Why Does My Richmond Hill, GA, Furnace Overheat?

November 29, 2023

An overheating furnace is a substantial safety risk for homes around Richmond Hill, GA. Overheating is one of the leading causes of cracked heat exchangers, which can leak carbon monoxide into your home. If your furnace overheats, it’s likely due to one of these three causes:

Poor Airflow

Your furnace produces heat that it transfers to the air circulating through the system. When there isn’t enough air moving through the system, that heat builds up, causing it to overheat.

Dirty air filters are one of the most common causes of restricted airflow through your furnace. Check your filter monthly while planning to replace it every 30 to 90 days for 1- or 2-inch filters. Other causes for restricted airflow include:

Neglected HVAC maintenance.
Closed or blocked vents.
Dirty or leaky ducts.
Blocked or restricted flue.

Component Failure

When one furnace component isn’t working properly, it strains the system, and some malfunctions cause it to overheat. The most common is an issue with the blower motor, which may wear out before you need a new heating system.

Another common component that may cause overheating problems is the upper limit switch. This monitors the temperature in your system to prevent overheating. However, when this malfunctions, it may not register the right temperature, allowing the system to get too hot.

Short-Cycling Furnace

Short-cycling stresses the motors when the system is rapidly turning on and off, allowing them to get too hot. While this may not cause the entire system to overheat, it can certainly overheat the motors and damage them.

Keep your furnace safe by dealing with an overheating system quickly. Call to schedule a furnace repair appointment with one of the NATE-certified service technicians at Old Coast Heating & Air Conditioning.

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