Why is my furnace heating my house too much?

Author: Rocky Von  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The bad thermostat If you're adjusting the settings all the time trying to avoid the house overheating, it may be that the thermostat is misreading temperatures in the house and is forcing the heater to stay on longer than it should.

Why is my furnace making my house too hot?

In most cases, a malfunctioning thermostat is the cause of your home's overheating. When the temperature sensor inside your thermostat detects the wrong heat levels, it will tell your heater to keep running even if your home is already comfortably warm.

Why is my furnace putting out too much heat?

Typically, these are air flow-related issues, like the fan or filter is broken. Then, the heat generated by the furnace can't leave, causing the overheating. However, there may be other culprits too. You'll need a professional to help you figure out what is going on.

Why is my house getting hotter than the thermostat setting?

Check for dust, dirt, and other kinds of residue inside the thermostat. Excessive dust and dirt buildup can prevent your thermostat from working properly. Clean any residue you see on the thermostat, and see if that helps improve the temperature in your home.

Why is my house heating up so much?

There are many factors that can cause a home to get too hot in the summer, and many of them are energy efficiency issues: Insufficient attic insulation – in the summer, and on other hot days, radiant heat from the sun can permeate through your roof and heat up your attic like a solar heated oven.

Furnace blowing COLD air out vents - 3 MOST common causes!

Why am I heating up so much?

It's normal for humans to feel hot some of the time, but if you're always hot, there could be an underlying condition at play that prevents your body from properly cooling itself. Some reasons for feeling hot all the time include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, menopause, pregnancy, fever, and anhidrosis.

Why is my heating so high?

Check if your meters are set up the right way round. Sometimes your day-time usage is charged at the night rate, and your night-time usage at the day rate. If this is happening and you're using night storage heaters, it will make your bills very high.

Why does my heat go higher than I set it?

Start by making sure that your thermostat is calibrated correctly. A miscalibrated thermostat can lead to inaccurate temperature readings. This will cause it to overshoot the desired temperature. Look at your thermostat's manual or contact the manufacturer to recalibrate it.

Is 82 too hot for a house?

In general, 80 degrees is too hot for a house if people are inside. However, if people aren't home during the day or for vacation during the summer, an indoor temperature of 80 degrees can save energy until you return and lower the temperature.

Why does my thermostat keep raising the temperature?

If you try to resolve the issue after checking for default programming, energy-saving programs, old batteries, and even if someone has been changing the temperature in your home it may be time to contact a professional. There may be an issue with old wires or software.

How can you tell if your furnace is overheating?

Watch for the following signs that indicate your furnace is overheating.
  1. A constant burning aroma.
  2. A strange humming noise.
  3. The furnace turns off before finishing a cycle.

Why does my furnace kick on so much?

A furnace cycling on and off repeatedly can be caused by various reasons, from dirty filters and obstructions in ducts and registers to incorrect thermostat settings and faulty limit switches. By following the steps above, you can help prevent your furnace from cycling too frequently and save energy costs.

How often should I change my furnace filter?

For 1- to 2-inch filters, replace them every 1 to 3 months. For 3- to 4-inch filters, replace them every 6 to 9 months. For 5- to 6-inch filters, replace them every 9 to 12 months.

What could cause the temperature rise of a furnace to be too high?

When the rise is too high, you are not moving enough air over the heat exchanger. That can (and must) be corrected with a blower adjustment or by resolving the source of low airflow in the system, such as a dirty filter, blower wheel, etc.

Why is my AC thermostat set at 74 but reads 78?

If the temperature is set to 74°F but the thermometer shows 78°F, you will have to recalibrate the thermostat to account for this 4-degree deviation. Even with older AC units or furnaces, you might have to recalibrate your thermostat from time to time.

How do I know if something is wrong with my furnace?

A gas furnace should have a vibrant or bright blue flame. When you see a weak and wavy or flickering flame, this indicates gas is not being completely burned. Pilot light color changes are another indicator that carbon monoxide is not venting away from the system safely.

How cool should my house be if its 90 outside?

If it's 90 degrees outside, most people would set their AC to a perfectly comfortable temperature of 68-72°F.

How high is too high for heat in a house?

Optimizing Thermostat Settings

The DOE recommends a temperature range from 68 degrees up to 72 degrees. If elderly persons are residing in the house, many sources recommend higher temperatures — up to 78 degrees.

Is it safe to sleep at 85 degrees?

Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. But in addition to making you uncomfortable and interfering with healthy sleep patterns, being too hot at any time of day or night can cause health risks like dehydration and heat stroke.

Why is my temperature running higher than normal?

Fever or elevated body temperature might be caused by: A viral infection. A bacterial infection. Heat exhaustion.

How do you fix extreme heat?

Take cool showers or baths.
  1. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  2. Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
  3. If you're outside, find shade. ...
  4. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  5. Avoid high-energy activities or work outdoors, during midday heat, if possible.

Why is my house hotter than the set temperature?

When the sensor isn't working correctly, it may cycle on and off randomly between proper activation periods causing your home to be either too hot or too cold due to the thermostat switching on and off before the correct temperature is met.

How to reduce heating bills?

10 tips for saving energy in your home
  1. Adjust your combi boiler flow temperature to 60°C or below. ...
  2. Heat the right places at the right times. ...
  3. Be mindful of hot water use. ...
  4. Don't boil more water than you need. ...
  5. Unplug your 'Vampire Devices' ...
  6. Think about how you're lighting your home.

What happens if your heat is too high?

3) Dry Skin and Eyes

When you switch on your heater, it will pull more moisture from the air and reduce your home's humidity, potentially leading to skin and eye irritation. By keeping your home at a lower temperature, you'll have more moisture in the air and reduce the risk of your skin drying out.

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