Your furnace keeps your home comfortable during the frigid winter months, so it’s frustrating when something is wrong. One routine situation is a furnace that continuously turns on and turns off over and over. This issue is referred to as short cycling. It stresses your furnace and might lead to costly repairs or even premature replacement.
Short cycling can be caused by for a few reasons. Before you schedule furnace repair, research the potential causes and how to take care of the issue.
1. Filthy Air Filter
The HVAC filter attracts airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could cause problems for furnace. If you don’t change the filter regularly, it can eventually be dirty and reduce the airflow. When this happens, a safety feature switches off the furnace to avoid getting too hot. Check the filter, and if it’s dirty, get a new one. Going forward, install a new 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 shut 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 distribute air through the ductwork. If they are caked with dirt, the air won’t move properly, creating overheating and short cycling. Regularly putting in a new the filter is the easiest method to prevent a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, book furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Check your thermostat next. This is the brain of your HVAC system and gives the furnace instructions on what to do. Ensure the thermostat is on heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature shown 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 have a smart thermostat, go to 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 find the flame if it’s covered in soot, so the gas switches off prematurely and the furnace turns off. Leave the adjustment of repairing a sooty flame sensor to an Expert like McKinley Heating Service Experts.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it includes HVAC equipment, larger isn’t always best. An oversized system heats up your house too rapidly, creating uncomfortable temperature fluctuations and short cycling. The only way to fix this situation is to schedule new furnace installation.
If you attempt the fixes we went over here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to contact the pros at McKinley Heating Service Experts. We’ll take a look at the situation, pinpoint the cause, and do the necessary service. Our aim is to restore indoor comfort, energy efficiency and dependable furnace performance for the rest 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 request HVAC repair, give us a call at 780-800-7092 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.