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How To Fix an Overheating Furnace in Claremore, OK

Cassie Pound, owner of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
Published by
Cassie Pound
January 20, 2025
How To Fix an Overheating Furnace in Claremore, OK

The temperature drops below freezing in winter here in Claremore, OK. Therefore, most people depend on their furnace system for warmth. The unit breaking down can become highly frustrating—especially when it’s something like overheating. It probably feels counterintuitive for a furnace to overheat. Shouldn’t more heat be a good thing? Well, no.

Overheating causes the furnace to shut down in many cases because it means that the unit generates more heat than it can dissipate.

The leading providers of heat and air services in Claremore, OK, will discuss how to fix an overheating furnace in this post.

The Top Signs of an Overheating Furnace

How do you know for certain that you have an overheating furnace? Here are a few signs you should watch for:

A Strong Burning Smell

If you notice a burning smell in your home while the furnace is running and you’re sure that you have nothing cooking over the stove, you probably have an overheating furnace. This is especially true if the smell has lasted more than half an hour.

Sudden Shutdowns

Modern furnaces feature safety sensors designed to shut down your furnace if it starts overheating. If your unit shuts down unexpectedly and refuses to come on for a while, it usually indicates one of the signs of overheating.

Different Ways To Fix an Overheating Furnace in Your Claremore, OK, Home

Here’s how to fix an overheating furnace:

Use the Reset Button

Sometimes, overheating is a one-off issue you can resolve with a reset. Locate the red reset button on your furnace, then press and hold it for 30 seconds. Next, turn on the furnace again. If the furnace doesn’t respond or if it overheats again, then the problem lies elsewhere.

At this juncture, you should call a Claremore, OK, furnace technician to thoroughly inspect your furnace and recommend a permanent fix. You don’t want to end up needing a new furnace due to an avoidable problem.

However, you might want to try a few other things first.

Clean the Vents

You may wonder why experts consider vent cleaning as an effective way to fix overheating. Unfortunately, blocked or dirty vents disrupt furnace airflow. When heat isn’t leaving the ductwork fast enough, the furnace might overheat.

Check all the vents and registers in your home to ensure you haven’t covered anything mistakenly. Use a vacuum cleaner or a brush to remove any accumulated dust and debris you might find. If the ductwork looks too dirty, it may be time to schedule a ductwork cleaning service.

Check and Replace the Air Filter

A clogged air filter has the same impact as blocked or dirty vents on airflow. The unit will overheat when it has to overcompensate for the airflow problems. Check the furnace filter and replace it if it’s dirty. Ideally, you should install a new filter every month during the peak of the heating season.

Ensure Proper Thermostat Calibration

The thermostat is one component you shouldn’t ignore when you’re thinking about how to fix an overheating furnace. Setting the wrong temperature can push your furnace to work too hard and overheat.  

You can recalibrate the thermostat by checking the settings to ensure it corresponds with the actual indoor temperatures. If you notice a disparity, you can recalibrate the thermostat in line with your manufacturer’s recommendations. If the calibration problem continues, you should consider switching to a modern, smart thermostat.

Check the Blower Fan

The blower fan handles distributing warm air from the heat exchanger throughout your ductwork. If it fails to work optimally, heat can build up in the heat exchanger, causing the furnace to shut down.

It’s no surprise that savvy furnace technicians include blower fan inspection in their heat exchanger maintenance checklists. If you notice the fan is not working as well as it should, you likely have worn bearings, damaged blades, or electrical problems. Then again, it might just be a sign of dirt and debris buildup.

Accurately determining the cause of the blower fan problem will stop your furnace from overheating, and you can enjoy the benefits of an efficient furnace system.

Get Fast and Efficient Furnace Services From Your Local Experts in Claremore, OK

Do you want further discussions on how to fix an overheating furnace? Do you want to schedule a professional inspection for your unit? We can help. Our experienced technicians will thoroughly inspect your unit and complete all the necessary repairs to get it working safely and efficiently again.

Call Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric today to schedule a consultation.

Further Reading: Water for furnace run myth.

Cassie Pound, owner of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
Published by
Cassie Pound

Cassie Pound is the Vice President of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric with locations in Tulsa, Glenpool, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma.