Your furnace keeps your home cozy during the chilly winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something isn’t quite right. One common complaint is a furnace that endlessly turns on and turns off all the time. This operating error is referred to as short cycling. It stresses your heating system and might cause expensive repairs or even premature failure.
Short cycling can happen for a few reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, research the likely causes and how to resolve the problem.
1. Filthy Air Filter
The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t replace the filter often enough, it can eventually be filthy and reduce the airflow. When this happens, a safety device switches off the furnace to stop overheating. Pull Out the filter, and if it’s dirty, replace it. From here on out, change the filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling.
2. Blocked Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only issue that can restrict airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your residence and be on the lookout for for unopened or obstructed air vents. For proper system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower has blades that move air through the ductwork. If they are dirty, the air won’t travel correctly, causing overheating and short cycling. Regularly changing the filter is the best approach to stop a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, book furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Inspect your thermostat next. This is the cortex of your HVAC system and instructs the furnace on what to do. Double-check the thermostat is in heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature displayed on the screen. Try putting in new batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in full sunlight or near a heat source that could impact the temperature reading. If you have a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions.
5. Sooty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor switches off the gas valve when no burner flame on. The sensor can’t find the flame if it’s sooty, so the gas switches off prematurely and the furnace shuts down. Leave the job of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a professional like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it comes to heating and cooling equipment, oversized isn’t always better. An oversized system warms up your house too rapidly, causing uncomfortable temperature fluctuations and short cycling. The only way to take care of this issue is to request new furnace installation.
If you go through the solutions we covered here to no avail, it’s time to contact the professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll review the situation, figure out the cause, and perform the necessary repair. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for all season long. And our work is backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about furnace short cycling, or to schedule HVAC repair, reach us at 330-269-7235 now!
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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.