If you have ever gone to bed in your cozy, warm room only to be jolted awake in the middle of the night because your room is suddenly freezing cold, you may be dealing with furnace issues. Furnace inconsistencies are a common problem that we get asked about here at Genuine Comfort. If an individual found that their furnace turns on and off randomly, they’d be likely to ask why that might be happening. If you have that question, continue reading to learn more about why your furnace turns on and off at random times.
Your Furnace Turns On And Off Due To Ignitor/Burner Issues
The most common reason why a furnace turns on and off at random is a problem with the burners or furnace ignitor. The furnace ignitor, or the hot surface ignitor, is the part of your furnace that turns fuel into heat. It creates a spark that lights the burner, starting the combustion process. The furnace burner is where the air mixes with the fuel and burns to create heat. If the ignitor is not working, then the burner will not light, and your home will begin to feel chilly.
How To Check If Your Furnace Ignitor And Burners Are Working
If your furnace turns on and off randomly, you may want to check if your furnace ignitor is working properly. Luckily, it is easy to check your furnace ignitor. If you look at the inside of your furnace, the ignitor typically looks like a little white box-shaped gadget. The burner is typically located next to the ignitor. The burner is typically made up of several tubes that glow brightly due to the extreme heat.
Once you locate the furnace ignitor and the burners, all you need to do is watch and see if the burners light. Turn on the furnace by increasing the temperature on your thermostat, then go look at the furnace burners to see if they light. If you’re checking to see why your furnace turns on and off, you need to look out for what happens after the burners light.
What will typically happen if your furnace works properly is the burner will be ignited and stay lit, effectively heating your home. However, sometimes the burner will ignite, and then it will shut off. Then the ignitor will try to light the burner again only for the burner to be shut off again. If this happens three times, then the furnace could stay off for up to three hours.
How To Fix This Problem
Most of the time, this kind of issue is an easy fix. Individuals can simply reset the toggle switch or the fuse on the side of the furnace, which will allow the ignitor to start again. However, sometimes the burners will still not stay on. This can be an indication of a problem with the flame sensors. Sometimes the flame sensors get dirty and clogged causing them to work incorrectly. You can clean out the flame sensors yourself. But, if after cleaning the flame sensors, you still seem to be having problems, you should reach out to a qualified HVAC professional, such as those employed by us at Genuine Comfort, to give your furnace a real diagnosis.
Do You Need Furnace Repairs?
If your furnace has been experiencing the problem outlined above or seems to be having any other sort of issue, we at Genuine Comfort would be more than happy to help. Furnaces and air conditioning units are complex pieces of equipment, which is why it is important that you have professionals take care of them when they seem to be having issues. We at Genuine Comfort have some of the most experienced and knowledgeable technicians in the industry on our team, meaning your equipment would be in great hands if you choose us to help make furnace repairs. For more information, feel free to reach out to us today.
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