Have you ever noticed your furnace turning itself on and off every couple of minutes? If so, your furnace is short cycling. Short cycling is a serious problem that can shorten the life of the furnace, as well as make it more likely for a full system breakdown to occur. Let’s take a look at why short cycling occurs, and what you can do about it.
The Reasons Why Short Cycling Happens
Short cycling occurs as a result of heat becoming trapped in the furnace, typically due to a clogged air filter. This causes the temperature in the furnace to become dangerously high. The limit switch then activates, which shuts down the furnace to prevent further damage. This doesn’t solve the source of the excess heat, though, which means that as soon as the furnace activates again it will overheat again. This cycle continues until the furnace breaks down.
Short cycling locks the furnace into the most stressful part of its cycle, drastically increasing the amount of wear and tear on the system. This increases the likelihood of various parts breaking down, eventually resulting in the death of the whole system.
How to Deal with Short Cycling
The best way to deal with short cycling is to prevent it. That is done by scheduling annual heating maintenance, and having your furnace air filter cleaned at least once for every three months that you use it. That will keep air flowing through the furnace, and prevent heat from becoming trapped in the unit. If your furnace is already short cycling, you should turn it off and call for repairs as soon as possible.
If you need help with a short cycling furnace, call SPS Mechanical Inc. We provide comprehensive furnace services throughout West Deptford, NJ.
