit when to turn on and off. It’s usually the problem when your furnace won’t stop running.
At times having the heat turn off is as easy as changing a wrong thermostat setting.
Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to “Auto”
Your thermostat includes two settings, “auto” and “on,” that manage your heating system’s blower motor.
“Auto” indicates the furnace blower will only operate when the furnace does.
“On” means the furnace blower will run constantly. This constant air flow can help with heat distribution but will also drive up your power bill and lead to wear and tear on your furnace.
If your thermostat is switched to “on,” it will seem like your furnace is not turning off, but it’s really just the furnace blower you’re hearing. Switching it to “auto” should resolve the problem. It will also help you save money on your energy costs.
If your thermostat won’t turn off heat, check the temperature setting to the area temperature. If it’s higher than the room air temp, your furnace will keep running until it reaches your desired temp.
Keep in mind that if it’s very cold outside, your furnace will have to run much longer than normal to keep your home warm. This is because of a large temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm indoors.
As a check, you can try decreasing the thermostat to match the room. Then, wait a couple of minutes. This should make the furnace shut off in a few minutes.
If you use a programmable thermostat, it’s likely battery powered. You can try putting in new 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 turn off after you set it to “off,” you will need to 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.
If you had to turn off your system at the breaker, contact us at for professional service, as you may require furnace repair.
Occasionally fixing this problem can be as easy as replacing your air filter or changing thermostat settings. In other instances, you might want a professional when your heater won’t turn off.
The furnace fan limit switch regulates your furnace’s blower motor. If the switch goes out, it might seem like your furnace running nonstop, even though just the blower is going.
You might notice a furnace error code if there’s a problem with the limit switch. Your furnace will speak through a flashing red light on the front of your heating system.
Our Experts can identify and fix any issues you’re having with your furnace blower motor. Often this can involve replacement parts, like the control board, faulty wiring or the fan switch itself.
Like other things in your home, your thermostat can wear out as time passes and need to be replaced. If it’s time 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. Additionally, you’ll be able to adjust and monitor your thermostat from just about anyplace with your phone.
Your furnace uses ductwork to circulate hot air to vents across your home. If your home or ductwork is older, your furnace might be operating all the time because the ductwork is leaking hot air in the attic.
Identifying this leaky ductwork and other airflow problems can be challenging to troubleshoot on your own, since it’s concealed behind walls and ceilings. Our Experts can help with identifying and handling any air duct repair service that you need.
Troubleshooting furnace problems can be annoying, particularly 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 count on our ACE-certified technicians to resolve your problem quickly and affordably. And what’s even better, we stand behind our HVAC system repairs with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for one year.* Contact us at to book your appointment now.
Student loan debt in the United States has been a growing problem for many years. Today’s total student debt is more than $1.7 trillion, with the average college graduate owing $20,000 to $25,000. If you’re contemplating your higher education journey or counseling someone who is, it’s... Continue reading
If you’d like to replace your old furnace, don’t presume that another furnace is the only option. This may be the preferred choice for most North American households, but heat pumps are steadily growing in popularity. Still, the question remains: Is a heat pump your ideal heating system?... Continue reading
If you’re considering an upgrade to your furnace, an important first step is to decide on an efficiency rating. This will impact your up-front costs and what you pay for home heating as time goes on. With this handy guide, you’ll understand more about AFUE ratings and how they affect... Continue reading
There’s no reason to skip your seasonal maintenance that saves energy and helps ensure your air conditioner and heater will work reliably all season long.
© 2023 Service Experts, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, and the Service Experts logo and design are registered trademarks of Service Experts LLC and used under license by SE Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. *Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.
