Your furnace keeps your you warm during the frigid winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something is wrong. One routine situation is a furnace that endlessly turns on and switches off over and over. This problem is known as short cycling. It overworks your heating system and may result in expensive repairs or even early breakdowns.
Short cycling can be the result of for several reasons. Before you request furnace repair, consider the potential causes and how to fix the issue.
1. Clogged Air Filter
The HVAC filter traps airborne dust, hair and other debris that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t replace the filter frequently, it can get dirty and reduce the airflow. When this happens, a safety mechanism turns off the furnace to stop getting too hot. Inspect the filter, and if it’s dirty, install a new one. Going forward, change the filter every 30 to 90 days to prevent your furnace from short cycling.
2. Clogged Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only thing that can lower airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your home and check for unopened or crowded air vents. For adequate system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower has blades that push air through the ductwork. If they are dirty, the air won’t travel properly, causing overheating and short cycling. Regularly changing the filter is the easiest method to stop a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, schedule furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Inspect your thermostat next. This is the core of your HVAC system and instructs the furnace on what to do. Make sure the thermostat is in heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature displayed on the screen. Try replacing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in direct sunlight or near a heat source that could influence the temperature reading. If you use a smart thermostat, check the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting guides.
5. Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is responsible for turning off the gas valve when no burner flame is present. The sensor can’t detect the flame if it’s sooty, so the gas switches off too soon and the furnace shuts down. Leave the work of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a pro like All American Air Service Experts.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it comes to HVAC equipment, bigger isn’t always right. A larger system warms up your house too fast, causing intolerable temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to resolve this problem is to schedule new furnace installation.
If you try the fixes we mentioned here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to reach the professionals at All American Air Service Experts. We’ll examine the situation, figure out the cause, and do the necessary service. Our priority is to restore indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the rest of the season. And our work is backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about furnace short cycling, or to book HVAC repair, call us at 386-310-2061 today!
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*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.