Your furnace keeps your you cozy during the chilly winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something is off. One common situation is a furnace that continually kicks on and turns off over and over. This problem is called short cycling. It stresses your heating system and may cause costly repairs or even premature breakdowns.
Short cycling can be the result of for a few reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, research the possible causes and how to fix the problem.
1. Dirty Air Filter
The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could damage the furnace. If you don’t get a new filter regularly, it can get clogged and block the airflow. When this occurs, a safety mechanism turns off the furnace to prevent getting too hot. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. From now on, install a new filter every 30 to 90 days to prevent your furnace from short cycling.
2. Obstructed Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only thing that can reduce airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your home and look for shut or obstructed 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 flow correctly, causing overheating and short cycling. Frequently changing the filter is the easiest approach to stop a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, request furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Inspect your thermostat next. This is the brain of your HVAC system and instructs the furnace on what to do. Ensure the thermostat is set to heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature displayed on the screen. Try replacing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in bright sunlight or near a heat source that could influence the temperature reading. If you rely on a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting tips.
5. Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor turns off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t detect the flame if it’s coated in soot, so the gas shuts off too soon and the furnace shuts off. Leave the job of repairing a faulty flame sensor to an Expert like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it comes to home comfort equipment, bigger isn’t always best. A bigger system warms up your house too fast, creating uncomfortable temperature fluctuations and short cycling. The only way to fix this problem is to request new furnace installation.
If you go through the resolutions we mentioned here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to reach the professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll take a look at the situation, figure out the cause, and provide the necessary repair. Our priority is to reintroduce indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for the rest of the season. And our repairs are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to book HVAC repair, reach us at 305-440-1505 right away!
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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.