We advise customers to have their heating systems repaired as soon as they notice anything wrong with them. This applies any time of the year, even during early spring when warmer days are just around the corner (or at least we hope so). If you notice your heater keeps turning off early, we recommend calling for professional home heating services technician as soon as you can.
What Might Cause a Heater to Turn Off Prematurely
A heater that doesn’t run as long as necessary will heat a house unevenly. The rooms farthest along the ventilation system won’t receive as much heating as they should because the heater hasn’t stayed on long enough to generate enough heated air.
When you notice uneven heating in your home, perform an inspection to confirm if your heater keeps turning on and off. If the run-time sounds shorter than normal, the heater may have a problem called short-cycling.
Short-cycling is when a heater doesn’t complete its regular heating cycle and turns off early. A full heating cycle for a furnace or heat pump is usually around 15 minutes or more. If your heater keeps turning off after only five minutes, that’s too short—no matter how low you’ve set the thermostat.
Causes of Short-Cycling
Clogged Air Filter
This is one of the most frequent causes of trouble in an HVAC system. If the filter is heavily clogged with dust and debris, it may cause the furnace to shut off as a safety precaution. Fortunately, this is a basic problem to solve—just put in a clean filter. We recommend changing the HVAC system filter every 1 to 3 months depending on how often you run the heater and the strength of the filter.
Corroded Flame Sensor
This applies to gas furnaces, which are the most common type of heating system. The flame sensor determines if the burners are on when the gas valve is open.
The sensor will shut off the gas if it doesn’t sense flames—this prevents a buildup of unburned gas in the combustion chamber. Since the flame sensor is not able to detect fire when it’s covered in dirt or debris, it will continuously close the gas valve and cause the furnace to keep shutting off.
Blockages in the Flue Pipe
Depending on the type of system you own, your furnace may be integrated with a flue pipe that is designed to circulate hot gases to your roof. If your flue pipe or exhaust system becomes clogged with leaves, rodents, sticks, or nests, this can cause the gas from your furnace to become trapped.
Once the gas starts to build up, this may cause your heater to overheat and turn off early. If your furnace keeps shutting off after a couple of minutes, it may be necessary to work with a licensed professional to remove the blockages in your flue pipe and HVAC system.
Broken Blower Motor
Your furnace is equipped with a blower motor that is designed to distribute warm air to the supply vents in each room of your house. When the blower motor is broken, your furnace may prematurely activate and perform a cycle.
Since there is no incoming air blowing over the heat exchangers when the blower motor is damaged, the heater can overheat and turn off before the end of the full cycle. To prevent damage to the heat exchangers and other components, do not attempt to operate your furnace with a malfunctioning blower motor.
Read More: Heat Pump Sizing Tips
Malfunctioning Thermostat
If the thermostat in your home is sending incorrect signals, it may be be the reason your heater keeps turning on and off. The thermostat might be reading temperatures incorrectly or have a bad connection to the heater’s control board. Technicians can recalibrate the thermostat or take care of other repairs so it operates the heater correctly.
Oversized Heater
This is the most serious issue that will cause a furnace to keep shutting off is an improper installation. When a heater is too powerful for a home, it will heat up the living spaces so fast that the thermostat will shut the heater off prematurely.
All you can do in this case is arrange for a new heating system installation—this time from a qualified professional who will make sure the heater is the right size.
Heating Repair & Install Services Near You
Wm. Henderson has provided heating services throughout Delaware County, Chester County, and the Main Line for over 42 years. We offer HVAC solutions for boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and other types of systems. We offer reputable heater repair services in Brookhaven, PA and other areas.
If you have a problem with your air conditioner, our team also provides air conditioning repair and replacement services. Give us a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 or book an appointment online to receive assistance.