The chill in the air is a clear indication that winter is almost here. With a furnace that is in perfect working condition, you can be sure that your family is warm and comfortable despite the frigid nights. Therefore, check your furnace as early as possible to see that it is operating as it should. It might be experiencing some issues that need to be resolved by a professional HVAC technician. One of these problems is short cycling or when your furnace runs then shuts off and starts again in quick succession.
How To Tell If Your Furnace Is Short-Cycling & What To Do
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Furnaces work by running continuously until the set temperature is reached. It will automatically switch off after that to let the room maintain the heat level. When the temperature falls, the furnace turns on again. However, if the furnace is short cycling, it will turn on and off repeatedly and quickly. The desired temperature is not reached, so your home remains uncomfortable despite the furnace running. The components of your furnace get worn out as well.
What Causes Furnace Short Cycling?
Short cycling should not be tolerated. Make sure to resolve this problem as soon as you notice it. The actual cause needs to be determined first. This will tell you how short cycling can be fixed.
Below are some of the likely causes of furnace short cycling:
Thermostat Is In The Wrong Place
Check where your thermostat is located. It might be near a heat source like a window or a heat grate. Keep in mind that it is equipped with sensors that measure the temperature inside your home. Your furnace responds to what your thermostat gauges from the indoor temperature. Heat sources can skew the sensor readings because your thermostat thinks that your house is hot enough. It will shut down the furnace even though the set temperature has not been reached yet. Ensure that the thermostat is located away from anything that can influence the temperature readings.
Malfunctioning Furnace Flame Sensor
A sign that you have a faulty flame sensor is when the flame goes out after a few seconds of lighting it. The sensor’s job is to keep tabs on the gas valve so that raw gas does not circulate around your home. It triggers the valve to shut off when no flame is detected. A faulty sensor shuts the gas valve even when it is necessary. The sensor might need cleaning. If that doesn’t work, call an HVAC technician to replace it.
Overheating Furnace
All HVAC systems have built-in safety measures against damage. For instance, when your furnace gets too hot, it switches off immediately. This precaution is to prevent any component damages like a cracked heat exchanger. This can be potentially dangerous as carbon monoxide can leak through these cracks. Overheating is typically caused by a clogged air filter and closed heat grates. However, at this point in time, call an HVAC company for furnace service.
Clogged HVAC Air Filter
Air filters block impurities from being distributed throughout your house. It needs to be cleaned or replaced regularly. Otherwise, its effectiveness to purify your home decreases. Not only that, but a dirty air filter can cause short cycling. Air cannot flow properly through a dirty filter. Therefore, your furnace cannot cool down properly, as well. The heat inside your furnace will continue to increase until your furnace shuts down automatically as a safety precaution. Make sure to clean washable filters and replace disposable ones.
Closed Heat Grates
Heat grates release the warm air from your furnace. If these heat grates are close, the hot air becomes trapped inside the furnace and causes overheating. Your furnace will then short cycle. Dampers allow you to open or close heat grates. This way, you can choose whether to heat a room or not. This helps you be more energy efficient. However, make sure that at least 75 percent are always open to prevent overheating.
Exhaust Vent Is Blocked
The exhaust vent must remain open at all times. Check it regularly to ensure that there are no obstructions. Snow, vegetation, beehives, or nests might be blocking it. Remove these immediately. Make sure to always practice safe removals. If the blockage is a dangerous animal, call animal control to assist you.
Furnace Is The Wrong Size
The largest furnace doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. Buying a furnace that is too large for your home can lead to short cycling. The excess capacity will cause wear and tear, temperature swings, and a drastic increase in your heating bills. The solution to this problem is to replace the heating system with one that is the correct size. Get in touch with your trusted HVAC contractor to help you find the right size, make, and model for your home.
Conclusion
Fix all your furnace problems as early as possible. If you suspect that your furnace is short cycling, use the clues listed above to help you find the cause. Make sure to call your local furnace repair company to assist you with the necessary diagnosis, repair, and replacements. This way, you keep your home warm and comfortable for many winters to come.
Call PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For All Of Your Heating And Cooling Needs
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning provides excellent HVAC services in the Greater Princeton, NJ area. Our professionally certified, and highly trained technicians offer heating and cooling maintenance, installations, repairs, and replacements. All our techs are friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced to service your HVAC system correctly.
Our company guarantees affordable heating and cooling service rates in the area. Rest assured that our tune-up services can help improve your home comfort, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. We can also recommend the best HVAC make and model for your home while keeping in line with your budget. Your satisfaction is important to us, and that is why we back all our work with a guarantee.
Schedule a service appointment with PFO Heating & Air Conditioning by giving us a call today. We offer free, in-home estimates.
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