There is nothing comfortable about waking up to a cold house and hearing the furnace turn on and off without warming the rooms. At ARP Heat And Air, we serve Norman homeowners with furnace repair, including the residential areas around Campus Corner and the University of Oklahoma.
The issue: A furnace starts, then shuts off
When a furnace begins its heating cycle and stops before the home reaches the thermostat setting, it can be difficult to tell what is wrong. The thermostat may be calling for heat, but a problem with the ignition system, airflow, a safety control, or another component may interrupt the cycle.
We don’t recommend replacing a furnace—or guessing which part to change—until we understand what the system is doing. Our first step is to check the equipment and observe its sequence of operation.
How we handle the repair
Our technician checks the thermostat and furnace controls, looks at the accessible filter and airflow, and evaluates the ignition and flame-sensing components as appropriate for the equipment. A dirty flame sensor is one possible reason a furnace lights briefly and shuts down; other problems can produce similar symptoms.
When testing identifies a dirty sensor as the problem, cleaning it may restore normal operation. If a part has failed, we discuss the recommended repair before proceeding. After the work, we check the furnace through a heating cycle to make sure it starts and continues operating as intended.
What homeowners should know
If your heat keeps shutting off, note what happens when the system starts and whether the thermostat displays an error. That information helps us narrow down the problem when you call.
Safety: If you smell gas, leave the area immediately without operating switches or devices, then call 911 and your gas utility from a safe location. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get outside to fresh air and call 911; do not reenter until emergency responders say it is safe.