Some things, you like them to keep going. Like your favorite college basketball team’s season during March Madness. Or a vacation.
Other things, not so much. Especially when it’s your furnace that keeps running after your home is heated to the temperature you set on the thermostat. Not only is your home going to get uncomfortably warm, heating oil or propane is being wasted. That means you’re likely facing higher energy bills.
If this happens in your home, you’ll need to investigate because there are several possible causes and solutions. Don’t forget that P. Gagnon & Son is here to help with quality furnace service throughout our service area here in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine.
Check the thermostat setting. If you’ve set your thermostat high, like the upper 70s or into the 80s, your furnace is going to be forced to run a long time to reach that temperature. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 68˚ Fahrenheit in the winter so you can be comfortable while being energy efficient as well.
Inspect the air filter. A clean air filter lets your furnace run efficiently and lets the heated air get all around your home. A dirty and clogged filter reduces airflow, meaning you’re not getting all the heated air into your rooms, forcing your furnace to work harder and more often. Check the filter once a month, more frequently if someone in your home as a respiratory condition like asthma or COPD or if you have pets, and change as needed.
Look into weatherizing. Up to 15 percent of the heated air in your home can be lost through drafts, most commonly found around windows and exterior doors. Taking time to add weatherstripping, caulk, door sweeps, and other draft-blockers can help keep your heated air indoors where it belongs.
Check your ductwork. Over time, the seals and joints in your ductwork may loosen, causing leaks. Whatever the cause, leaks in ductwork force your furnace to work more often and longer to reach your set temperature.
Before you contact P. Gagnon & Son to request a service call, there are two things you can try to see if you can solve the problem.
Check the vents. It may be only the blower motor that’s running and not the entire furnace. If the air coming out of the vents is warm, both the furnace and blower motor are running. If the air is cool or cold, only the blower is running. If this is the case, check the thermostat and see if it is set to “on” instead of “auto.” If it is set to “on,” switch it to “auto” and see if the problem stops.
Check the thermostat. If the switch change doesn’t work, inspect the thermostat more carefully. The batteries may need changing. If changing the batteries doesn’t work, there may be disconnected or frayed wires and you may need a new thermostat. P. Gagnon & Son installs programmable thermostats that can reduce your energy consumption by as much as 10%.
If these solutions don’t work, give us a call and P. Gagnon’s experienced and knowledgeable service technicians will come take care of the problem so you can go back to enjoying your warm (but not too warm) home.
When you need heating equipment installation, maintenance and repairs, trust P. Gagnon & Son!