Your furnace is an integral part of your home. Without one, you wouldn’t be able to stay warm during the winter. Yet furnaces can have some issues that are more typical than others.

Let’s review these issues and discuss what they might cost to fix so you know before you contact an HVAC technician. Some of the most common furnace repair problems involve:

  • Furnace won’t turn on
  • Furnace doesn’t stay lit
  • Furnace won’t blow hot air
  • Furnace won’t turn off

1. Furnace Won’t Turn On

There are a couple of reasons why your furnace won’t turn on, so make sure to go through all of them.

  • Is your thermostat set correctly? Make sure it’s on “heat,” “auto” and that your desired temperature is greater than the room’s current temperature. If you use a programmable thermostat, make sure it has fresh batteries.
  • Is the circuit breaker tripped? Your furnace can’t run if it doesn’t have electricity. Reset the switch if it’s facing the outside of the electrical panel.
  • Is the furnace switch off? Your furnace has a power switch found on or close to it. Since this switch looks like a light switch, it’s easy to accidentally turn it off. If it was off, it might take your furnace a few minutes to turn on.
  • Is the air filter clean? A dusty air filter can create a lot of issues for your furnace. Replace yours if you can’t see light through it.

Estimated Repair Cost

This issue can be complex, so the estimated cost to repair it depends on what’s wrong.

2. Furnace Won’t Stay Lit

Your furnace follows a specific sequence when it starts heating your home.

  1. Your thermostat detects the temperature has dropped and tells your furnace to start running.
  2. The draft inducer fan activates to pull in fresh air for combustion.
  3. The gas valve unlocks for the burners, which are lit electronically.
  4. The flame sensor tells your furnace the burners have been lit.

If something is off during the sequence, your furnace will shut down as a preventive measure.

A couple of possible causes for this problem include:

  • Dirty or malfunctioning flame sensor. If the sensor doesn’t sense a flame, it will turn off your furnace to prevent natural gas from spilling into your home. The ignition process corrodes flame sensors as time passes. While cleaning during annual furnace maintenance can help, yours may eventually need to be replaced.
  • Bad limit switch. This safety feature will shut off your furnace if it detects backdrafting. Backdrafting is dangerous, since carbon monoxide and natural gas can leak into your home. These switches can malfunction due to age, damage or dust accumulation.
  • Old thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t working correctly, your furnace won’t be able to run.
  • Dirty air filter. A dirty air filter can restrict airflow and cause your furnace to shut off to avoid overheating. Make sure to change yours every 30 to 90 days, or anytime you can’t see light through it.

Estimated Repair Cost

These costs are estimates, so it’s important to note yours may vary based on your furnace’s brand and model.

  • Flame sensor: $350–$500
  • Limit switch: $150–$300
  • Thermostat: $150–$350
  • Furnace filter: $10-$30

3. Furnace Won’t Blow Hot Air

In many cases, this problem is linked to a wrong thermostat setting or a dusty air filter that’s limiting airflow. Follow the steps above to resolve the problem.

4. Furnace Won’t Turn Off

If it’s extremely cold outside or you like your home to be warm, your furnace may be running for a long time.

If this isn’t the case, make sure your thermostat is set correctly and running properly. If your fan setting is at “on,” the blower motor will be running even when the furnace isn’t, so it’ll sound like your furnace is running all the time.

Alternatively, there might be a problem with the blower motor or your ductwork may be losing air, making your furnace run constantly to make up for the air loss.

Estimated Repair Cost

These costs are estimates, so it’s important to note yours may be different based on your furnace’s brand and model.

  • New blower motor: $250–$800
  • Seal ductwork: varies based on square footage

Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning Can Solve Your Furnace Issues Quickly and Affordably

Furnace issues can be an expensive headache, but not when you call Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been providing the quality, affordable furnace repair Kearney homeowners have trusted since {year}. Call us at 308-624-3485 to request your free estimate today.