Nothing feels better than your furnace smoothly and consistently dispensing heat through your home. So if your furnace is doing the opposite of that then, well, we won’t keep rubbing it in… But you should also get your furnace checked as soon as you can.
A furnace that’s turning on and off rapidly, also known as “short-cycling,” can be due to a few reasons. Some of them you might be able to fix immediately, and some will require the help of an expert.
Dirty Air Filter
The air filter’s job is to collect dust and dirt, and that means it’ll need changing every few months. If it isn’t changed regularly, it can begin restricting airflow to the system. This can cause the furnace to start overheating.
Without proper airflow, the temperatures can get too hot inside the furnace. This will end up triggering the limit switch, which acts to shut off the furnace as a safety mechanism.
Before calling in for any expensive repairs, try simply switching out the air filter—it could make all the difference. If you’re having trouble finding the filter, a heating repair company in Fontana, CA will be happy to tell you over the phone.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
You can change the air filter and do extensive repairs to the inside of the furnace, but it will have no effect if your thermostat isn’t working properly. The thermostat isn’t just the brain for your furnace, it’s also the sensory organ. It’s essential that the thermostat can feel the right temperatures so that it can properly instruct the furnace on how to run.
A thermostat problem might be easily fixed just by recalibrating it. Or, if you know that your thermostat is several years old, it could be time for a new model.
Ignition Problems
The specifics will vary depending on whether you have an older or newer furnace. For example, older furnaces use pilot lights, and modern ones use hot surface igniters. But in both kinds of furnaces, the components used in combusting heat can sometimes go bad. This can prevent the process from starting at all, or it can cause the furnace to start and then stop shortly after.
If you haven’t had maintenance in a long time, there’s a good chance that these components need inspection.
Oversized Furnace
We’ve saved the worst for last. If your brand new furnace turns on and off, over and over again, there’s a good chance that the furnace was not correctly sized by the technician. What it’s doing is called short cycling, and it can be a major drain on your efficiency and on the lifespan of the furnace.
The only real way to fix the problem is by having it replaced entirely.
Of course, an oversized furnace won’t work properly from the very start. If your short cycling issues have only recently appeared after years of use, then it’s unlikely that this is the cause of your problem. Best to have a professional come in and diagnose the problem to be sure.
