A heater is designed to turn on when the room temperature is low and turn off once your home reaches the optimal temperature. However, you may notice that your heater is running nonstop regardless of reaching the right temperature.

This can be frustrating because your home may become uncomfortably warm, and it also increases your energy bills. If your heater won’t shut off, here are six common reasons why.

1. A Dirty Air Filter

A clogged air filter limits the airflow reaching your furnace. With reduced airflow, the furnace produces less warm air, which means it has to run longer to keep up.

Solution: Clean or replace your air filter regularly to maintain airflow, improve efficiency, and keep energy bills lower.

2. A Faulty Thermostat

Your thermostat tells the heater when to turn on and off. If it’s damaged, the heater may keep running even when the set temperature is reached.

Common causes include:

• A broken heating sensor

• Unresponsive switches

• Damaged or shorted thermostat wiring

Solution: Have a professional inspect the thermostat. Depending on the problem, they may repair or replace it.

3. Ductwork Leaks

Your HVAC system has two types of ducts:

• Supply ducts deliver warm air into your rooms.

• Return ducts pull cool air back into the furnace.

If there are leaks, warm air may escape into the attic or crawl spaces instead of reaching your living spaces. As a result, the thermostat never registers the desired temperature, and the heater runs continuously.

Solution: A technician can perform duct sealing using adhesive, metal tape, or sealant.

4. A Defective Check Valve

For systems that use hot water radiators, a faulty check valve may cause your heating system to run nonstop.

If the valve is damaged, it won’t regulate water flow properly, allowing unrestricted circulation. This prevents the system from shutting off.

Solution: Replacing the check valve restores normal heating cycles.

5. Incorrect Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat may simply be set incorrectly.

• If set to ON, your furnace and blower fan will continue running.

• If set to AUTO, the system cycles on and off as needed.

A thermostat that’s set too high can also cause nonstop heating, as the system keeps trying to reach that temperature.

Solution: Ensure your thermostat is set correctly and to a reasonable temperature.

6. Faulty Blower Fan Motor

The blower fan pushes warm air from the furnace into your home. If the motor or its limit switch malfunctions, the blower may run constantly.

Solution: A technician can inspect the blower motor and switch, repairing or replacing them if needed.

Heating Repair and Installation in Maryland

At Elite Mechanical, we pride ourselves on solving all heating issues for homeowners in Maryland and surrounding areas. Our skilled technicians provide heating repairs, new installations, and preventive maintenance to keep your system running efficiently.

We also specialize in cooling services, including AC repairs, maintenance, and installations.

Address:
1830 treeview ct k crofton maryland 21114