Is your furnace constantly turning on and off? Frequent cycling of your furnace is not only annoying, but costly as well! If your furnace is cycling more frequently than it should, this is a sign that something is wrong with your unit and that it is having to work harder while achieving less than optimal results. To HVAC professionals, this is known as “short cycling.”
Short cycling is commonly due to an overheated furnace. When your furnace overheats, safety mechanisms shut the system down to prevent it from catching fire. Once the furnace has cooled to a safe level, it will start up again and repeat the process. If your furnace is making loud noises, this can be annoying, but worse, it can be dangerous. If your furnace is overheating due to a leaky heat exchanger, you could be exposed to high levels of toxic carbon monoxide!
Chances are your furnace is overheating because it is overworked—which is typically caused by insufficient airflow in and out of your heating system. If your ducts are dirty or blocked, the air will not flow smoothly through your ducts, causing hot air to back up and overheat your system. If your ducts are clear and you are still experiencing this problem, your exhaust vent may be blocked. Animals will sometimes build nests inside exhaust vents, so check to make sure it is clear of leaves, sticks, or animal nests.
Most commonly, furnace blockages are caused by dirty filters (so be sure to change those filters regularly!). Ideally, you want to change your filters monthly, but at a bare minimum, change your furnace filters every three to six months.
Does Your Furnace Short Cycling Problem Require Repair?
If you clear all blockages from your furnace and are still experiencing short cycling, it is possible that you have a more serious problem that requires an examination by a furnace repair professional.
If you think you need a furnace repair professional to assess your furnace’s short cycling problem, call T.E. Spall & Son today. We have nearly 30 years of experience providing furnace repair and furnace replacement in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, PA areas.
Ignoring your short cycling problem not only increases your monthly energy bills, it decreases the overall comfort of your home and is a potential health hazard. Get help today!
Schedule Furnace Repair in Scranton & Wilkes-Barre, PA
If you need furnace repair in your Scranton or Wilkes-Barre, PA area home or business, contact T.E. Spall & Son today. We have been providing families and business owners in northeastern Pennsylvania with high-quality furnace repair and replacement since 1985, so we have seen and fixed it all.
