The more you use your furnace to stay comfortable this winter, the more likely it will be to develop problems. One of the most dangerous problems you may have to deal with is short cycling. If left unchecked, short cycling can cause malfunctions to happen more often and shorten the lifespan of the system. Let’s take a look at what causes short cycling, and what it can do to your system.
The Cause
Short cycling is caused by heat becoming trapped in the furnace plenum, the main body of the system. This often happens as a result of a clogged air filter, or possibly due to a broken air handler. As the temperature in the system rises above safe levels, the limit switch activates and shuts down the furnace to prevent it from becoming damaged. After the furnace has had an opportunity to cool off, it restarts and overheats. As long as the core problem remains unsolved, the furnace will continue to cycle between starting and overheating.
Short Cycling Problems
Short cycling puts the furnace under an immense amount of stress. Prolonged short cycling will cause the various parts of the system to wear down much faster than they normally would, resulting in more frequent breakdowns. If the issue is allowed to continue for long enough, the furnace will break down entirely. If you notice that your furnace is turning on and off every few minutes, you should turn it off and call for repairs as soon as possible. The faster a technician can reach your furnace and repair it, the better off it will be.
Climate Masters offers a full range of furnace repair services throughout Point Vedra, FL. If you need furnace repair services of any kind, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians.
