It’s hard to think of excessive heat being a bad thing, especially here in Reading, MA with winter in full force. But overheating is a common issue with gas furnaces, and can be caused by a number of different issues.
Thankfully, most modern furnaces will automatically turn the system off before excess heat causes too much damage, which alerts you to the problem as well as sparing you from higher repair bills. But that still leaves you with a furnace that struggles to function, and with temperatures as cold as they are, that could leave your home and family in serious trouble. The faster you address the problem, the better.
The issue with excessive heat is about what you’d expect. Overheating components will function intermittently at best and may shut down completely at worst. Hot air that lingers in the furnace due to poor fan speed or a blockage in the ducts may affect multiple components at once, creating widespread damage inside the furnace. Even in situations where it keeps running, it’s never a good idea to let the system “run hot.” It will invariably lose efficiency – raising both strain and your monthly bills in the process.
In some cases, the problem can be corrected with a little troubleshooting. For instance, if you haven’t changed the filter in your heater lately, you should probably do so (you can purchase replacements at any hardware store or home improvement center). Or, if you have closed more than 20% of the ducts in your home, you may want to open them. They can cause the heated air to linger in the furnace for longer than it should. Other issues, however, are more extensive and require the services of a professional.
If you suspect your furnace has overheated, or that excess heat is causing problems, shut it off and call in the friendly team of Cooling Unlimited, Inc. to get it fixed!
