Your furnace keeps your house warm during the chilly winter months, so it’s annoying when something is wrong. One routine situation is a furnace that endlessly turns on and shuts back off all the time. This problem is referred to as short cycling. It strains equipment and may cause pricey repairs or even premature replacement.
Short cycling can be the result of for a few reasons. Before you request furnace repair, research the potential causes and how to resolve the issue.
1. Filthy Air Filter
The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other debris that could damage the furnace. If you don’t get a new filter frequently, it can eventually be clogged and block the airflow. When this occurs, a safety mechanism switches off the furnace to avoid overheating. Pull Out the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. From here on out, replace the filter every 30 to 90 days to prevent your furnace from short cycling.
2. Obstructed Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only trouble that can lower airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your house and check for unopened or obstructed air vents. For recommended system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower has blades that distribute air through the ductwork. If they are caked with dirt, the air won’t flow properly, leading to overheating and short cycling. Regularly replacing the filter is the easiest approach to avoid a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, schedule furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Examine your thermostat next. This is the cortex of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Double-check the thermostat is set to heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature showing on the screen. Try replacing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in full sunlight or near a heat source that could affect the temperature reading. If you have a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions.
5. Sooty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor turns off the gas valve when no burner flame is present. The sensor can’t detect the flame if it’s coated in soot, so the gas shuts off prematurely and the furnace shuts down. Leave the work of cleaning a faulty flame sensor to an Expert like Atmostemp Service Experts.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it includes HVAC equipment, larger isn’t always best. A larger system adds warmth to your residence too rapidly, creating unpleasant temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to fix this problem is to schedule new furnace installation.
If you attempt the fixes we went over here and nothing has changed, it’s time to contact the pros at Atmostemp Service Experts. We’ll review the situation, figure out the cause, and do the necessary work. Our priority is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and trustworthy furnace performance for the rest of the season. And our repairs are upheld by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about furnace short cycling, or to book HVAC repair, call us at 856-310-4824 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.