As we get closer to winter, you’re going to start using your furnace for longer and longer hours on a daily basis. More use means more wear and tear on the system, which means more chances for problems to occur. One of the most dangerous problems that can happen to your furnace is called short cycling. Read on to find out where short cycling comes from, and why you need to call for repairs if it starts happening to your furnace.
Causes
Short cycling is caused by heat becoming trapped in the furnace, which can happen a number of different ways. The most common method is for an air filter to become clogged, though it’s also possible that the air handler can malfunction. As the temperature in the furnace rises, the limit switch will eventually activate and shut down the system to prevent it from overheating. Once the furnace has cooled off a bit, it will restart and attempt to heat the home again. Unless the core problem is fixed, though, the system will simply overheat again and shut down again.
Problems
This constant cycle of starting and stopping suddenly will cause the various parts of the furnace to wear down much faster than they otherwise would have. Breakdowns will become more frequent, and the lifespan of the system will be shortened by several years, as well. The furnace will also be unable to properly heat your home as long as the problem persists. If you want to protect your furnace from as much damage as possible, shut it down and call for repairs as soon as you notice that it’s short cycling.
Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. provides furnace repair services throughout Starke, FL. If you need furnace repair services of any kind, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our heating experts.