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What Short-Cycling Means for Your HVAC System

What Short-Cycling Means for Your HVAC System
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Is your furnace turning on and off frequently? It’s called short-cycling and to tell you honestly, it brings uncomfortable indoor temperature and shortens the life of your heating systems. Let’s tackle the basics of this issue, from what’s causing it to what should be done for it.

What is Short-Cycling?

Short cycling is when your furnace turns on for a short period then turns off. This constant start-and-stop operation of the unit has a drastic effect on your comfort as it prevents your home from reaching a comfortable indoor temperature. Additionally, it increases wear and tear of the furnace and causes inconvenient breakdowns.

What Causes Your Furnace to Short-Cycle?

Short-cycling can happen for some reasons including:

  • Using an Oversized Furnace

Size matters for your HVAC systems and when your furnace is too big for your Fort Lauderdale, FL home, expect that short-cycling will occur. When the unit is too big, it heats your home quickly and shuts down fast. Since fast heating also means fast cooling, your unit tends to turn on and off constantly. Short-cycling due to an oversized heating unit can lead to humidity issues and unit breakdowns. Check with a licensed HVAC tech if the issue lies on an improperly-sized unit. If not, there could be another problem with the system.

  • Dirty Air Filters

The dust, dirt, and other particles in the filter hinder the proper flow of air which causes the fan to overheat. As a safety mechanism of your furnace, it needs to rest and shut down even before the temperature set on your thermostat is met. When the components cool down, it will start operating, but as long as the proper airflow is obstructed, this cycle continues. As a reputable HVAC company in the area, we recommend you replace or clean the filters regularly. A lot of issues can start do to the negligence of filter maintenance, so you should pay attention to it.

  • Malfunctioning Thermostat

False thermostat reading can also cause short-cycling. Regularly check the setting of your thermostat and ensure that the device is operating properly. Check also the environment where the thermostat is mounted. Be sure it’s not directly hit by sunlight or near heat-emitting appliances. The warmth on the area will affect the reading of your thermostat and may signal the furnace to turn off prematurely. Don’t prolong the agony of your furnace due to short-cycling. Call our experts at Air Anytime for professional diagnosis and repair. We take care of HVAC systems that are not performing as they should. Schedule a service today!
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