Is My Furnace's Frequent Stopping and Starting a Problem?

Typical heating systems don’t run constantly but cycle on and off several times an hour. It becomes a problem if your furnace shuts off far more frequently than usual.

This type of furnace problem is called “short cycling.” Let’s look at four common furnace causes:

1. Your Air Filter Is Clogged

Dirt buildup in the air filter restricts circulation to the heat exchanger, causing the component to overheat. This, in turn, triggers the high limit switch (your safety shutoff).

If you have a disposable filter, replace it and switch off the furnace to fix the issue. Permanent filters, which better protect your furnace and are more eco-friendly, are designed to be cleaned and reused.

Regardless of the filter, check it monthly and replace or clean it every 90 days.

Open some of your vents and have your furnace blower wheel cleaned for even better airflow.

2.Your Thermostat Is The Problem

Check your thermostat to determine if it is turned on. Make sure it's switched to "HEAT" and set at the correct temperature. (Your furnace will turn off more frequently than you'd like if the setting is too low.)

Think about the thermostat location as well. It should be mounted about 1.5 meters above the ground and placed away from heat or cold sources (such as windows facing south and getting plenty of sun or drafty doors).

Make sure it isn't mounted too high because heated air rises, as you may recall from science class. Extreme temperature readings on the thermostat could reduce the furnace cycle.

Another issue is a broken thermostat that isn't communicating with your furnace. Check this out with a friend. One person should stand next to the thermostat, the other next to the furnace. Slowly raise the thermostat setting and listen for noise from the furnace. The lack of any sound indicates that you may need professional thermostat repair or replacement.

3.You Have A Dirty Flame Sensor

The flame sensor in a gas furnace is a safety feature that shuts off the gas supply when there isn't any flame. Your flame sensor will continue to shut off the gas valve if it becomes clogged with rust or soot.

Get professional furnace repair as soon as you detect this issue.

4. The Furnace Is Too Big For Your Home

Your furnace may be too big for your house. A huge furnace will heat the room too quickly, shut off, and then start up suddenly as the home cools.

In addition to being inconvenient, this stopping and starting consumes energy and causes your furnace to age more quickly than typical. Additionally, the temperature in your house never actually remains comfortable.

This is only one of the numerous indicators that a new furnace is needed. The best solution is to replace your furnace with a correctly-sized, energy-efficient model, especially if it’s over 15 years old.

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