During the winter in Richmond Hill, Georgia, the temperatures drop to the low 50s. It’s by no means the coldest temperatures in the country, but many homeowners here and across the rest of Georgia rely on their furnace systems for warmth and comfort during this period.
Unfortunately, HVAC systems often develop issues when they are most in use. One common problem is a furnace system running nonstop.
Many homeowners are stumped by the cause. Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace to run continuously? Is the problem a lot more serious?
As a provider of trusted heating service in Richmond Hill, GA, we’ve often heard these questions. We can tell you that a bad thermostat can indeed make your furnace run nonstop for a long time. The problem might also be due to other forms of serious malfunction, but it’s always best to start troubleshooting from the thermostat.
In this post, we’ll look at why a bad thermostat can affect your furnace’s cycle.
Furnace Cycling: How Long Is Too Long in Richmond Hill, Georgia?
First, we should address how long a furnace runtime should last. You want to be sure you’re not worrying unnecessarily.
Generally, your furnace should run two to three cycles an hour, each lasting 10 to 15 minutes. However, during the coldest days of the year, the furnace can run up to 10 cycles an hour, depending on your temperature preferences, the type of furnace, and other unique peculiarities (insulation, number of occupied rooms, etc.). Many people mistake this for short cycling.
However, even when the furnace is working hard in the peak of winter, you should notice regular cycle breaks. The breaks may be as short as two minutes, but you should notice them. You should be worried if you find your furnace running for an hour or two nonstop.
The Importance of the Thermostat to a Furnace’s Operation
Your thermostat tells your furnace what temperature you want your home to be. If it malfunctions, it can impact your furnace’s performance and lead to a wide range of other problems.
So, can a bad thermostat cause a furnace to run continuously? Definitely.
The thermostat’s role is temperature regulation. It reads the room’s temperature and communicates the numbers to your furnace. That’s how the furnace knows when to run a cycle and when to take a break.
Any disruption in this communication can lead to continuous operation.
Thermostat Problems That Can Make Your Furnace Run Nonstop in Richmond Hill, Georgia
Your thermostat can keep your furnace running nonstop if it has any of the following issues:
Poor Temperature Reading
As we mentioned above, the thermostat’s main job is to read the temperatures and communicate with your HVAC system. Anything that hampers the unit’s ability to read the temperatures can cause your furnace to run nonstop or not at all.
A thermostat can fail to accurately read the temperature if it has a faulty control board or a broken microprocessor. But sometimes, the problem isn’t technical. Installing the thermostat in the wrong location can cause it to read the wrong temperatures.
For example, installing the thermostat in a location exposed to drafts can signal to the furnace that your home is colder than it really is. Therefore, your furnace will keep running nonstop even when your home is warm enough.
Broken Heat Sensor
Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace to run continuously? Yes, if it has a damaged or malfunctioning heat sensor.
The heat sensor detects when your home is warm enough and signals your furnace to take a break. If the heat sensor is broken or malfunctioning, your furnace will keep running nonstop, trying to reach your desired temperatures.
Wiring Problems
A set of wires carry the communication between your thermostat and the furnace. If any of those wires are loose or damaged, it will interfere with the communication. Thus, the furnace might not receive the thermostat’s signals.
These wiring problems are likely in older homes or those that have completed renovations recently. Basically, if you’ve had to move the wires around recently, then it’s highly likely that there’s some damage along the line.
Battery Problems
Do you have a battery-powered thermostat? Dying batteries can cause it to struggle to control your furnace.
Thermostats with low batteries may fail to accurately read the temperatures. They may also fail to send the right signals for your furnace to end a heating cycle.
Poor Calibration
A poorly calibrated thermostat can also lead to issues for your furnace and home’s indoor comfort. After installing a thermostat, experienced technicians will carefully calibrate it to ensure it can accurately read and respond to the room’s temperature.
Poorly calibrated thermostats will struggle to read a room’s temperatures accurately. If you have one of these, your furnace will likely run heating cycles nonstop.
What To Do When a Bad Thermostat Is Making Your Furnace Run Nonstop
If you find your furnace running nonstop, it’s always safer (and cheaper) to put the blame on the thermostat first. It may have one of the problems we’ve looked at above. Here are a few things you can do:
Check the Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat may not necessarily have a fault. You need to first confirm that the settings are accurate.
Check that it’s set to the heating mode and that the temperature settings are accurate. Your furnace may be running longer because you’ve set very high temperatures.
If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, go over the schedules you set to confirm that a wrong setting isn’t keeping the furnace running longer than necessary.
Change the Batteries
If you suspect your battery-powered thermostat is malfunctioning, the first thing you should do is replace the batteries. This is especially true if you can’t remember when you installed the current batteries.
Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace to run continuously after replacing the batteries? Yes, but in that case, you can rule out battery issues. If replacing the batteries doesn’t fix the problem, you can continue your troubleshooting.
Inspect the Wiring
Where possible, run a visual check along the connection from the thermostat to the furnace. Watch out for any loose or damaged wires. Even when the wire isn’t completely severed, it might still be damaged enough to cause communication problems between the thermostat and the furnace.
Fixing the wire is not a DIY task, though. You’ll need to call a technician to repair or replace the damaged segments.
Recalibrate or Reset Your Thermostat
Some thermostats support manual recalibration. If you own one of these, look through the manual on how to complete the recalibration.
If your thermostat doesn’t have the function for recalibration (as with many smart thermostats), you can reset it. Resetting the thermostat can correct any temperature anomalies. It can also help clear any error codes.
Call a Furnace Repair Technician
If your troubleshooting hasn’t been successful, you should call an HVAC repair technician. They can evaluate your thermostat and fix any problems with it. They will also be able to tell if the thermostat needs a replacement or if the problem is beyond the surface. Plus, with financing options available, you can get the necessary repairs or replacements without straining your budget, ensuring your home stays comfortable year-round.
Can You Ignore a Furnace Running Nonstop?
Now that you know that your thermostat could make your furnace run nonstop, you may be wondering if you can ignore the issue. Will it go away on its own? Unfortunately, most HVAC problems do not go away on their own, and they tend to get worse when you ignore them.
Using a furnace running nonstop will put a lot of strain on the components. This increases the risk of overheating, which may trigger a safety lockout. Therefore, in ignoring the problem, you could end up without heating on one of the coldest nights of the year.
Even when the problem doesn’t escalate to that point, you’ll significantly shorten the lifespan of the unit by using it that way. So, you’re better off calling a technician as fast as possible.
Get Expert Help With Your Furnace From Your Local Professionals in Richmond Hill, Georgia
Do you have a furnace running nonstop? Have you done your best with DIY troubleshooting without success?
Don’t fret. Our technicians at Georgia Air Cooling & Heating are a phone call away.
Our experienced professionals have heard the question, “Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace to run continuously?” numerous times. We know where to begin the troubleshooting when we arrive. We also know how to reset a furnace control board if it’s already in the safety lockout mode.
We promise to have your furnace running normal cycles in the shortest time possible.
If we find any underlying issues that will require repairs, we’ll discuss the repair plan with you and choose the most convenient time to complete the necessary fixes. Your comfort is our priority.
Are you ready to put your furnace troubles behind you? Call our skilled and friendly Georgia Air Cooling & Heating team in Richmond Hill, Georgia, to book an appointment.