An overheating furnace produces no heat unless you manually reset its heat limits. The safety features shut off your burner to limit the temperature in the system. If your furnace in Newport News, VA, keeps overheating, the following reasons might be the cause:
Restricted Airflow
Restricted airflow is a result of a dirty air filter, blocked air vents or a dirty blower wheel. When the air filter is dirty, it blocks the flow of air that passes through the system, and this causes the furnace to overheat. Ensure furniture and other household items don’t block the return vents to keep the temperature in the heating system low.
Old Age
If your furnace is older than 15 years, some of its components, such as the limit switch, will start to wear down and stop functioning. If the limit switch fails, the furnace isn’t able to recognize when it needs to shut off, so it keeps working and overheats.
A servicetechnician can help you replace a limit switch and other broken components. They will assess the condition of the system and can even recommend a replacement.
Mechanical Failure
When a part of the furnace breaks down and stops functioning, it may overheat. The motor, fan blower or wiring can fail and cause the furnace to overheat. You can prevent a mechanical failure through a routine furnace tuneup, as these issues typically don’t happen all of a sudden.
Broken Gas Valve
A gas valve regulates the amount of gas that flows into the furnace. When there’s too much gas, the gas flames will be large in size, and there will be more heat.
If you don’t correct the overheating problem, the heat exchanger can warp or crack, causing it to release carbon monoxide into your home. Call Smiley’s Heating & Cooling for air conditioning, indoor air quality and heating services.
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