Your furnace provides you with warmth and comfort through the cold, Indiana winter. What if it gets too hot, though? How can you tell if your furnace is overheating, and what can you do about it? Here’s how to handle an overly hot furnace.
Signs of an Overheating, Hot Furnace
The most common sign that your furnace is too hot is a persistent burning smell coming from the vents. Ordinarily, that smell is nothing to worry about. At the beginning of the season, it’s just several months’ worth of accumulated dust burning itself off. However, if the smell doesn’t go away or you smell it at all after that first use, then it likely means overheating.
You also may notice a loud humming noise coming from the unit. That likely means the blower motor isn’t running properly and it’s working harder than it should to get up to full speed, overheating in the process.
Finally, if the furnace shuts itself off before your home has reached the proper temperature and doesn’t turn on again, that’s a sign it’s overheating. The safety switch detected that the unit was getting too hot and shut it off automatically before it could lead to permanent damage.
Why You Have a Hot Furnace
If your furnace is overheating, it may mean your airflow is restricted. This is usually caused by a clogged air filter. Not enough air is getting through, so your furnace has to work harder to heat your home. Changing the filter regularly should fix the problem.
There may also be accumulated dirt and debris on the unit’s internal components. This is more likely to happen if you haven’t had your annual maintenance visit. Your HVAC technician will inspect the unit thoroughly and clean all the components to keep them running at peak efficiency.
It could also be an electrical problem. A wiring issue could cause short circuiting, which then causes the furnace to overheat. Call your HVAC technician to fix the issue.
For help dealing with your hot furnace, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We provide quality HVAC solutions to the Indianapolis area.
