If your gas furnace keeps cycling on and off, it might not be able to keep your home warm. The fact that it's cycling on and off could be a sign of a mild problem, such as a dirty filter, or your furnace might need to be repaired by a furnace repair technician. There are three things in particular that might be wrong.
1. The Flame Sensor Might Be Corroded
Your furnace might shut on or off because of a corroded flame sensor. This thin metal rod is a safety feature. It detects flames and powers down your furnace if it cannot detect flame to prevent gases from entering your home. However, if rusted, it might not be able to sense the flame.
Some homeowners choose to replace their sensors themselves. However, this is a complex task, and it's only recommended if you are familiar with working with mechanical parts.
2. You Might Have Blown a Fuse
Most furnaces require some electricity to function. Your furnace might be drawing more power than the circuit can handle. You might also have a blown furnace fuse. A dirty filter, damaged wiring, and various other problems can cause your furnace to experience a blown fuse.
You will need to find the circuit breaker or fuse box. Your furnace will likely have its own fuse box. You will then want to look for any flipped switches or blown fuses. You will notice that you have tripped a circuit if all circuits are on and the furnace switch is off. However, if you flip the switch back to the on position, it should work again.
3. The Thermostat Might Not Be Working
Your furnace might also be cycling on and off if you have a faulty thermostat. The purpose of a thermostat is to inform you about what temperature the furnace needs to set. If your temperature dips below the temperature set by the thermostat, the furnace is supposed to cycle on and warm up your home. However, if your thermostat is not working correctly, it might misread the temperature and fail to cycle on.
First, check the thermostat to ensure the battery doesn't need to be replaced. If your thermostat isn't working correctly, it might have faulty wiring, and you must replace it with a new one. However, it's essential to ensure that the thermostat is the problem and not something else so you save money replacing it. Therefore, it's best to have your furnace inspected by a repair technician.
Contact a local HVAC service to learn more about furnace repair.
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