Your furnace keeps your house cozy during the chilly winter months, so it’s annoying when something isn’t quite right. One frequent complaint is a furnace that endlessly kicks on and shuts back off all the time. This operating error is called short cycling. It strains your furnace and might cause pricey repairs or even earlier than normal replacement.
Short cycling can happen for varying reasons. Before you book furnace repair, research the probable causes and how to fix the problem.
1. Clogged Air Filter
The HVAC filter traps airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don’t get a new filter often enough, it can become clogged and decrease the airflow. When this takes place, a safety device switches off the furnace to prevent getting too hot. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, install a new one. 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 thing that can lower airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your residence and check for closed or crowded air vents. For adequate system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in empty rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower uses blades that push air through the ductwork. If they are caked with dirt, the air won’t flow properly, causing overheating and short cycling. Regularly changing the filter is the easiest approach to stop a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, book furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Examine your thermostat next. This is the brain of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Make sure the thermostat is set to heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown on the screen. Try replacing the batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in full sunlight or near a heat source that could impact the temperature reading. If you rely on a smart thermostat, go to the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions.
5. Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is responsible for turning off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s coated in soot, so the gas switches off too soon and the furnace shuts down. Leave the job of cleaning a dirty flame sensor to an Expert like Midway Services.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it involves HVAC equipment, bigger isn’t always best. A larger system adds warmth to your house too rapidly, leading to uncomfortable temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to take care of this problem is to request new furnace installation.
If you try the resolutions we covered here and you’re still having problems, it’s time to call in the Experts at Midway Services. We’ll take a look at the situation, figure out the cause, and do the necessary work. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the remainder of the season. And our repairs are supported by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to schedule HVAC repair, give us a call at 727-219-2471 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.