An overheating furnace not only increases your repair costs but can put your household at risk. Overheating is one of the leading causes of cracked heat exchangers, which will leak carbon monoxide into your home. Discover some common reasons your Lenoir City, TN, furnace may experience overheating and what you should do about it.
Insufficient Airflow
Your furnace can’t get rid of the heat it produces if it isn’t getting the proper airflow through it. This causes a buildup of heat in the burn chamber and heat exchanger, leading to overheating. Common airflow restrictions include:
- Closed vents.
- Blocked vents.
- Clogged air filter.
- Dirty circulating fan wheel.
Check your filter monthly and plan to change it every 30 to 90 days. Keep all supply vents open and give each at least 6 inches of clearance to allow proper circulation.
Neglected Furnace Maintenance
Maintenance is incredibly important for the health and life of your furnace, including preventing overheating. During routine maintenance, a service technician will clean the heat exchanger and circulating fan wheel. They’ll also test the circulating fan to ensure it’s spinning at the right speed to circulate enough air.
Component Failure
A furnace is an intricate mechanical system with many parts that have wear and tear over time. When one of those components fails, it can cause the system to stop circulating air, leading to overheating.
Short-Cycling Furnace
This is when the furnace turns on and off quickly or stops before completing the full heating cycle. While overheating is a primary cause, short -ycling can also cause overheating. Turning on and off rapidly can stress the motors, causing them to overheat and sustain damage.
Avoid the risks of trying to run a furnace that has overheated. Call to schedule your furnace repair with one of our NATE-certified service technicians at Melton Heating and Air Conditioning.
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