No matter how cold it gets, your heater will not run continuously. Instead, it operates in cycles, turning on for a stretch of time until your home is warm, and then shutting off to rest while the temperature coasts slowly downward, until it gets cool enough for the heat to come on again. These cycles should last somewhere between ten and twenty minutes.
What if your heating system is cycling on and off very quickly? When your heat comes on, shuts off in a minute or two, and tries to come on again moments later, that’s called short cycling. Don’t let it continue! Here’s why.
System Strain
This rapid on-and-off cycling of your heating system means that it’s going through the most strenuous part of the cycle—the startup—ten or twenty times an hour instead of three to six times. That means a lot of unnecessary wear and tear is being caused! It’s quite likely that the short cycling will lead to other heating system problems just because of that strain.
Inefficiency
It’s not just extra system strain that is experienced when your heat comes on over and over again. That’s also the part of the cycle that uses the most energy. You could be raising your utility bills, not just a fraction but dramatically, if you let those short cycles keep happening!
Ineffectiveness
When heating cycles are too short, it doesn’t allow time for much heat to be generated. And it definitely doesn’t give the system time to distribute that heat evenly. You’ll quickly end up with uneven heat, and some rooms in your home remaining cold no matter what you set the thermostat to. And you’ll be paying extra for this because of the energy waste!
Root Causes
The root cause of the short cycling might be a problem with a component like the blower fan motor overheating. This will cause the limit switch to trip, forcing a shutdown to prevent your furnace from catching fire. After a few minutes of cooling, it will allow the system to come on again, but if the motor’s still overheating, it will just happen again and again.
The limit switch is a good safety precaution. But if you let your blower fan motor go through this over and over without repairs, it will eventually burn out the motor completely. Having it fixed promptly can mean you save the motor and have a less costly repair.
But the blower fan motor isn’t the only possible culprit. It could be that the limit switch itself is failing, simply triggering shutdowns unnecessarily. Your HVAC technician can determine exactly what’s going on. But before you call to make an appointment, there’s one thing you should check yourself.
Poor airflow can also lead to overheating within the furnace, and a clogged air filter can reduce airflow. So take a peek at that filter. If it’s clogged, change it. Does that solve the problem? If so, fantastic! You’ve just saved yourself a lot of trouble. If the short cycling continues, it’s time to schedule heating repair in Lawrenceville, GA.
Reach out to Wall Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. with any inquiries or to make an appointment.