If your furnace shuts down on a cold day, the problem could be as simple as a dirty air filter. Brian Rees, service manager at Bryant Lincoln, tells KLIN News a clogged filter can restrict airflow enough to make the furnace overheat and shut off.
“I can’t stress the air filter enough,” Rees said. “We show up, and all we have to do is change the air filter.”
Rees recommends changing the filter regularly and having the furnace serviced before the first bitter cold spell. He also suggests turning on the heat ahead of time to make sure it works. Even if the furnace is still heating, he says unfamiliar noises or longer run times when it’s about as cold as usual outside can signal a problem.
Rees also urged residents to make sure their carbon monoxide alarms are up to date. Check the manufacturer’s replacement date for your model. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to get outside immediately, call 911 from outside and wait for emergency responders to say it’s safe to go back in. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidance