Watch Out for Short Cycling in Your Furnace

When running your furnace in the winter, it pays to take note of anything that seems out of the ordinary. You may notice that your system turns on, then turns off again a few minutes later, only to kick in as the air in your Georgetown, TX home cools and turns off again the same way. The process is known as short-cycling, and it can be devastating to your system.

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?

The fan motor and other components in your furnace use far more energy starting up and shutting down than they do simply running. Short cycling forces your system to spend far more energy than it should—raising your monthly bills accordingly—and the added stress means that you run a higher risk of a breakdown or similar problem. In some cases, short cycling is also indicative of a deeper problem, which will need to be addressed before it causes your furnace to shut down.

POSSIBLE CAUSES

Possible causes of short cycling can include the following:

• Blocked airflow. Dirty filters, crimps in the ducts and other issues can lower the flow of air in the system, which often results in short cycling. In some cases, replacing a dirty filter will solve the issue, though, in others, the situation will require a professional’s attention.
• Oversized. Furnaces that are too powerful for the space they heat will often create short cycling problems. Unfortunately, the only solution is to replace it with a more appropriately sized model.
• Overheating. An overheating component may cause the system to shut down before it burns out, only to turn on again once the component cools. The situation usually needs to be resolved by fixing or replacing the faulty component.

If you’re experiencing short cycling in your furnace, call Intelligent Air Services today!